CFB 2011 Week 4 Preview: 10 Games to Watch

Sep 22, 2011

Most college football fans look at the schedule each week and check the times for the marquee matchups, then they sit in front of the flatscreen or head to the sports bar to watch them live or DVR them for later viewing, just so they’re up to date with the Top 25.

Others look solely at the latest lines, place their bets with their (legitimate) sports books, then sit on the edge of their seats as I Screwed U. blows a late field goal that would have covered the spread – and their house payment – by a nose.

And then you have the college football diehards, those who to watch as many games as possible, starting with the crappy ACC tilt on ESPN Thursday night all the way through the tense WAC/PAC-12 shootout that ends after 2:00am on Sunday morning, all for the love of the game.

Raise your hand if you’re in the first two categories…and now stop reading, because this probably isn’t the column for you.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Clash of the Titans as much as the next fan, meaning the Ray Harryhausen original over the crappy remake. But big games rarely deliver on all the hype surrounding them, much like a summer tentpole flick that fails to deliver anything except for loud noises and bright colors (I’m looking at you, Michael Bay).

No, the real joy for this diehard college football (and film) fan is in finding the hidden gem in the sea of overhyped spectacles, the white-knuckle MAC/SWAC shootout that overshadows the latest Brawl on the Bayou, a.k.a. the Winter’s Bone of the gridiron.

That being said, let’s take a look at 10 intriguing matchups from Week 4 of the 2011 season, with blockbusters and indies included.

UCF (2-1) at BYU (1-2) Friday, 8PM ESPN
These schools may be as different as Mickey Mouse and Warren Jeffs, but they actually have a lot in common – both are drifting aimlessly while the college football landscape shifts around them. UCF would love to be part of a big “superconference” like the ACC, and a win over the newly independent Cougars, who could soon be regretting the decision to go solo, would go a long way towards establishing credibility. BYU, meanwhile, needs to rebound after getting embarrassed at home, 54-10, by fellow Beehive State foe, Utah, last week; a loss to the upstart Knights would be unforgivable.

North Carolina (3-0) at Georgia Tech (3-0) Saturday, Noon ESPN
Give credit to new Tarheel coach Everrett Withers – somehow he has his team at 3-0 despite the flaming pile of crap his predecessor, Butch Davis, left in his office. The Heels are in for a tough time in Atlanta, though, as the high powered Ramblin’ Wreck offense (#1 in total offense, rushing offense and points per game) plans to roll through the Carolina defense like Lindsay Lohan on a pub crawl.

14Arkansas (3-0) at 3Alabama (3-0) Saturday, 3:30 CBS
It should be interesting to see which way this unpredictable tentpole game goes, with an explosive offense (the Hogs average 47PPG, 8th in the nation) going up against a stifling defense (Bama has allowed just 18 points this season). Most likely the Tide will roll again, as they have in five of the last six meetings, but Arkansas had them on the ropes last year, and Bobby Petrino could use a benchmark victory right now.

7Oklahoma State (3-0) at 8Texas A&M (2-0) Saturday, 3:30 ESPN/ABC
This is one of those blockbusters that could live up to the hype, because you’ve got all the elements in place for an epic matchup. Both teams boast explosive offenses (OSU is 1st in passing, 3rd in points, TA&M is averaging 41PPG) featuring dynamic players, and the winner will be in the driver’s seat for the right to face Oklahoma in the Big 12 (10?) title game. It should be a boisterous one at Kyle Field, home of the always energetic 12th man.

11FSU (2-1) at 21Clemson (3-0) Saturday, 3:30 ESPN
Despite appearances, you would be forgiven for thinking the rankings are reversed for this epic ACC showdown; the Noles are coming off a humbling loss to Oklahoma and have dropped 5 of their last 8 decisions to the Tigers, including four in a row at Death Valley. Clemson, meanwhile, is riding high after its come-from-behind 38-24 victory over Auburn last week and may have found an heir to CJ Spiller in electric freshman receiver Sammy Watkins. Did I mention FSU will be without starting QB EJ Manuel? Gulp.

Missouri (2-1) at 1Oklahoma (2-0) Saturday, 8PM FX
Like most college football fans, I’ll watch any game featuring the number one team in the nation if there’s an outside chance they could lose. Do the Tigers have a chance to knock off the superior Sooners in Norman? Sure, about as much of a chance as I have of dating Lea Michele now that she broke up with her boyfriend.

2LSU (3-0) at 16West Virginia (3-0) Saturday, 8PM ABC
The Mad Hatter and his Tigers head to Morgantown for a night game against the high-scoring Mountaineers, and College GameDay makes its first trip ever to the WVU campus. Hide your couches, Morgantown residents.

Tulsa (1-2) at Boise State (2-0) Saturday, 8PM
The Broncos play their home opener against a team that had to start their last game after midnight and got throttled by a score of 59-33. Boise has scored 75 points in two games, and 8th year senior quarterback Kellen Moore is having another Heisman-worthy campaign. Look for a ton of points to be scored on the Smurf turf.

10Oregon (2-1) at Arizona (1-2) Saturday, 10:15 ESPN2
Call this one the Something to Prove Bowl. Oregon rebounded from its season-opening loss to LSU by beating Nevada and Missouri State by a combined score of 125-27. Arizona has dropped seven of its last eight games, including a 48-29 decision to the Ducks in Eugene, after jumping out to a 7-1 record last season. The Ducks need a win on the road against a quality opponent to start the climb back to contender status, while the Wildcats need a win over a quality opponent to save coach Mike Stoops’ job.

23USC (3-0) at Arizona State (2-1) Saturday, 10:15 ESPN
I can’t think of a better way to end the college football weekend than by watching Lane Kiffin’s probation nation get kicked in the teeth by a sure-to-be-fired up Sun Devil squad. And while all eyes may be on the Trojan QB/WR tandem of Matt Barkley and Robert Woods, don’t sleep on the Devils’ dynamic duo of 6’9″ QB Brock Osweiler and prototypical Indianapolis Colts receiver Aaron Pflugrad.

Enjoy the action, and don’t forget the popcorn.