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Week 4 picks: Freshman-led Bruins or Pac-12 South champs?
Believe it or not, it's Week 4 already. And FOX Sports' picks continue.
Each Thursday, our panel of Stewart Mandel, Bruce Feldman, Joel Klatt and Jim Ross will make the calls on who'll win the weekend's most intriguing matchups.
In addition, Mandel and Feldman will dive a little deeper into the games with their picks against the spread.
You can also find predictions for every Division I FBS game for the coming week here, courtesy of WhatIfSports.
In Week 4, UCLA and freshman quarterback Josh Rosen open Pac-12 play with a trip to Arizona. The Bruins have looked like legitimate Pac-12 contenders so far, but will the defending division champs change that narrative in Tucson?
Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, meanwhile, having been flying under the radar of late — imagine that! — and now have a shot at a three-game win streak vs. BYU.
And with Oregon hosting Utah, USC visiting Arizona State, and Texas A&M squaring off with Arkansas, we'll have plenty to keep us busy this weekend.
Without further ado, here are this week's straight-up picks:
PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD
BOISE STATE (-2.5) at VIRGINIA
Mandel: New QB Brett Rypien may ignite Boise’s 88th-ranked offense but not enough to win a tough one on the road. Virginia 27, Boise State 24
Feldman: I was tempted to pick UVA to win at home, especially with Boise QB Ryan Finley out for the next two months, but I think Boise still finds a way to eke out the road win. Boise State 14, UVA 13
The result: Boise State 56, Virginia 14
BYU (+5.5) at MICHIGAN
Mandel: BYU’s a good team, but it’s been through a grueling month. It’s not the best time for yet another road trip against a physical foe. Michigan 27, BYU 20
Feldman: Some of the air came out of the BYU balloon with the late loss at UCLA. I also think Harbaugh’s offense is starting to take strides and Jake Rudock is ready to settle down. Michigan 20, BYU 13
GEORGIA TECH (-9) at DUKE
Mandel: Georgia Tech’s triple-option will fare much better against Duke than it did Notre Dame, and Blue Devils QB Thomas Sirk won’t be able to keep place. Georgia Tech 34, Duke 28
Feldman: Notre Dame contained the potent Tech run game. I don’t think Duke will do as good a job, but the Blue Devils will keep it interesting. Georgia Tech 23, Duke 17
MARYLAND (+17) at WEST VIRGINIA
Mandel: Perhaps it’s reading too much into wins over Georgia Southern and Liberty, but WVU’s defense looks improved. QB Skyler Howard will put up big numbers. West Virginia 41, Maryland 20
Feldman: Dana Holgorsen has some young dynamic weapons at WR to go with a couple of good backs, and I think Skyler Howard can take advantage of the No. 90 defense in the country. West Virginia 37, Maryland 17
TENNESSEE (-1) at FLORIDA
Mandel: The youth excuse goes out the window for Butch Jones. A Tennessee team that talented should be able to beat rebuilding Florida for the first time in 11 years. Tennessee 24, Florida 20
Feldman: Expect Josh Dobbs to play well and the UT run game to respond against a good Gator defense. I’m going with the team with the better firepower. Tennessee 21, Florida 17
TCU (-7) at TEXAS TECH (4:45 p.m. ET, FOX)
Mandel: The Frogs’ injury-depleted defense is definitely on Upset Alert, but Tech’s defense, while improving, is not yet at the point it can handle Trevone Boykin. TCU 48, Texas Tech 44
Feldman: I almost picked Tech for the outright win because I do think they’re much improved and TCU is really banged up on D, but I won’t pick against Gary Patterson (and Trevone Boykin) here. TCU 37, Texas Tech 35
TEXAS A&M (-7) vs. ARKANSAS
Mandel: Arkansas is allowing 7.9 yards per pass attempt, 100th nationally. It could be another long day trying to defend Aggies WRs Christian Kirk and Josh Reynolds. Texas A&M 45, Arkansas 31
Feldman: The Hogs' D is hobbling into this one, giving up the second-most yards per play in the SEC (5.83), and the Aggies have a lot of dangerous receivers to hit big plays. Texas A&M 35, Arkansas 20
UCLA (-3) at ARIZONA
Mandel: Arizona gets back All-American LB Scooby Wright just as UCLA loses All-American LB Myles Jack. I’m changing my pick from earlier in the week. Arizona 30, UCLA 28
Feldman: Losing Myles Jack is a huge blow to the Bruins' D, but I still think UCLA finds a way to get a tough road win thanks to standout DT Kenny Clark and LBs Kenny Young and Deon Hollins slowing down Anu Solomon. UCLA 27, Arizona 24
UTAH (+14) at OREGON (8:30 p.m. ET, FOX)
Mandel: Utah is underrated and Oregon is vulnerable, but the Utes don’t have the downfield passing game to exploit the Ducks’ Achilles' heel, their secondary. Oregon 38, Utah 26
Feldman: The Ducks have walloped the Utes the past two meetings, and with the game in Autzen they can handle them a third time. Oregon 34, Utah 17
USC (-5.5) at ARIZONA STATE
Mandel: Arizona State gets back RB Kalen Ballage, which should boost a struggling offense, but not enough to replicate Stanford’s clinic against the Trojans’ D. USC 35, Arizona State 27
Feldman: The Trojans got pushed around last week at home in the loss to Stanford. I don’t think they’ll produce two clunker showings in a row. USC 35, ASU 24
UPSET SPECIALS:
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (+6) at ILLINOIS
Mandel: The Blue Raiders, a bowl-eligible C-USA team each of the past three years, have put up at least 70 in two of their three games. They outrace the downtrodden Illini. Middle Tennessee 44, Illinois 41
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (-4) at BOSTON COLLEGE
Feldman: The Eagles lost starting QB Darius Wade, and they’ll face a very solid NIU team that just gave Ohio State all the Buckeyes could handle. Northern Illinois 16, Boston College 13
SEASON RESULTS
Mandel: 23-10 (including upset picks)
Feldman: 22-11 (including upset picks)
Klatt: 18-9 (minus games he called on FOX or FS1)
Ross: 18-12
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