College Football: Week 4 Polls and Schedule

Fall has (or soon will) arrived and with the crisp autumn days perfect football weather abounds. Unfortunately every game not only has a winner it has a loser, too. They do not give participation ribbons. There are several games that will be very competitive but there are also some that will be blowouts. In the past, there have been FCS teams that have surprised, but not this week.

The numbers on the left are the rankings in the Associated Press Poll and the Coaches’ Poll. (CBSSports does a preseason poll but then waits a few weeks to weigh in on a regular basis—or at least they did last year.) NR means the team is “Not Ranked” in that particular poll. The team’s current record is in parentheses following their name.

1/1 Alabama (2-0) The Crimson Tide will host the Colorado State Rams (1-2). Roll Tide!

2/2 Oregon (3-0) The Ducks have the weekend off before starting PAC12 play.

3/4 Clemson (2-0) The Tigers are on the road to play the North Carolina State Wolfpack (2-0) on Thursday night. The Tigers will devour the Wolfpack.

4/3 Ohio State (3-0) The Buckeyes host the FCS Florida State Rattlers (1-2). This one seems unfair. OSU by whatever they want it to be.

5/5 Stanford (2-0) The Cardinal host the #23 Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0). This will be a good test for the Cardinal. ASU has a tough defense. I’ll go with the home team, however in a squeeker.

6/7 LSU (3-0) The Tigers of LSU host the Tigers of Auburn (3-0). I could cheat and say the Tigers will win but I won’t. LSU has too much talent for Auburn. It will be a close game but LSU wins.

7/6 Louisville (3-0) The Cardinals host the FIU Golden Panthers (0-3). Bridgewater and company will again prove dominant.

8/8 Florida State (2-0) The Seminoles host the FCS Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (3-0). The Wildcats have been a force in the FCS but they are out of their depth in this one. The Seminoles will win but the Wildcats will score more than expected.

9/10 Georgia (1-1) The Bulldogs host the Mean Green of North Texas (2-1). Mean Green? Maybe but not against the Bulldogs.

10/9 Texas A&M (2-1) The Aggies will host the SMU Mustangs (1-1). Aggies have trouble on defense but that shouldn’t matter in this one. High scoring but A&M by at least 14.

11/11 Oklahoma State (3-0) The Cowboys are idle this weekend.

12/13 South Carolina (2-1) The Gamecocks are off this weekend.

13/15 UCLA (2-0) The Bruins will host the New Mexico State Aggies (0-3). UCLA has a powerful offense and a capable defense. They will be 3-0 when the day is over.

14/12 Oklahoma (3-0) The Sooners have the weekend off.

15/14 Michigan (3-0) The Wolverines head east to play the Huskies of UConn (0-2). UConn has hit a rough patch as they try to rebuild. Michigan will win in a rout.

16/17 Miami (Fla.) (2-0) The Hurricanes are hosting the FCS Savannah State Tigers (1-2). The Hurricanes will blow away the Tigers.

17/20 Washington (2-0) The Huskies are hosting the FCS Idaho State Bengals (2-0). If they keep their heads on THIS game and not the PAC12 competition coming up, the Huskies should be able to dictate the score.

18/16 Northwestern (3-0) The Wildcats will host the FCS Maine Black Bears (3-0). Maine has been a powerhouse in the FCS, but this isn’t the FCS. Wildcats win.

19/18 Florida (1-1) The Gators will host the Tennessee Volunteers (2-1). The Vols need to redeem themselves after the huge loss to Oregon. Unfortunately, I do not see them beating the Gators. It might be close, but this isn’t horseshoes.

20/19 Baylor (2-0) The Bears will host the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (2-1). The Warhawks need to play mistake free ball but they could provide this week’s upset. Another high scoring contest but Louisiana-Monroe wins.

21/22 Ole Miss (3-0) The Rebels are idle this week.

22/21 Notre Dame (2-1) The Irish host the Michigan State Spartans (3-0). The Fighting Irish need to win. They want to win. They won’t win this one, however. The Spartans pull out a close contest.

23/23 Arizona State (2-0) The Sun Devils will be on the coast against #5 Stanford Cardinal (2-0). See above. A Cardinal win.

24/NR Wisconsin (2-1) The Badgers will host the Purdue Boilermakers (1-2). The Badgers improve to 3-1.

25/NR Texas Tech (3-0) The Red Raiders play host to the Texas State Bobcats (2-0). The Red Raiders bag themselves a Bobcat.

NR/24 Michigan State (3-0) The Spartans are on the road playing the #22 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (2-1). See above. MSU by a field goal.

NR/25 Fresno State (2-0) The Bulldogs will play Friday night at Boise State (2-1). This isn’t the invincible Boise State of past years. Fresno State got flooded out last week when Boulder Colorado got so much rain. The Bulldogs are rested and restless. They’ve a very good offense that saves the weaker defense. FSU wins this one on the road.