Week 4 Saturday Six-Pack

Time certainly flies when you’re having fun. Today is the final September Saturday, and by day’s end most of the 120 Bowl Subdivision programs will be one-third of the way through their schedules; for the Championship Subdivision, that percentage is closer to 40.

We are still a few weeks away from having a gauge on which teams are legitimate and which are fraudulent, but this Saturday will begin the sorting process. The Week 4 docket features numerous high quality but lower echelon match-ups like Cal at Washington, Kansas State at Miami, Ohio at Rutgers, Colorado at Ohio State and Southern Miss at Virginia. Others feature a few top names, but with likely mismatches: Missouri at Oklahoma; Notre Dame at Pitt; Oregon at Arizona.

The six selections for this week jumped out, though admittedly San Diego State – Michigan was tempting for a selection and indeed, I rate the Aztecs’ meeting with former head coach Brady Hoke a solid five brews. Jeff Twining and I broke down that match-up in-depth on the podcast, which you can check out here.

ARKANSAS AT ALABAMA

“This is why we came here, to Alabama, to the SEC, to play in these big games,” Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones said in his press conference Tuesday.

SEC play opens with a bang for ‘Bama and Arkansas in the first of a trifecta of games fans and pundits have had circled on their calendars as far back as January. UA plays Arky then LSU, and LSU-Arky rounds out the trilogy that should determine the SEC West.

The Razorback offense remains potent even without injured tailback Knile Davis or All-SEC quarterback Ryan Mallette. Of course, the nation got a glimpse at current starting Hog QB Tyler Wilson when Mallette missed the Auburn game last year.

“[The Auburn game] showed what kind of player he is. Offensively, they didn’t miss a beat and that just shows a lot about his talent,” ‘Bama linebacker Dont’a Hightower said.

Last season, Hightower and Co. held the Hogs to just 20 points en route to a Tide victory. A similar effort is needed Saturday, and the key is exposing a kink in the armor of the line.

“They’re better in run blocking then they were last season,” Hightower said. “The freshman [tackle Mitch Smothers] is doing a good job, but we need to use [his lack of experience] to our advantage.”

Arkansas’ gameplan will center around slowing the running attack of Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy. That means forcing AJ McCarron to throw more. If an improved Razorback defense can limit the rushing opportunities, an upset may brew in Tuscaloosa.

Rating: 6 Brews

This could prove to be the Game of the Week. Both teams are in the top 15 and have exhibited potent rushing ability. Alabama’s defense is the most talented in the nation, which could either bring out the best in Tyler Wilson or expose the Razorbacks as a pretender.

My Pick: Over 100,000 will have Bryant Denny Stadium rocking, and the Alabama defense will prove too much for the visiting Hogs in a game the Tide keep out of arm’s reach throughout.

OKLAHOMA STATE AT TEXAS A&M

Last season’s Thursday night showdown can be seen as the launch point of several key events. Oklahoma State rallied from an early deficit to remain unbeaten (as it is now), and set the tone for a double-digit win campaign in Stillwater. Though it was the Cowboys’ lowest point total to that point, the 38 points OSU scored on what proved to be a stout A&M defense exhibited Dana Holgorsen’s offense for the dynamite it is, brought him national attention and eventually the West Virginia job. And for A&M, the turnover-laden battle set in motion a changing of the guard at quarterback. Ryan Tannehill took over for a struggling Jerrod Johnson, and the Aggies took off en route to the Cotton Bowl.

Those are lofty standards these season’s installment in College Station set for what may well be the last regular season match-up ever between these programs. There’s an interesting parallel between Johnson and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden. Johnson emerged unexpectedly in 2009 but was bitten by the turnover bug in ’10. Weeden’s stellar 2010 set high expectations, and with eight touchdowns he’s rising to the occasion. But he has also thrown six picks, and A&M is the kind of team that thrives cashing in on others’ mistakes.

Rating: 5 Brews

Despite the sloppiness of last season’s game, it was an exciting pairing. Both teams are arguably better than a year ago, as their top 10 rankings can testify. The winner powers into the remainder of Big 12 competition a very viable BCS Championship contender; what better parting gift could Mike Sherman leave for the SEC with than that?

My Pick: The Weeden-Justin Blackmon combination may be the nation’s most prolific quarterback-receiving tandem, but those interceptions I find troubling. A&M is easily the best defense OSU has seen yet, and the Aggies will capitalize on mistakes. A&M wins another close one.

FLORIDA STATE AT CLEMSON

Florida State and Clemson are each entering ACC play off marquee, non-conference match-ups. Their results were very different. Whether its big rally to defeat Auburn will catapult Clemson into this top 25 showdown with ridiculous momentum or if FSU’s frustrating loss to No. 1 Oklahoma will fuel the Seminoles’ competitive fires will be readily evident at kickoff. If it’s the latter, CU will be in for a long afternoon. The Tigers have had a nasty habit of starting slow, whether playing even with Troy for a half, trailing Wofford the better part of three quarters or falling behind two touchdowns vs. Auburn.

The Seminoles are the kind of team that will bury an opponent that starts slow.

FSU may have dropped its big non-conference game, but the Seminoles boast nearly every on-field advantage. The Seminole defense performed admirably against a Sooner offense that employs a spread similar to Clemson’s, only with greater effectiveness than the Tigers. Tajh Boyd is a genuine talent, and he proved it in leading the Tigers’ comeback against Auburn. But Boyd doesn’t have a receiving corps at his disposal quite like Landry Jones’ at OU.

FSU also flourishes via a multi-pronged rushing attack, and the offensive philosophy melds to EJ Manuel or Clint Trickett’s specific skills. Manuel’s health forces Dabo Swinney and staff to game plan for two different styles.

Yes, nearly every on-field advantage favors FSU — but the field itself favors CU, and homefield advantage could prove monumental. Death Valley will be rocking for the biggest game of the post-CJ Spiller era, and perhaps most important game of the past 15 years.

Rating: 5 Brews

The young Tigers against Jimbo Fisher’s more savvy Seminoles is an interesting juxtaposition. The role of hunted is one FSU has rarely worn in the past decade, and Saturday is the first time it will this season. It’s just the opener, but already huge ACC implications are at stake as two of the conference’s most talented quarterbacks (should) line up opposite one another.

My Pick: CU will come out gunning, but thus far has not shown an ability to start sufficiently. FSU showed its defensive capabilities against Oklahoma, and should impose its will on Clemson.

USC AT ARIZONA STATE

Every Pac-10 (but not Pac-12) member has beaten USC since George W. Bush was first inaugurated as president — every member, that is, but Arizona State. The Sun Devils last defeated the Trojans in 1999, smack dab amid the lackluster Paul Hackett era. Players change. Coaches change. The Sun Devils’ futility against USC has remained a constant. Beating USC is an important step for this program, not only for its pursuit of the Pac-12 South divisional title but overcoming a major mental hurdle.

Easier said than done, particularly given ASU fell victim to another of its bad habits last week. The Sun Devils have often come close in big games, but failed to close the deal. Just look to last season’s defeats at Wisconsin and yes, USC for further evidence. Illinois is the latest opponent to escape a nailbiter with ASU. Last week’s game exposed a critical flaw in the running game USC will aim to exploit.

That could force Brock Osweiler into a shootout with Matt Barkley, and the Trojan quarterback is better suited to that type of contest.

Rating: 4 Brews

Thus far, it appears these are the South’s two best teams in terms of sheer talent. USC cannot represent the division in the Pac-12 title game, so this could be the Trojans’ default championship. But having something to play for means extra motivation for the Sun Devils. The Tempe crowd will be on fire, and a talented defense can force USC’s own ineffective running game into precarious situations.

My Pick: Brock Osweiler gets just enough of his offense to snap the streak and put ASU in the driver’s seat of the Pac-12 South.

NORTH CAROLINA AT GEORGIA TECH

Under-the-radar ACC opponents UNC and Georgia Tech are both 3-0. Granted, neither has played particularly stiff competition, so Saturday’s tilt in Atlanta is the first genuine test for each. Both have shown flashes of brilliance. Georgia Tech specifically is coming off a 768-yard outing vs. Kansas and leads the nation in points per game.

UNC head coach Everett Withers said in his press conference this week the triple option “isn’t the kind of offense you spend only game week preparing for.” Given Withers took over the Tar Heels less than a month before their opener against James Madison, the process was truncated further. UNC has boasted some of the nation’s top talent on the defensive side, and one such talent, Quinton Coples, must rise up to slow Tevin Washington, Orwin Smith, and the rest of the Yellow Jacket offense.

The Tar Heels need a big day from quarterback Bryn Renner, who has danced between looking stellar and reckless through the team’s first three games.

Rating: 4 Brews

Questions about each team will be answered in this ACC opener. Each could emerge as a dark horse conference championship contender, but to do so must beat the pretenders. For Saturday’s winner, the separation of contender from pretender begins early.

My Pick: The Yellow Jackets’ struggles last season were surprising given how well prepared Paul Johnson teams typically are. GT seems less reliant on the quarterback, as it was on Josh Nesbitt last year. That’s a good thing, as the option is more balanced and thus more dangerous. The Tar Heels have their hands full, and Withers should suffer his first career loss.

LSU AT WEST VIRGINIA

Gameday’s stop in Morgantown should whip the Mountaineer faithful into a frenzy exceeding even West Virginia’s standards. Last season’s game in Baton Rouge was a barnburner LSU escaped with its defensive play. These Tigers are better in every facet, but West Virginia is seemingly piecing together Dana Holgorsen’s scheme. This is as lofty a test as it gets for quarterback Geno Smith.

LSU takes the country roads into Morgantown well tested against prolific offenses, summarily shutting down the highest scoring team of 2010 Oregon, and Mississippi State. Kendrick Adams, Morris Claiborne, Michael Bockers, Bennie Logan, Tyrann Mathieu — forget the old New York Yankees, that defense is a veritable Murderers’ Row and Smith is promised a workout.

Supplementing the effort of that talented defense is a balanced offensive attack. Michael Ford and Spencer Ware are tag teaming the running game like they were Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson in the 1980s NWA, Jarrett Lee has shown maturity running the offense at quarterback, and Rueben Randle has shown big play ability at wideout. So deep on both sides of the ball is LSU, 83 percent of voters on ESPN’s fan poll favored the Tigers.

But Bruce Irvin isn’t buying it. Keep in mind, Irvin captained a Mountaineer defense that last season finished near the nation’s absolute best in points allowed. WVa will be fired up, and with the right intensity, couches in Morgantown will be fired up, too.

Rating: 6 Brews

Giving this game such a high rating is predicated on the Mountaineers’ ability to ride the homefield advantage to a fast start. The Tigers are a talented and powerful team that will blow anyone off the field who gives them an opening — just ask Oregon. But a properly motivated and game planned West Virginia poses problems to the LSU defense, assuming Smith is hitting his targets.

My Pick: I have LSU playing for the BCS Championship in its backyard, and I’m not about to recant. That talented defense should save the Morgantown Fire Dept. a lot of headaches.

SATURDAY’S SIX-PACK

Sierra Nevada is to breweries what Nick Saban is to college football programs, perpetually producing greatness. Sierra Nevada’s fall seasonal, Tumbler Autumn Ale, is a rich, dark brown beer with full body and the perfect balance of hoppiness and malt. Fall beers are easily the best of the seasonals, and Sierra Nevada Tumbler may be the best of the bunch.