Bold Predictions for Week 4 - 2024 College Football

I’m here to provide bold predictions for Week 4, but I’m also here to victory lap my Week 3 bold predictions going 3-for-3. The Jayhawks fell on their home turf to UNLV on Friday night, Florida State started the season 0-3, and Colorado fired on all cylinders against its in-state rival on Saturday night.

Week 4 is a much more compelling slate than Week 3 as several teams kick off conference play. We have four ranked matchups, starting with Friday night’s Big Ten clash between Nebraska and Illinois.

Let’s dig into this week’s bold predictions ahead of what’s sure to be a fun college football Saturday.

Michigan Gets Right At Home

There has been a lot of negative energy surrounding the Michigan Wolverines football program after falling 31-12 to Texas on their home turf. Quarterback Davis Warren was promptly benched following a three-interception outing against Arkansas State last week, clearing the path for junior Alex Orji to start in the Big Ten season opener this week.

Alex Orji is Michigan QB1️⃣.#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/sRhuLZpQ5A

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) September 16, 2024

Orji has been used in packages over the past two seasons but has never started a game or played an extended role. USC will have very little film to work off when game-planning for Michigan’s new signal-caller.

The Trojans defense has looked much improved through two games so far after holding LSU to 20 points in the season opener and blanking Utah State in Week 2. D’Anton Lynn has something good going in Los Angeles, but will they be able to withstand a potentially revitalized rushing attack from Michigan?

The defending national champs have been trending down and the Trojans have become a trendy playoff pick heading into Week 4, but we have seen neither team in conference play yet. USC is favored by 5.5 points in Ann Arbor after a strong start to the season, but give me the Wolverines to pull off an upset on their home turf to kick off conference play in the new-look Big Ten.

Washington Starts Big Ten Play With A Loss

Keeping it in the conference with another Big Ten matchup featuring a West Coast newcomer, Northwestern will travel to Seattle on Saturday night in an under-the-radar matchup against Washington. Both teams suffered a non-conference loss, with Northwestern falling in overtime to Duke and Washington losing the Apple Cup to rival Washington State.

We saw what happened last week when a traditional Big Ten team traveled out west to play a newcomer. Indiana throttled UCLA, 42-13. The Hoosiers are a much higher-powered team offensively than the Wildcats, but this is a tough, gritty team that will make opponents earn every yard.

This isn’t the Washington of last season following the departure of Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, but this Huskies team still likes to air the ball out under Jedd Fisch with transfer quarterback Will Rogers. Northwestern will win this game on the road as 10.5-point underdogs through strong defense and fundamentals, offering up another “Welcome to the Big Ten” moment.

Vols Run The Score Up In Norman

Oklahoma’s long-awaited SEC debut finally happens on Saturday night as the No. 6-ranked Tennessee Volunteers visit Norman, and the fireworks should be flying. HC Josh Heupel has not been afraid to run the score up on inferior opponents thus far, as he kicked an onside kick up 30-0 against Kent State last week.

With Nico Iamaleava at the helm, the Vols have been one of college football’s most electric teams through the first three weeks. However, they have not faced a real test given how NC State has looked in other games.

This high-flying offense will be tested by Brent Venables’ Sooner defense, but I project that Tennessee will overcome the matchup and the environment and will make yet another statement win. 

“Jackson Arnold begins his first series vs #7 Tennessee Volunteers defense”

pic.twitter.com/rcqNZm5fCD

— J.K. Salinas (@JKSalinas_11) September 8, 2024

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold has looked shaky thus far, and he cannot afford to slip up in this must-win game. Arnold has talent, but I don’t think it’s all put together yet like it is for Iamaleava on the other sideline. Give me Tennessee in a blowout, statement win on Saturday night.

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