CFB WEEK 4

Game of the Week:

#1 Alabama @ #10 Arkansas
This sets up to be the first huge match up in the SEC West Division, as the Tide invade Fayetteville for a confrontation between two Top 10 teams. Alabama has won the last three meetings in this series. The key to this game will be the ability of the Hogs offensive line to keep QB Ryan Mallett upright. In last seasons game Mallett was 12/35 for 160 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT. The Tide only return two starters from last years team but have not lost a step in 2010. Through three games Alabama has only allowed a little over 6 points per game. Arkansas will have to get something out of their running game to keep some pressure off of Mallett. Running is something the Hogs have not been able to do so far this season ranking 98^th in the country through 3 weeks. Mallett will be the focus and he should be but if the Razorbacks expect to pull the upset they need some help around the star QB.

Alabama will be looking to do what Bama does and that is use the dual threat of RB Trent Richardson and RB Mark Ingram. Ingram returned last week for his first action of the season against Duke. He did not miss a beat running 9 times for 151 yards. The Hogs were able to stiffen the Tide last season only giving up 134 yards on 41 carries. The Razorbacks will hope to make the Tide rely on QB Greg McElroy to beat them down the field. McElroy has been extremely efficient through three weeks completing almost 72% of his passes on the season. The Hogs do return 7 starters from last years team and the secondary will have to be strong to slow down WR Julio Jones.

My Prediction:  I know that Arkansas is playing at home and those fans will be going nuts with the #1 team in the country in town. BUT the running game of Ingram and Richardson will be to much for the Hog defense to handle. Alabama will also control the one-dimensional offense of Arkansas, harassing Mallett all day. Roll Tide Roll 31-17. 

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#12 South Carolina @ #17 AuburnThis will be a telling sign of the maturity level of Auburn after a huge win in dramatic fashion over Clemson last weekend. Auburn QB Cameron Newton has been sensational throwing 7 TDs and rushing for 2 more. The offense is relying heavily on Newton as well as the running game, the Tigers are 12^th in the country averaging 259 yards per game.

The Gamecocks have been doing something that is unfamiliar with the Ole Ball Coach Steve Spurrier and that is running the ball. The Gamecocks like the Tigers have used the teams ability to run the ball to get victories so far this season. The main threat for the Gamecocks have been true freshman Marcus Lattimore who through three games is average 111 yards per game.

My Prediction:  In my opinion QB play is the key to any success in football at any level. Even though Newton is less experienced than Garcia I believe the home crowd plus the dual threat capability of Newton will give the edge to the Auburn Tigers. Tigers win 21-17.

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#22 West Virginia @ #15 LSUWest Virginia has always been a team that relies on speed and angles to produce a prolific rushing attack but this season has been a little different. The Mountaineers are using the right arm of QB Geno Smith who has thrown for 800 yards and completed 70% of his passes so far. The running game is still dangerous as the electric RB Noel Devine is averaging nearly 5 yards a carry. West Virginia has not faced a team at the caliber of LSU with wins over Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Maryland. History is not going to be on the Mountaineers side as West Virginia is trying to become the first non-SEC team to beat LSU in Death Valley since UAB did it in 2000.

The Mad Hatter Les Miles is under scrutiny down in the Bayou as the Tigers are coming off back to back sub par seasons. The Tigers only returned 10 starters going into the season. LSU QB Jordan Jefferson has been a model of the team as a whole, very inconsistent. The Tigers will need help from RB Stevan Ridley who has 318 yards on 55 carries this season. The Tigers defense struggled in the opening game against North Carolina giving up over 400 yards through the air. Since then they have held opponents to 14 points total. LSU will need their young defense to grow up quickly if they expect to get a victory over the Mountaineers.

My Prediction: College teams can be heavily influenced by home crowds and I do not know if there is a tougher place to play than LSU Tiger Stadium at night. I am not a huge fan of Jordan Jefferson but I believe the Tigers will be able to establish a running game against a smaller WVU defense. I like the Tigers to get a much needed win for their head coach 35-31 Tigers.

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Other Predictions:

Boise State 42 Oregon State 21: I am not sure why this game is getting so much pub! Oregon State is an average PAC 10 team and does not have the defense to slow down Kellen Moore and the Boise offense. I fully expect this game to be a blowout and Bronco nation will be clamoring for their invite to The National Championship Game.

Stanford 35 Notre Dame 31: The Cardinal are led by Heisman hopeful QB Andrew Luck who has been extremely impressive through three games.  The Cardinal are 14^th in the country in rushing and I fully expect them to continue that trend Saturday. Notre Dame has shown no signs over being able to slow down an effective running game.