Saturday Predictions: Week 4

Virginia's had a difficult beginning to 2015 but could leave
out-of-conference play on a high note with a home win over
Boise State. Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

We've completed the first quarter of the college football regular season, and are now entering the heart of conference play. Cincinnati meets Memphis in the first game of the week tomorrow night. The Tigers have rolled through three impressive victories to start the season and look to win their first conference game of the season against the Bearcats. On Friday, watch to see who wins an intriguing game between Boise State and Virginia. The Broncos travel to Charlottesville after starting the season 2-1; against FBS teams, Boise State struggled to beat Washington and lost a close game to BYU. The Cavaliers are 1-2, having played a rather difficult schedule and dropping games to UCLA and Notre Dame. Like Boise State against BYU, Virginia lost to Notre Dame on a last-minute Hail Mary. Virginia barely held off William & Mary last Saturday. The game is important for the Mountain West Conference, whose teams have had sparing successes this season, and Virginia head coach Mike London, who has only had one winning season since being hired in 2010.

We start off Saturday with a game between BYU and Michigan. The Cougars have played close against every opponent this season, while Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is leading the Wolverines in his first home game against a competitive team. Also at noon, UCF goes on the road against South Carolina. Both teams have started their seasons in extremely disappointing fashion; a loss here would provide small relief to one team and extend the misery of the other.

By the time we get to 3:30, Oklahoma State and Texas will be ready to kick off in Austin. Texas's sorrows have been well-publicized this season, but should still prove to be the Cowboys' toughest test this season. Meanwhile, the Florida Gators will go to battle against the Tennessee Volunteers, both looking for a big early-season win in the SEC East. The Gators have won 10 games consecutively against the Vols, though it hasn't always been easy. Tennessee's offense should be able to challenge Florida's talented defense, while Florida's offense has to find some way to move the ball against a Tennessee defense that has likewise had inconsistency.

Texas Tech was embarrassed by TCU last year, surrendering
82 points to the Frogs. They'll look for a massive
improvement this year against a battered defense.
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Later in the afternoon, TCU travels to Lubbock to face the Red Raiders. One would expect Texas Tech to be at a great disadvantage, however, the Horned Frogs are suffering from a string of injuries and arrests to their defensive unit. In this case, the home team might be able to keep up with TCU and their talented quarterback. A few minutes after this game starts, Cal and Washington meet in Seattle. Both teams are looking to turn the corner and challenge Stanford and Oregon in the Pac-12 North. They both need this win to look like contenders in their division.

A couple of the SEC's more interesting games kick off at night. Auburn's season is under threat of becoming a disaster. The Tigers host Mississippi State and have a chance to right the ship before it gets out of control. Kentucky may be emotionally scarred from last week's near-miss against the Gators, but must pull themselves together as they play the Missouri Tigers at home. Missouri's defensive line should cause havoc against the Kentucky offense, although Mizzou's offense has yet to prove any competency themselves.

A huge matchup of Pac-12 South unbeatens is scheduled between UCLA and Arizona. The Bruins have been battle-tested early this season while the Wildcats have gotten by a soft schedule with relative ease. The Bruins are also expected to have an advantage in talent, although home-field-advantage should play in favor of Arizona. Oregon and Utah begin play just a few minutes later; the Ducks look like they have the Pac-12's best offense while Utah appears to have one of the best defenses in the conference. The Utes would like to avenge last year's loss, but that's easier said than done in Eugene.

Finally, USC plays Arizona State in Tempe. After an unexpected loss to Stanford, USC can hardly afford to drop another conference game against the Sun Devils. ASU, on the other hand, could pick up a big win in their conference opener at the beginning of a difficult stretch of games.

State of Florida:

• South Carolina (1-2) over UCF (0-3), 20-13
• Louisiana Tech (1-2) over FIU (2-1), 35-17
• Florida (3-0) over Tennessee (2-1), 17-10
• Florida Atlantic (0-3) over Charlotte (2-1), 28-21
• 10 Florida State (3-0), BYE
• Miami (3-0), BYE
• South Florida (1-2), BYE

Southeastern Conference:

• 7 Georgia (3-0) over Southern (2-1), 70-3
• 8 LSU (2-0) over Syracuse (3-0), 38-13
• 12 Alabama (2-1) over Louisiana-Monroe (1-1), 49-9
• 14 Texas A&M (3-0) over Arkansas (1-2), 42-17
• 3 Mississippi (3-0) over Vanderbilt (1-2), 38-6
• Mississippi State (2-1) over Auburn (2-1), 31-17
• Kentucky (2-1) over 25 Missouri (3-0), 24-17

Top 25:

• 1 Ohio State (3-0) over Western Michigan (1-2), 38-14
• 2 Michigan State (3-0) over Central Michigan (1-2), 38-24
• Texas Tech (3-0) over 3 TCU (3-0), 52-45
• 5 Baylor (2-0) over Rice (2-1), 52-28
• 6 Notre Dame (3-0) over Massachusetts (0-2), 38-13
• 9 UCLA (3-0) over 16 Arizona (3-0), 31-24
• 13 Oregon (2-1) over 18 Utah (3-0), 31-27
• 17 Northwestern (3-0) over Ball State (2-1), 27-10
• 19 USC (2-1) over Arizona State (2-1), 38-34
• 20 Georgia Tech (2-1) over Duke (2-1), 35-28
• 21 Stanford (2-1) over Oregon State (2-1), 31-21
• Michigan (2-1) over 22 BYU (2-1), 35-31
• 22 Wisconsin (2-1) over Hawaii (2-1), 31-7
• Texas (1-2) over 24 Oklahoma State (3-0), 42-35
• 11 Clemson (3-0), BYE
• 15 Oklahoma (3-0), BYE