Huge Games With CFB Playoff Implications Highlight Week 4

It’s been mostly David vs Goliath (with the Goliaths actually winning this time) so far in the 2019 college football season; to say these matchups have been, ahem, less than stellar is an understatement. Fortunately, week 4 is upon us and ​finally ​we have a few Top-25 matchups to write home about, ones that will have a direct impact on what teams will stay the course on the way to the College Football Playoff in January, and what teams will have to claw their way back into the picture.

As is the nature of college football, one loss can be the difference between if you’re in or out. Let’s take a look at a few of the marquee matchups on the weekend.

#10 Utah (-190) @ USC (+145), o/u 53.5
It’s going to be Friday night lights in Los Angeles (good luck with that end-of-week traffic) as the Utes come into the Coliseum to take on the Fighting Trojans. Utah came into the season ranked #14, and has come out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Currently #10 in the nation, they’re looking to finally breakthrough at USC, where the last time they beat the Trojans on the roadwas 1916.​ None of that has any affect on today outside of a fun talking point, but 1916 is still a ridiculously long way to go back to find Utah success in LA. In more recent history, Utah has beaten USC in three of their last five head to heads (all victories at home, obviously) and the last time they were in the Coliseum, they lost a heartbreaker 28-27 in 2017. Last year at home they dismantled USC 41-28; many of the same players are around for tonight’s matchup. Utah comes into this game with loads of confidence, something USC is lacking after losing to BYU in overtime last week (Utah, for what it’s worth, steamrolled BYU 30-12 in their season opener). Both of these teams are in the Pac-12 South, and this game will set the tone for who will have the inside track for the division, as it always does. Behind QB Tyler Huntley (zero interceptions so far this season and completing 77.8% of his passes) and running back Zack Moss (373 rushing yards and averaging 6.5 yards/rush), two talented seniors, Utah will end their run of bad luck in Los Angeles. There isn’t much value in the Utah moneyline, so our favorite play here is Away Team and Over 53.5 Total Points (+205).

#11 Michigan (+132) @ #13 Wisconsin (-175), o/u 44.5
A huge B1G Conference clash on Saturday as the Michigan Wolverines head into Madison to face the Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers defense has been stout so far this season, to say the least. They have yet to give up a single point across two games, while their offense has racked up 110 points behind junior quarterback Jack Coan (5 TDs to zero interceptions and completing 76.3% of his passes) and do-everything running back Jonathan Taylor, who has rushed for 237 yards over their two games with five touchdowns. When we last saw Michigan, they were holding on for dear life vs Army, a game that Michigan should’ve lost but ended up winning 24-21. Though they are 2-0 to start the season, they have been less than impressive in beating Middle Tennessee State and the aforementioned Black Knights. Now they go into a very hostile environment to take on a Wisconsin champing at the bit to avenge last year’s 38-13 loss in Ann Arbor and want that has B1G Conference championship aspirations. Wisconsin isn’t Army; they will win this game outright, but the value play here isn’t in the moneyline, but in the point spread. Take ​Wisconsin -3.5 (-110)​ here.

#7 Notre Dame (+425) @ #3 Georgia (-670), o/u 57.5
With our final matchup in our trio of college football previews, we saved the best for last. At least on paper. This is a battle college football powerhouses under the lights in Athens, Georgia. Fever pitch does not accurately describe what will surely be organized chaos in the stands for this game (Georgia is adding 500 temporary bleacher seats at one end of the stadium that will bring the attendance numbers to over 93,000). This is only the third time ever that these two programs have played each other, the last time being 2017 in the first game of their home-and-home series when Georgia went into South Bend and came away with a 20-19 victory. Now the Golden Domers want to return the favor and clear a huge roadblock on their path to the College Football Playoff in January. Both teams have been dominant this season in what have essentially been warm-up games leading into this one. Georgia is a run-heavy team, but QB Jake Fromm is very capable, having thrown for 601 yards and five touchdowns to zero interceptions.

Fighting Irish QB Ian Book has been just as good, with both his arm and his legs, as he also leads Notre Dame in rushing yards. The Fighting Irish have a very formidable defensive line, while Georgia’s offensive line is arguably their biggest strength as they have paved the way for a quartet of running backs that on their own could start almost anywhere in the country, so this game will be won and lost in the trenches. The Irish will be battling both the Bulldogs and the well-earned stigma of getting blown out more often than not in games vs elite opponents such as this one; the oddsmakers know this to be the case as they have made Notre Dame 14.5-point underdogs. They’re 3-7 vs Top 10 teams under head coach Brian Kelly, so that point spread isn’t as surprising as it should be. But Notre Dame is a talented bunch and they’re eventually going to get a huge win on the road under Kelly, so why not now? The frisky play is to take the ​Irish moneyline +425,​ but the best value play here is ​Away Team Point Spread +14.5 and Under 57.5 Total Points (+210).​ Look for the defenses to keep the score close.

This should be a great week 4 of college football, easily the best so far this season. Enjoy watching and good luck!

*Credit to the main photo of this article belongs to Paul Sancya/Associated Press