Picks for the Weak: Week Four

It’s week four of the college football season, and you weaklings are gaining strength. No, it’s not from our expert prespective… Yeah, no. This week, us college football fans get our inspiration for top notch picks by pumping ice water in our veins!

We might be in Death Valley, but it’s our time to choose greatness! Are you going to be the next greatest tBBC College Challenge Champion? Are you going to put the ! in Yahoo!??? Week three is in the books, and another slate of games is in front of us. Are you going to eat rock like Dabo?? Or are you going to eat crow like Brady Hoke?

It’s time to step up your game like OSU Silver Bullet, Buffalobuckeye, The Silver Bullets, BWCGF3, and Culp’s Freaking Hill. tBBC is here to help you with your picks. We’re just not sure if we’re helping you jump up the standings or jump off the face of the earth.

Week 3 Review:

Everyone but yours truly finished .500 or better in week three, with the experts receiving a week off.  The staff swept the board with Southern Idaho State, Nebraska and LSU.  Only Joe L  had the cajones to pick Notre Dame  against Michigan State.  He  and Jime were also smart enough not to dip their picks into the Miami (OH) Butter.  Here’s a look at last week’s standings.

Mali 6-4 – Eric 6-4 -Jim 8-2 – Experts **BYE – Joe L – 7-3  Joe D 4-6 – Computer – 5-5

Oh Boy. As you can see, the picks get harder as we get closer to conference play…. Or maybe I’m just destined to finish worse than a machine. Here is a look at the current standings heading into week 4.

Mali 20-9 – Eric 21-8 -Jim 20-9 – Experts – 14-5* – Joe L – 17-12 Joe D 14-15 – Computer – 13-16

Week Four Analysis:

There are some big games this week, but there are also some ugly ones. Helping us break down some of the better ones is Kyle Kensing of Saturday Blitz. We talk expansion, Alabama/Arkansas, Oklahoma State/Texas A&M, Florida State/Clemson as well as scUM vs. SDSU.  Kyle also breaks down our Week 4 games in writing this week.

Picks For The Weak: Week 4 by The Buckeye Battle Cry

Now to the games!

Saturday, September 24th

# 14 Arkansas vs. #3 Alabama

The Razorback offense is powerful, but last season Alabama kept the Hogs to 20 points. And that was a team with Ryan Mallett and Knile Davis. Tyler Wilson’s a great player though, so Arkansas isn’t Dead Team Walking into Tuscaloosa, but it will be on the Hog defense to exploit a shaky Tide passing game.

AJ McCarron has as many picks as touchdowns (2), so expect a lot of stacked boxes defensively by Arkansas, and expect a close game. Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy should be the difference if either can find daylight.

Kyle Kensing : ‘Bama by six.

Computer: Arkansas 24 Alabama 31 (70%)

#7 Oklahoma State vs. #8 Texas A&M

Last year’s Thursday night game was interesting because it was the beginning of Brandon Weeden’s run as a top quarterback and essentially the end of Jerrod Johnson’s Aggie career. A&M has a solid defense, but has struggled against spread offenses dating back to last year. This is a huge game for both teams. The winner is vaulted into the (perhaps last) Big 12 championship race, and for OSU perhaps its biggest hurdle leading up to the Bedlam Game and a potential BCS title game appearance. Weeden has eight touchdowns, but six picks. A&M is a team that thrives on turnovers, and if it can force Weeden into a few will get the W.

Kyle Kensing: A&M by a field goal.

Computer: Oklahoma State 38 Texas A&M 35 (55%)

#11 Florida State at #21 Clemson

Clemson’s started slow in all three of its games so far. Florida State is the kind of team that will bury the Tigers should that happen a fourth time. CU runs an offense similar to Oklahoma’s, and FSU did an adequate job containing the Sooners. EJ Manuel’s health is still questionable, which may actually work to FSU’s advantage as he and Clint Trickett are very different style players. Thus, Clemson will have to game plan for two distinct styles.

Kyle Kensing: FSU by a touchdown

Computer: Florida State 30 Clemson 23 (70%)

#2 LSU vs. #16 West Virginia

The Mountaineers pushed the Tigers to the limit last year in Baton Rouge. WV has looked shaky at times this year getting acquainted with Dana Holgorsen’s style though, and LSU is a well-oiled machine. Jarrett Lee has been surprisingly stable at quarterback, but this one is ultimately going to be about the Tigers containing the Mountaineer offense – and dealing with a wild Morgantown audience. Expect another close one, but the Tigers get the win.

Kyle Kensing: LSU by a field goal

Computer: LSU 26 West Virginia 21 (62%)

North Carolina vs. #25 Georgia Tech

Both are unbeaten but haven’t played the stiffest of competition. UNC has relied on a pass-heavy offense with Bryn Renner, and Georgia Tech is coming off a program-record rushing outing vs. Kansas. That option poses problems for defenses and last year the Jackets scored 30 on what was a more talented Tar Heel group.

Kyle Kensing: Georgia Tech by 10

Computer: North Carolina 26 Georgia Tech 22 (64%)

#23 USC vs. Arizona State

This is USC’s first road game. The Trojans have looked incredible at times and boneheaded others. Arizona State struggled to score last week against Illinois, and this Trojan defense is probably better. However, the Sun Devils contained Nathan Scheelhaase. USC is the first primarily passing offense the Sun Devils will see. Containing Robert Woods will be key.

Kyle Kensing: A-State by a field goal

Computer: USC 31 ASU 26

San Diego State vs. #22 Michigan

The Aztecs know this team well since its coached by former SDSU coach Brady Hoke. It will be interesting to see how Rocky Long game plans for his former colleague, and vice versa. These teams top offensive performers, Ronnie Hillman and Denard Robinson, both have Heisman potential. SDSU has played a few of these big road games close since last year, but ultimately lost at BYU, Missouri and TCU.

The trend should continue in the Big House.

Kyle Kensing: Michigan by a touchdown

Computer: Michigan 32 San Diego State 30 (57%)

Rice vs. #17 Baylor

Robert Griffin is a gamer and will pile it on. The Owls have no shot.

Kyle Kensing: Baylor by a LOT.

Computer: Rice 22 Baylor 41 (89%)

Missouri vs. #1 Oklahoma

The Sooners are coming off a marquee win, and would seemingly be heading into a trap game were it not for the Tigers having beaten OU last year. The Sooners are out for revenge and will dominate.

Kyle Kensing: Oklahoma by 21.

Computer: Missouri 24 Oklahoma 33 (74%)

VMI vs. Akron

The Zips lost to the Keydets’ Big South partner Gardner-Webb last year. Akron went just 1-11 a season ago and have been roughed up early this year, but VMI might be the medicine the Zips need to get on a winning track if they can slow the triple option attack.

Kyle Kensing: Akron by a touchdown

Computer: VMI 8 Akron 30 (93%)