College Football

WhatIfSports 2014 College Football Week 4 Predictions

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:51 p.m. ET

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Each Monday, WhatIfSports.com's NCAA college football simulation engine provides game predictions for every D-1 FBS game that upcoming week. The college football simulation engine generates detailed information for each game including each team's chances of winning (Win%) and the average points scored for both teams. 

Check out our 2014 College Football Season-to-Date page to follow our accuracy and for Upsets of the Week.

The statistical inputs to the thousands of college football simulations are based on rigorous analysis of each team's roster, depth charts and statistically based player rankings. Roster modifications are made in cases of injury or suspension and those players are removed from their team's game simulation for that week.

Game of the Week: Clemson at Florida State

Searching for statistical trends in college football can be like hunting for a needle in a haystack throughout the season.

For instance, Clemson got rocked by Georgia the first week of the season, 45-21. This past weekend, the Bulldogs - coming off a bye - were upset by the ol' ball coach and South Carolina in sloppy Columbia conditions, 38-35.

This week, the Clemson Tigers and Florida State Seminoles are both coming off BYES in the WhatIfSports.com college football featured game of the week.

For Jameis Winston and company, the thought of playing Oklahoma State (on a neutral field) and Citadel (home) back-to-back weeks to start the season earned them some R&R in Week 3.

In a small, two-game sample size, Winston has been efficient completing better than 70-percent of his passes for 626 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Receiver Rashad Greene has been the biggest benefactor of Winston's arm. He's seventh in the nation in receiving yards per game at better than 141 yards per pop. Karlos Williams is the main option out of the backfield averaging better than four yards per rush with a touchdown through two games.

Florida State's rush defense got punished by the Cowboys - 161 yards and three touchdowns - and rush-heavy Citadel - 250 yards and 4.5 yards per rush. So, the Seminoles rank 103rd against the rush and 13th versus the pass two games into the season.

Clemson scored the most points in a game in 33 years by crushing MEAC sacrificial lamb South Carolina State two weeks ago, 73-7. Starting quarterback Cole Stoudt played most of the game passing for more than 300 yards with a touchdown and receiver Artavis Scott racked up 164 yards with two touchdowns.

A week prior, the Tigers' rush defense let Georgia's Todd Gurley amass 198 rush yards with three scores. With FSU focusing on a pass-first offensive mentality, it's hard to gauge how the Tigers defense will fare considering Georgia didn't need to pass and South Carolina State isn't a fair assessment.

We simulated the Seminoles and Tigers 101 times and the computer likes Florida State 59.9 percent of the time by an average score of 26-20.

For additional statistics, view our weekly college football predictions.

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