10 Best Football Games-Week 4

Well, it looks like this round of conference shuffling is coming to an end (Thankfully), with the PAC-12 deciding against expansion at this time. Granted, some more schools may shuffle around, but the biggest pieces have moved, with Syracuse and Pitt going to the ACC and leaving the Big East in utter disarray at the moment. Plus, the Big 12 may actually stay intact, so this is all good news for college football and college athletics for the moment.
Plus, it was another week in the NFL where there were some blowouts which were surprising: Tennessee upsetting Baltimore and Detroit just absolutely thrashing Kansas City by 45. Then, there were some close games like Green Bay getting a scare from Carolina and a completely devastating injury to a team: Jamaal Charles of the Chiefs is gone for the year with a torn ACL. So, goes to show what can and can't be predicted each week there. Anyway, allow me to commence the picking!

College

#7 Oklahoma State at #8 Texas A&M, 3:30, ABC

This is the only top 10 game of the weekend, and boy is it a doozy of one. Oklahoma State and its air attack taking on one of the best defenses in the country in Texas A&M. Both of these teams are slightly under the radar hopefuls for the national title, and this week is the testing ground to see if they are contenders or pretenders. The Aggies have only given up 21 points in their first two games. Granted, those were against Southern Methodist and Idaho, but it is still good. While the Cowboys have scored the third most points in the nation per game, slightly under 60! Granted, two of those games were against a Sun Belt team in Louisiana-Lafayette and a C-USA team in Tulsa, but those are still some gaudy numbers. But, since this will be the first true test for both teams, I'm going to say offense wins out this time and Justin Blackmon has a great game receiving, getting three touchdowns.

Pick: OSU 45, A&M 30

#2 LSU at #16 West Virginia, 8, ABC

I, for one, and probably my fellow blogger and friend Jason Weimer from thefroshfifteen.blogspot.com, applaud LSU for taking chances in their scheduling early.  As LSU has played a then top five Oregon team at a somewhat neutral field in Dallas, then playing a cupcake, followed by a tough SEC West showdown with Mississippi State on the road followed by another good test on the road with West Virginia in Morgantown. These two teams played last year at LSU, at night, which is deafening according to most who have gone there. The game was close, with LSU coming out on top 20-14 in a tight, defensive battle where Patrick Peterson pulled his own Desmond Howard and did the Heisman pose at the end of a great 60-yard punt return. College Gameday will be in Morgantown for the first time ever and the noise level should be turned up a notch as it's a primetime game. But, West Virginia has come out sluggishly in some of its games. West Virginia better not do that here, or else they will be toast by halftime. LSU has a top five defense and very well could dominate the game just defensively again. So, I'm expecting them to do so, and hold the Mountaineer attack to under 20 points for the first time this season.

Pick: LSU 24, West Virginia 13

#14 Arkansas at #3 Alabama, 3:30, CBS

Saturday afternoon, your remote is going to have to be right by your side, as there is the OSU-A&M game, this one, and the Florida State-Clemson game I'm previewing all happening at the same time. So, it's an exciting afternoon of college football, or at least it's shaping up to be one. Anyway, back to the game itself. This game is much like the A&M-Oklahoma State game, potent offense at potent defense. Well, this game is going to be just the reverse of that OSU-A&M game, where Alabama is just going to get after Arkansas and dominate the game. Alabama has the best defense in the nation hands down, and will completely stall Tyler Wilson and the Razorback offense.

Pick: Alabama 24, Arkansas 6

#11 Florida State at #21 Clemson, 3:30, ESPN

Florida State is coming off an emotional loss at home to the number one team in the country, Oklahoma. Clemson, on the other hand, is coming off an upset win at home versus the team with the longest winning streak in the nation, Auburn. So, one is looking to bounce back, the other is looking to keep up their winning ways. Clemson will almost always do the following: win a few coming out of the gate and start feeling good, then lose a few and lose all momentum they once had. This goes for football and basketball with them. So, here it goes again, they've won a few, but now a very good team comes into town, and they will lose. Florida State will rebound from their loss and look to win the ACC now.

Pick: FSU 31, Clemson 20

Missouri at #1 Oklahoma, 8, FX

If this game was in Missouri, I'd definitely give them a shot at the upset, but since it is in Norman, look for the Sooners to continue on their march toward the national title. The game will be closer than most think, as Mizzou is good, just not that good.

Pick: OU 35, Mizzou 32

NFL

Houston at New Orleans, 1, CBS

This intraconference showdown is one between two really good teams. Houston continued to prove that their dominance over Indy was no fluke performance and the defense showed up again against Miami. Although Miami isn't that great of a team. Houston has high aspirations, and if they can win here, this could be a point where the team looks back and proved themselves. However, New Orleans is really good at home, and after a sluggish start last week, they rolled to a 30-13 victory over the Bears. I expect New Orleans to win, but for Houston to keep it somewhat close throughout the game.

Pick: New Orleans 34, Houston 28

New York Giants at Philadelphia, 1, Fox

The Eagles looked impressive for three quarters last week in Atlanta before the defense gave the game away in the fourth, allowing 14 unanswered points in the last 11 minutes. Philadelphia has changed their biggest weakness in the linebacking corps, moving Casey Mathews now to weak side line backer and replacing Mathews with Jamar Chaney, who will now take over the play calling. Philly's biggest concern is if Michael Vick can come back from his concussion he suffered last week. New York meanwhile, just clobbered St. Louis on Monday night. So, they are coming in on a high note, even though they lost their number 3 wide receiver Dominik Hixon to a torn ACL. But, the Giants still have their two beasts at running back in Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. The Eagles have a tough time with the running game, so this could spell trouble, However, it is a rivalry game and the Eagles are at home, so give them the edge here.

Pick: Philly 24, New York 21

New England at Buffalo, 1, CBS

This game is only on here because Buffalo is 2-0. After this week, they will fall back to earth and you will not hear from them again.

Pick: New England 50, Buffalo 13

Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 4:15, Fox

This is a good divisional game between two teams vying for the division crown. Tampa is looking to continue their comeback victory at Minnesota this week at home and Josh Freeman looks to continue to improve. Atlanta is also looking to continue its momentum, but theirs was at home. Tampa should win this game, but by the narrowest of margins.

Pick: Tampa 21, Atlanta 20

Green Bay at Chicago, 4:15, Fox

This is a rematch of last year's NFC title game, and in the same place. Green Bay had somewhat of a scare last week against the frontrunner for rookie of the year in Cam Newton. Chicago, on the other hand, looks like it's the same old team. Defense first, with zero outside threat, and use Matt Forte to the best of his ability. So, therefore, I see the same result as last year's title game.

Pick: Green Bay 27, Chicago 17