College football is finally heating up with a bunch of competitive matchups for Week 4 of the 2015 NCAA Season. Up on the docket is a big SEC showdown as the Mississippi State Bulldogs travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium to take on the Auburn Tigers. It’s going to be interesting to see if the Bulldogs’ Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Dak Prescott can lead his team to a big conference victory.
Read on as we take a look at the pivotal matchup between Mississippi State and Auburn plus four more of the week’s best matchups.
Looking for more college football for fill your weekend with pigskin action? Check out the complete previews for No. 13 LSU vs. Syracuse and No. 21 Stanford vs. Oregon State.
[sc:NCAAFArticles ]The Top Five College Football Games to Watch in Week 4 of the 2015 NCAA Season
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida
When: Saturday, September 26, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Tennessee Volunteers (+1.5) at Florida Gators (-1.5) – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: CBS
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Joshua Dobbs was solid for Tennessee, completing over 70 percent of his passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns playing in just the first half of a 55-10 blowout over Western Carolina in Week 3. Running back Jalen Hurd also had quite a game, rushing for 68 yards and a score on 11 carries; he also caught a touchdown pass from Dobbs before resting for the entire second half.
The two Volunteers have a tougher outing in Week 3, taking on the Florida Gators on the road. The Gators have a stout front seven that has allowed just one rushing touchdown through the first three games of the season. They also have an excellent secondary which has registered four interceptions this season.
Writer’s prediction: Florida doesn’t have the guns on offense to reward its defense’s efforts. The Vols’ offense shines as they cover +1.5 and win the game.
USC Trojans vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Where: Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe
When: Saturday, September 26, 10:30 PM ET
Line: USC Trojans (-6) at Arizona State Sun Devils (+6) – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Who can stop Cody Kessler, USC’s senior quarterback who has completed close to 80 percent of his passes and 10 touchdowns this season? Kessler carved up a solid Stanford passing defense for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Before Week 3, Stanford had allowed only 247 yards passing and one touchdown through the season.
To answer the question posed above, Arizona State sure can as the Sun Devils are one of the best passing defenses in the nation, ninth. Arizona State has allowed just 134.7 yards passing per game this season.
The Sun Devils also have a big-armed quarterback to power their offense in Mike Bercovici. The senior signal caller passed for 317 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout win over New Mexico in Week 2.
Writer’s prediction: Arizona State’s passing defense takes some steam off Kessler’s season. The Sun Devils cover +6.
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Texas A&M Aggies vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas
When: Saturday, September 26, TBD
Line: Texas A&M Aggies (-7.5) at Arkansas Razorbacks (+7.5) – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
If you’re looking for a quarterback to keep an eye on, it’s Texas A&M’s Kyle Allen. He threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 55 yards and a score in a Week 3 blowout of Nevada. Allen will have an Arkansas defense to dissect in the Aggies’ SEC opener on Saturday.
The Razorbacks disappointed in back-to-back defeats against non-conference opponents Toledo and Texas Tech. Their 232.7 passing yards allowed per game (78th in the FBS) is a cause for concern against Texas A&M’s Allen. But they do have a trio in the secondary in Henre’ Toliver, DJ Dean and Jared Collins who each have picks this season.
Writer’s prediction: Keenan looks like a Heisman Trophy contender as he torches Arkansas for four total touchdowns. Take Texas A&M at -7.5.
BYU Cougars vs. Michigan Wolverines
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
When: Saturday, September 26, 12:00 PM ET
Line: BYU Cougars (+5.5) at Michigan Wolverines (-5.5) – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ABC
It’s time for some action in the Big House as the Michigan Wolverines welcome the No. 22 BYU Cougars for some afternoon fun. The Wolverines are showing the fruits of new head coach Jim Harbaugh’s leadership, as they rank 14th in rushing defense (93 yards per game) and 13th in passing defense (144 yards per game) in the FBS this year.
The Wolverines also have a pair of running backs to cover for questionable quarterback play. De’Veon Smith leads Michigan with 206 yards rushing and three touchdowns, while Ty Isaac offers a solid backup with 161 yards and a score on 18 carries. Michigan gets a big bump up in competition when it faces BYU on Saturday.
The Cougars have talent on both sides of the ball to get a crucial win on the road. Quarterback Tanner Mangum has been pretty solid this season, passing for 664 yards and four touchdowns. Junior safety Kai Nacua has been a threat in the secondary this season with four interceptions. He should be on the lookout for faulty passes coming his way from Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock, who has thrown five picks this year.
Writer’s prediction: The Wolverines litter the Big House with turnovers. BYU takes advantage and takes a huge road upset as +5.5 underdogs.
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Auburn Tigers
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn
When: Saturday, September 26, TBA
Line: Mississippi State Bulldogs (+3) vs. Auburn Tigers (-3) – view all NCAA Football lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN 2
It’s been a miserable past few weeks at Auburn as far as quarterback play is concerned. The Tigers have failed to get some solid outings from Jeremy Johnson, who has been a letdown with six interceptions—one more than his touchdowns—through three games this season. He should have his fair share of trouble when he takes on unranked Mississippi State, which happens to have the third-best passing defense in the SEC (164 yards allowed per game).
Johnson’s performance has been a far cry from Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott’s. The Bulldogs’ Heisman Trophy contending quarterback was once again excellent last week, tearing up Northwestern State to the tune of 227 yards passing with two touchdowns and adding 54 yards on the ground on six carries.
Writer’s prediction: Prescott flashes the Heisman pose as he scrambles for a score and adds two passing touchdowns. Better quarterback play leads Mississippi State (+3) to an upset and a spot in the top 25.
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