TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM 2016: College football picks and previews for Week 4

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 41NBC’s Tucker Sargent makes his picks for Week 4.

Record last week: 9-3

Record this season: 25-9

All Times Eastern/All rankings reflect latest Amway Coaches Poll

 

No. 3 Clemson (3-0) @ Georgia Tech (3-0)
Thursday, September 22 at 7:30 p.m. ESPN
How about this for some Thursday night football?

The series hasn’t treated the road team well recently.

The home team has won seven years in a row:

Clemson 30, Georgia Tech 27

Actual Score: Clemson 26, Georgia Tech 7 (WIN)

 

 

No. 11 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) @ No. 21 Ole Miss (1-2, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, September 24 at 12 p.m. ESPN
Kirby Smart’s first year is off to a great start. Hugh Freeze and Ole Miss? Not so much.

The Rebels blew 21-point leads against Alabama and Florida State.

They’ll hang on this time:

Ole Miss 38, Georgia 28

Actual Score: Ole Miss 45, Georgia 14 (WIN)

 

 

No. 14 Florida State (2-1, 0-1 ACC) @ South Florida (3-0)
Saturday, September 24 at 12 p.m. ABC
I cannot pick Florida State after what happened last week in Kentucky.

The fact South Florida is 3-0 and averaging 48 points a game pushes the needle even further in the Bulls’ direction:

South Florida 35, Florida State 31

Actual Score: Florida State 55, South Florida 35 (LOSS)

 

 

No. 10 Wisconsin (3-0) @ No. 8 Michigan State (2-0)
Saturday, September 24 at 12 p.m. B1G NETWORK
It’s the conference opener for both the Badgers and Spartans.

One team will leave with its first loss:

Michigan State 24, Wisconsin 21

Actual Score: Wisconsin 30, Michigan State 6 (LOSS)

 

 

No. 16 Florida (3-0, 1-0 SEC) @ No. 12 Tennessee (3-0)
Saturday, September 24 at 3:30 p.m. CBS
Tennessee is 3-0 for the first time in 12 years.

It hasn’t beaten Florida in 12 years.

12 years!

Tennessee 21, Florida 17

Actual Score: Tennessee 38, Florida 28 (WIN)

 

 

No. 17 LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC) @ Auburn (1-2, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, September 24 at 6 p.m. ESPN
The annual Tiger Bowl is another chance for Gus Malzahn to show he’s still capable of being the man in charge at Auburn.

Against good defenses this season (Clemson and Texas A&M), his offense has looked awful:

LSU 24, Auburn 13

Actual Score: Auburn 18, LSU 13 (LOSS)

 

 

Fort Valley State (1-2, 1-1 SIAC) @ Benedict (2-1)
Saturday, September 24 at 6 p.m.
Former Central High School star Bobby Cummings is now at Benedict.

The safety took home SIAC Newcomer of the Week honors after recording seven tackles and a pick-six against Central State:

Fort Valley State 24, Benedict 21

Actual Score: Benedict 28, Fort Valley State 14 (LOSS)

 

 

Georgia Southern (3-0, 2-0 Sun Belt) @ Western Michigan (3-0)
Saturday, September 24 at 7 p.m. ESPN3
Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern are all 3-0 for the first time since sometime in the 1920s. (That’s as far back as I could find game-by-game schedules for GSU on the internet.)

All three have tough opponents in Week 4:

Western Michigan 35, Georgia Southern 28

Actual Score: Western Michigan 49, Georgia Southern 31 (WIN)

 

 

Oklahoma State (2-1) @ Baylor (3-0)
Saturday, September 24 at 7 p.m. FOX
Gus Johnson should have plenty to holler about Saturday night.

The Cowboys and Bears should light up the scoreboard:

Baylor 45, Oklahoma State 33

Actual Score: Baylor 35, Oklahoma State 24 (WIN)

 

 

South Carolina (2-1, 1-1 SEC) @ Kentucky (1-2, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
Kentucky’s Mark Stoops needs this win more than South Carolina’s Will Muschamp.

I’m taking the Cats in a sloppy one:

Kentucky 20, South Carolina 16

Actual Score: Kentucky 17, South Carolina 10 (WIN)

 

 

No. 6 Stanford (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12) @ UCLA (2-1)
Saturday, September 24 at 8 p.m. ABC
Last season’s meeting between the Bruins and Cardinal did not go UCLA’s way.

Stanford runningback Christian McCaffrey racked up 369 all-purpose yards (243 rushing) in the Cardinal’s 56-35 win.

The kid is good:

Stanford 38, UCLA 28

Actual Score: Stanford 22, UCLA 13 (WIN)

 

 

No. 18 Arkansas (3-0) vs. No. 13 Texas A&M (3-0, 1-0 SEC) *Arlington Tex.
Saturday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ESPN
The battle for the SEC West’s No. 2 spot is on.

It’s a late start, but you shouldn’t have any trouble staying awake.

The Aggies and Razorbacks have gone to overtime the last two seasons:

Texas A&M 37, Arkansas 34

Actual Score: Texas A&M 45, Arkansas 24 (WIN)