The fourth full week of the college football season is upon us, and with each fall weekend comes more and more key conference matchups.
During this week’s slate, there are four games between teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including a huge SEC showdown between No. 6 Tennessee and conference newcomer 15th-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday.
Speaking of teams playing in new conferences, No. 11 USC will play a big Big Ten game against No. 18 Michigan in the Big House, while No. 12 Utah heads to No. 14 Oklahoma State for a Big 12 mathcup in the Utes first year in that conference.
takes a look at these three games and makes our picks and predictions against the spread.
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A game that was once reserved for a Rose Bowl matchup will now be coming to college football fans as a mid-September Big Ten matchup, as No. 11 Southern Cal heads to No. 18 Michigan on Saturday afternoon for the conference opener for both teams (3:30 p.m., CBS).
This is the Trojans’ first year in the Big Ten, and they’re looking to make a statement, while Michigan, which lost to Texas two weeks ago, is trying to remain in the national championship conversation.
The Wolverines will start Alex Orji at quarterback this week as he replaces Week 1 starter Davis Warren, who has already thrown six interceptions this season.
Orji is a junior who has only thrown seven career collegiate passes, four of which came last week in a too-close-for-comfort win over Arkansas State, including a touchdown. Orji, a running threat as well, did run for 27 yards and has 155 rushing yards for career.
USC is coming off a bye week after a big win over then-No. 13 LSU to start the season and then strolling past Utah State 48-0 in Week 2.
Leading the way for the Trojans is quarterback Miller Moss, who has thrown for 607 yards in pretty much a game and a half, completing nearly 73% of his passes.
USC takes care of business on the road, starting its Big Ten campaign off on the right foot at the Big House.
USC vs. Michigan Predictions for Sept. 21
The Oklahoma Sooners will host – and play in – their first SEC game Saturday when the high-flying Tennessee Volunteers come to Norman as a 7-point favorite (7:30 p.m., ABC).
This one should be fun.
Tennessee’s offense is cooking through three games this season. The Vols lead the nation in scoring offense, averaging 63.7 points per game. Read that again.
They’re also second in total offense, averaging 639.3 yards per game.
Running back Dylan Sampson is in the top 10 in rushing with 357 yards and nine touchdowns on the season, which is tied for tops in FBS; and quarterback Nico Iamaleava has thrown for 698 yards and six touchdowns.
Oklahoma’s defense is in the top 25 in the nation, allowing 11.33 points per game. The Sooners are giving up just over 260 total yards per game.
But this Tennessee team under former Oklahoma quarterback (and Heisman Trophy runner-up) Josh Heupel’s direction is just too good.
Vols big here.
Tennessee vs. Oklahoma Predictions for Sept. 21
Entering this week, quarterback Cam Rising was expected to start for No. 12 Utah in its Big 12 opener against Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Saturday (4 p.m., FOX), making the Utes 2-point favorites.
But then the line flipped Thursday morning to Oklahoma State -2.5, which would indicated the often-injured Rising would miss Saturday's game.
If Rising plays, that’s good news not just for Utes fans, but for all who love college football, as the promising Rising has battled through a career full of injuries. He’s missed the last six quarters with a finger injury, while missing all of last year with a knee injury he suffered in the 2023 Rose Bowl.
Rising helped lead Utah to back-to-back Pac-12 titles in 2021 and 2022. Now, healthy, he’ll get a chance to see if he can lead the Utes to a Big 12 crown.
If he doesn't play, the already battle-tested Cowboys’ squad, which took out Arkansas in a double-overtime thriller two weeks ago to stay undefeated, looks like a good pick.
Senior quarterback Alan Bowman leads Oklahoma State, throwing for almost 1,000 yards through three games and eight touchdowns against just two interceptions.
This one should be one of the better games of the day, especially if Rising plays, and that’s saying something.
Utah vs. Oklahoma State Predictions for Sept. 21
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Mike Szvetitz is the General Manager and Content Director for . Szvetitz is a 24-year veteran reporter and editor, including serving 17 years as a sports editor in Florida, Alabama and Virginia, covering everything from preps to pros. His "View From The Lazy Boy" column won multiple state and national awards. He can be reached at mszvetitz@timesdispatch.com.