College football picks, predictions, odds: LSU-UCLA, Michigan State-Boston College among best bets in Week 4

I can’t wait for conference play to start in earnest. This week, we have three games between ranked teams and they are all conference games.  No. 6 Tennessee is at No. 15 Oklahoma, 11th-ranked USC visits the Big House and No. 18 Michigan and Big 12 favorite No. 12 Utah travels to 14th-ranked Oklahoma State. 

Each week, I will use this space to tell you what I think are a few of the best bets heading into the weekend. I will also throw in an upset of the week, which will be a team that is at least a touchdown underdog that I am picking to win outright.

I will also give you picks on other games involving potential College Football Playoff teams. Since just about everybody is technically a CFP candidate at the moment. So for the first few weeks of the season at least, I’ll go with the current top 12 teams in the AP Top 25 poll. With the expanded playoff this season, I’ll go deeper into the rankings once we get a few games under our belts.

Games against FCS opponents are not considered. 

I am still recovering from the trauma of Purdue’s 66-7 loss to Notre Dame, but there are no excuses. Picks are to be made and here are my favorites.

Odds via SportsLine consensus

Week 4 picks

UCLA at No. 16 LSU (-24.5): The DeShaun Foster era is off to a rough start at UCLA. The Bruins are 1-1, but that win came on a game-ending field goal at Hawaii. Last week, Indiana ruined UCLA’s home opener with a 42-13 win. No, that wasn’t basketball. The Bruins now make their second of six long road trips this season to LSU. The Tigers have not been setting the world on fire, but they may not be able to help themselves. Pick: LSU -24.5

Charlotte at Indiana (-28.5): Indiana has not exactly been putting up basketball scores – oh, wait – the Hoosiers put up…

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Author : Jerry Palm

Publish date : 2024-09-18 18:21:59

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