WEEK 4

One of the great things about college football is that it’s impossible to predict what will grace the pages of this weekly recap. I sit down on Sunday morning with a blank canvas, never knowing which brush will be needed, often not even knowing a damn brush exists until I witness it with my own eyes the day before.

But even with those solidly reasonable expectations, I never would have predicted that the highlight of Week Four could have been Pat McAfee jumping three and a half stories off a diving platform, clad in nothing but a black speedo, the roar of the Hurricane faithful driving him towards the glassy water below. 

Maybe I’m just too easily entertained.

More importantly, order was restored to OTC, with 8 competitors posting scores in the 40s, a marked improvement from last week, when 28 was the top score. Yeesh.

KingBrutus was #2 on the week, but back to #1 overall, sitting at 143, two above dallas2697 and five above rylaw247. The only person to outduel the current king in Week Four? Kybow, edging out a one-point victory, scooting to 6th overall.

On the field, it was a week of dominance. Indiana, ranked 10 spots behind visiting Illinois, entered the game a mear touchdown favorite. Then walked out near eight touchdown victors. Talk about a smackdown. The Canes might as well have pushed the Gators off that 33-foot diving platform, leading to yet another colossal belly flop. Billy Watch has become my favorite early season story. Texas Tech stormed into a hostile Utah environment as 3.5-point dogs, only to win by 24. 

Blowouts galore.

A bit of drama existed outside the top 25, the Razorbacks blowing an 18-point lead, allowing Memphis a 4th quarter comeback that led to a 32-21 win and the biggest comeback in the FBS so far this season. In Baylor, the Bears evened things at 24 with a touchdown with less than two minutes to play. But the defending Big 12 champs were undeterred, with Jesus Gomez (emphasis on the Jesus) connecting on a 43-yard FG as time expired to elevate the Sun Devils. A lot of religious symbolism there, I know.

The Horned Frogs proved quicker than the Stallions, comfortably taking care of business against SMU. The Bill Belichick era continued its dismal start, with Tar Heels fans begging for basketball season to just tipoff already after a 34-9 loss to the UCF Knights. Duke won, and covered, in an in-state battle with the Wolfpack. And the Brigham boys, once a writer-favorite, moved to 3-0 with a Pirate slaying. Is it time to start getting excited about the Cougars again?!

Week 5 is going to be lit (do the kids still say that?). #4 LSU heads to the Grove to do battle with an undefeated #13 Ole Miss squad. #6 Oregon migrates waaaaay east for a showdown in Happy Valley against #3 Penn State. And a recovering #17 Bama team busses to Athens for a heated rivalry game with the #5 Dawgs. Buckle up, and in the words of the new sign off I’m trying this week… “Think you’re slick? Make that pick!” Let the commish know if you think it sucks or want to see it again. 

See you next week, gents.

                  VEGAS

#17 Texas Tech @ #16 Utah (-3.5)

Arkansas (-7.5) @ Memphis

SMU @ TCU (-6.5)

#21 Michigan (-1.5) @ Nebraska

UNC @ UCF (-7)

NC State @ Duke (-3.5)

Florida @ #4 Miami (FL) (-8.5)

#9 Illinois @ #19 Indiana (-6.5)

Arizona State @ Baylor (-2.5)

BYU (-6.5) @ East Carolina