College Football Picks for Week 4
By Liam McKeone
Season Record: Koster: 17-12; Giuffra: 18-11; Phillips: 18-11; McKeone: 17-12
Michigan (+3) at Wisconsin
Koster: Wisconsin
Jim Harbaugh on the road, in a big game? Yeah, I don’t think so. It will be close, but no cigar once again for those in Ann Arbor desperate to believe that this is the savior. Wisconsin 26, Michigan 21
Giuffra: Wisconsin
Michigan has looked like hot garbage at times this year, while Jonathan Taylor and Wisconsin’s ground-and-pound offense has been unstoppable. Yes, it was against lowly opponents, but the same is true of Michigan. At home, I give the Badgers the edge. Wisconsin 30, Michigan 24
McKeone: Michigan
Yes, Michigan has looked terrible, and go on the road to play a tough conference rival. But this is where they turn it around! Michigan 27, Wisconsin 25
Phillips: Wisconsin
Michigan looks awful and Wisconsin is rolling behind Jonathan Taylor. He’ll rock The Big House and become a true Heisman Trophy threat this week. Wisconsin 31, Michigan 24
Auburn (+3.5) at Texas A&M
Koster: Texas A&M
The Aggies managed to stay within sniffing distance of Clemson already this year, and won’t be intimidated. Plus, they’ll have the home crowd. Auburn was so lucky to beat Oregon and won’t find that magic again. Texas A&M 31, Auburn 24
Giuffra: Texas A&M
The Aggies’ defensive line is getting healthy and the Tigers’ offensive line has a couple of injuries. For a running team like Auburn, that’s not good, especially on the road. Texas A&M 34, Auburn 24
McKeone: Auburn
I believe in Bo Nix. A&M is a good team and hold home-field advantage, but Auburn knows this is a huge game and won’t shy away from the challenge. Auburn 30, Texas A&M 28
Phillips: Texas A&M
At home, I’m taking Texas A&M and its crowd against freshman quarterback Bo Nix. I like Auburn but this will be a huge test for the offense. Texas A&M 34, Auburn 24
Oklahoma State (+5) at Texas
Koster: Texas
The Cowboys have shown the ability to score, but gave up 36 points against Oregon State, hardly an offensive juggernaut. Sam Ehlinger and the ‘Horns hung 38 on LSU and should have no problem surpassing that mark in a old-fashioned shootout. Texas 51, Oklahoma State 38
Giuffra: Texas
This should be a shootout, but Texas is better equipped to win at home having faced much tougher competition in LSU already this season. Texas 41, Oklahoma State 34
McKeone: Texas
Texas took a tough loss to LSU and is still steaming mad about it. The crowd will get them fired up and the Longhorns will roll. Texas 41, Oklahoma State 30
Phillips: Texas
Texas licked its wounds from the LSU loss by blowing out Rice last week. Here, it continues to get right by lighting up the Cowboys at home. Texas 52, Oklahoma State 34
Notre Dame (+13.5) at Georgia
Koster: Notre Dame
Wow, SEC bias much? This line is absurd. I don’t care that Jake Fromm and company have already won at Notre Dame. I don’t care that the Bulldogs have more talent. It’s time to wake up the echoes, baby. Look for some weird turnover luck to set the stage for late heroics. Notre Dame 28, Georgia 24
Giuffra: Georgia
Notre Dame was opportunistic against New Mexico at home last week in a blowout win. But if their defense can’t force turnovers, Georgia’s multi-pronged offensive attack should be able to pick it apart. Georgia 35, Notre Dame 20
McKeone: Georgia
This will be Jake Fromm’s coming-out party. The Irish are a solid opponent but won’t be able to stop Georgia. Georgia 38, Notre Dame 23
Phillips: Georgia is going to prove it belongs in the same conversation as Alabama and Clemson. It’s a big spread, but the Bulldogs can do it at home. Georgia 35, Notre Dame 17
Utah (-4) at USC
Koster: USC
The Trojans are an unpredictable side. One week they’re crushing Stanford, the next they’re faltering against BYU. Consider the yo-yo. It goes up and down. This week will be inexplicably high for USC. USC 20, Utah 19
Giuffra: Utah
Can we stop putting USC on here? One week I pick against them and they win. Next week I roll with them and I lose. I can’t stand it! With all the issues swirling around the USC program, I’ll roll with Utah’s stout defense, which already shut down a BYU squad that just beat USC. It’s a risk, because USC is undoubtedly better at home, but I think they’re more who they were against BYU than Stanford. Utah 34, USC 21
McKeone: Utah
USC is a disaster this year. Utah isn’t perfect, but they aren’t a disaster. Utah 28, USC 17
Phillips: Utah
The Clay Helton Experience reared its ugly head again on Saturday in Provo as USC snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Honestly, given his history, Helton could pull out a win on Friday at home, but I just can’t bet on it. The Trojans are an enormous mess. Bet on the boring, but solid Utes. Utah 31, USC 24
Air Force (+9) at Boise State
Koster: Air Force
The thing about Air Force going into Boulder in winning is that they looked like the better team from kickoff to overtime. Same thing here. Air Force 30, Boise State 27
Giuffra: Boise State
Air Force just upset Colorado on the road, but two road miracles, especially on the blue turf of Boise State, is asking too much. My only concern is Boise’s ability to score enough to cover, but I’m still rolling with it to cover. Boise State 30, Air Force 20
McKeone: Boise State
Air Force can’t muster magic two weeks in a row, and this is still the Boise State team that beat Florida State on their own turf. The blue field will bring them home. Boise State 26, Air Force 15
Phillips: Boise State
Stick with the home favorite here. Air Force is due for a regression after upsetting Colorado in Boulder. Boise State 31, Air Force 17
Washington (-6) at BYU
Koster: BYU
This team is gritty and gutty. Zach Wilson may not like the Mormon Manziel nickname, but it’s an all-timer and the kid is capable of great things while improvising. BYU 26, Washington 17
Giuffra: Washington
Total transparency, I haven’t seen either team play. But my research tells me BYU is beatable (they almost lost to Tennessee and had to go to overtime against USC at home last week to win). Lay the points, go with the talent and yell at me in the morning. Washington 33, BYU 24
McKeone: Washington
Washington’s offense is good enough and BYU couldn’t beat a USC team in shambles in regulation. Washington 35, BYU 21
Phillips: Washington
The Pac-12 is straight awful this year, but Washington looks like the class of the conference. The Huskies should be fine this week in a tough environment. Washington 38, BYU 24
Michigan State (-7) at Northwestern
Koster: Michigan State.
MSU has been favored three straight times against Northwestern and lost them all. It will probably happen again but for my own sanity I can’t even entertain that possibility. MSU 8, Northwestern 0
Giuffra: Michigan State
The Spartans suffered an embarrassing home loss against Arizona State last week. They also lost to Northwestern at home last year and haven’t beaten the Wildcats since 2013. Surely they’re due, right? Michigan State 24, Northwestern 14
McKeone: Northwestern
Yeah, I don’t think so. I was firmly in Sparty’s camp and not only did they let me down, it was perhaps the worst display of football these eyes have ever seen. Michigan State will win simply because Northwestern doesn’t have the talent to match up, but it will be just as ugly. Michigan State 13, Northwestern 7
Phillips: Northwestern
Michigan State is terrible, there’s no way they beat this spread on the road. Michigan State 17, Northwestern 14
SMU (+9) at TCU
Koster: SMU
No reason. Just a weird gut feeling looking at a line that makes too much sense. TCU 40, SMU 33
Giuffra: TCU
This is a dangerous game because TCU is considering a change at QB. That can either spark a team or sink them. Meanwhile, SMU has steamrolled a bunch of low-level squads. I’ll go with the home team injecting something new into the offense. TCU 38, SMU 27
McKeone: SMU
They haven’t faced the best competition, but TCU is in some flux right now with who their signal-caller will be, which generally isn’t a great sign. SMU 21, TCU 17
Phillips: TCU is the better team and playing at home you have to give them the edge here. TCU 35, SMU 21
West Virginia (-5) at Kansas
Koster: Kansas
Remember that one year where Kansas was really good? One of the weirder things that’s happened this century. Let’s get weird again. Kansas 36, West Virginia 30
Giuffra: West Virginia
Kansas just earned its first win over a Power 5 team in a long time. But guess what? West Virginia hasn’t lost to Kansas since 2013 and in the five games since, it’s beaten Kansas by double digits each game. West Virginia 40, Kansas 30
McKeone: Kansas
They just stomped BC at Chestnut Hill and come home to play a WVU team that nearly lost to JAMES MADISON and got stomped by Missouri. It’ll be a shootout, but I’m all Rock Chalk, baby. Kansas 45, WVU 40
Phillips: West Virginia
Sorry Les, I can’t give this to you. West Virginia isn’t great but neither are the Jayhawks. I think this will be a horrible game. I’ll take the Mountaineers. West Virginia 31, Kansas 20.