College football Week 4 preview

Prior to the season, this looked like an enticing matchup on paper. However, following FAU's 63-14 opening loss to Oklahoma, the complexion of this contest has changed. Lane Kiffin's Owls are not the 11-3 squad they were a year ago. UCF will have had two weeks to prepare for this contest after Hurricane Florence postponed its game Saturday. These teams haven't met since 2003.

Prediction: UCF 34, FAU 13

Before the Nittany Lions can think about next week's visit from Ohio State, they have a little business to take care of in east central Illinois. Illinois has struggled in each of its three games, so this really shouldn't be considered a trap game for Penn State, which has won 13 straight against unranked Big Ten opponents.

Prediction: Penn State 45, Illinois 19

Michigan has bounced back nicely from its opening loss to Notre Dame, and it enters as almost a three-touchdown favorite. However, the story is Nebraska, which is still winless under favorite son Scott Frost with plenty of frustration settling in. The Cornhuskers have lost five in a row against ranked foes and allowed an average of 53 points in the last four of those contests.

Prediction: Michigan 24, Nebraska 13

Missouri is the latest comer trying to take down the Bulldogs — it didn't work for South Carolina. Georgia is not only talented again this year, but it's extremely confident on both sides of the ball. Mizzou quarterback Drew Lock has NFL skills and threw seven touchdowns in the last two games against the Bulldogs. He's also been picked off four times in those contests.

Prediction: Georgia 35, Missouri 18

Ranked for the first time since November 2008, the Eagles haven't started a season 4-0 since 2007. Boston College's defense has been solid in recent years, but an offense led by quarterback Anthony Brown and running back AJ Dillon might be catching up after totaling 158 points in the first three games. Purdue hasn't gone 0-4 since 1982.

Prediction: Boston College 24, Purdue 20

The Irish embark on their first road game of the season. It doesn't expect to be an easy one against Wake, which battled Boston College tough at home last week. Notre Dame has relied on a pretty strong defense thus far, allowing an average of 16.7 points. The Demon Deacons scored 37 at Notre Dame last year but have dropped all four meetings in the series.

Prediction: Notre Dame 27, Wake Forest 13

Jimbo and Saban will meet for a second consecutive season, this time with one guiding a new program. Could this end up being the SEC's best current coaching rivalry? Perhaps at some point. But right now the Crimson Tide are still the best team in the nation, and the Aggies are just trying to keep up.

Prediction: Alabama 45, Texas A&M 14

Quarterback Kelly Bryant claims he's ready after suffering a chest injury in last weekend's victory over Georgia Southern. The luxury for the Tigers is that freshman Trevor Lawrence is certainly capable of running the show. Clemson has outscored Georgia Tech 93-41 while winning three consecutive games between the teams.

Prediction: Clemson 35, Georgia Tech 14

Separated by 8.5 miles, these schools are facing off for just the third time. However, there is plenty of intrigue . FIU coach Butch Davis is facing Miami, the school he coached from 1995-2000. There's also that 2006 brawl between the schools. Plenty of time has passed since the last meeting in 2007, but the Hurricanes should feel good about quarterback Malik Rosier, who has thrown four touchdowns without an interception in the last two games and run for five overall.

Prediction: Miami 31, FIU 20

For better or worse, Urban Meyer is back on the sidelines for the Buckeyes. They hardly missed him while scoring 169 points during his three-game absence. This should be another one-sided contest, even with injured star defender Nick Bosa out. Ohio State hopes he'll be ready for next weekend's clash with Penn State.

Prediction: Ohio State 52, Tulane 16

Due to Hurricane Florence, Virginia Tech must wait an extra week to improve to 3-0. The Hokies won 38-0 in last year's meeting with the Monarchs in this matchup of Virginia-based schools. Since going 10-3 and winning the Bahamas Bowl in 2016, Old Dominion is 5-10.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 41, Old Dominion 10

Florence also postponed West Virginia's game at North Carolina State last week, so the Mountaineers should be well-rested. In two games, Heisman contender Will Grier is 46-of-60 for 761 yards with nine touchdowns and an interception. He threw for 372 with four TDs, plus a pair of interceptions, during last season's slim 28-23 victory at Kansas State. It shouldn't be that close this time.

Prediction: West Virginia 49, Kansas State 20

This should be the game of the week in the Big 12. TCU needs to rebound from last weekend's loss to Ohio State, while the Longhorns are trying to work their way back into the Top 25 with a third consecutive victory. The Horned Frogs have outscored Texas 153-33 while winning the last four meetings. However, Texas just throttled previously ranked USC at home.

Predictions: TCU 29, Texas 20

Unranked at the time, the Cougars pulled off the upset of the young season with a 24-21 victory over then-No. 6 Wisconsin last weekend. This was a program that managed just four wins in 2017, highly uncharacteristic for the Cougars. BYU hasn't allowed more than 23 points in any game and should remain stingy against one of the top teams in the FCS.

Prediction: BYU 30, McNeese 14

Mississippi State is averaging an impressive 50 points through three games thanks to running back Kylin Hill and quarterbacks Nick Fitzgerald and Keytaon Thompson. Kentucky, however, has allowed just 46 points and already beat previously ranked Florida on the road. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last nine against the Wildcats, but that loss was in 2016 at Lexington.

Prediction: Mississippi State 27, Kentucky 20

All LSU has done is proved the critics wrong with early victories over top 10 teams in Miami and in dramatic fashion against Auburn last weekend. The Tigers have yet to commit a turnover while forcing seven. Seems like a perfect combination for success that should continue this weekend.

Prediction: LSU 33, Louisiana Tech 19

You have to go back all the way to 1961 for the last time these storied programs met on the football field. The Sooners have won two of the three all-time meetings, and Lincoln Riley's group should increase its winning margin. Too bad Kyler Murray's career appears to be on the diamond and not the gridiron.

Prediction: Oklahoma 35, Army 14

There was talk of this potentially being a rebuilding season in Stillwater, but the Cowboys showed with last weekend's convincing win over then-No. 17 Boise State that they might actually be reloading. Taylor Cornelius is more than a serviceable quarterback, and running back Justice Hill is averaging 8.1 yards per carry while scoring four times on the ground. Oklahoma State has won nine in a row over Texas Tech.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 33, Texas Tech 24

Auburn should be eager to move on from last week's stunning, last-second home loss to LSU. After being held to 21 points and 328 total yards against LSU, Auburn's Tigers should be able to bounce back offensively. Arkansas allowed 78 points in consecutive losses to Colorado State and North Texas, entering this one.

Prediction: Auburn 38, Arkansas 13

A week off should help the Spartans regroup from their loss at Arizona State. Though Michigan State has won eight of nine over the Hoosiers, that one defeat during the stretch came at Bloomington in 2016. Indiana last started 4-0 in 2015.

Prediction: Michigan State 23, Indiana 15

Stanford has already handled a good San Diego State team and stymied previously ranked USC. Now comes another challenge against an Oregon team that averaged 51.7 point while hardly being tested through three games. The Cardinal, who have scored 101 points while winning the last two with the Ducks, will get Bryce Love back from his one-game injury absence.

Prediction: Oregon 24, Stanford 21

Wisconsin doesn't have an easy opportunity to bounce back from its loss to BYU. But this is also a chance for the Badgers to really prove they are worthy of contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff, even if that seems bleak at the moment. They've won five of six against Iowa, which looks to announce its own presence on the national scene.

Prediction: Wisconsin 22, Iowa 19

Washington recorded a solid victory at Utah last weekend in its Pac-12 opener. This one might not be easy, but the Sun Devils must find a way to rebound from a loss at San Diego State. The Huskies have won just once in the last 12 vs. Arizona State; however, that victory came at home in 2016. Washington should repeat that feat this time.

Prediction: Washington 31, Arizona State 14

Led by young, charismatic head coach P.J. Fleck, the Golden Gophers are trying to start 4-0 for the first time since 2013. Maryland enjoyed a solid win over then-No. 23 Texas to open the season but is coming off a defeat to Temple at home. The Terps also are expected to receive the findings from the death investigation of offensive lineman Jordan McNair on Friday.

Prediction: Maryland 22, Minnesota 20

Florida has won 12 of the last 13 meetings against the Vols. However, the lone defeat during that span came during its last trip to Knoxville, in 2016. In fact, Florida has dropped six of 10 on the road dating to 2015. Tennessee sophomore running back Tim Jordan ran for 118 yards against West Virginia this month and is worth keeping an eye on.

Prediction: Tennessee 25, Florida 20