Section 400’s Week 4 College Football Roundtable

Happy Saturday to all that celebrate! As they do every Saturday, the guys from Section 400 will go through the top storylines heading into the monstrous slate on each College Football Saturday.

Find out below what Section 400 writers Brian Hauch, Matt Kolen, Austin Lees, and Zach Meyers are most intrigued about in week four.

Now The Fun Begins…

We’ve seen some conference matchups sprinkled throughout the first three weeks of play, but week four is the true start to the best part of the college football season. What game(s) are you looking forward to today?

BH: I’ll start my answer off with a little bias, although I will say people should at least put Hank Brown’s first SEC start against Arkansas on their “Youtube TV” multi-view. Besides my Tigers first conference game of the year, I’m super excited to see how the Tennessee Volunteers come out in Norman against Oklahoma in the Sooners SEC debut. I mentioned on the podcast how much I love the “Vols”, and a big win may have me place a sizable wager I’m sure to regret. I’ll also give a quick honorable mention to the other game taking place in the Sooner State, where the combined age of the starting quarterback is an outrageous 49 years old.

ZM: Last week I said if Indiana beats UCLA, the Hoosiers could they be a sneaky dark house for the playoff thanks to an easy schedule and new head coach. They won, so I am watching THE Indiana Hoosiers, who have a legit shot at a 7-0 start to the season!

MK: How can you not be locked in on Oklahoma v Tennessee? “College GameDay on site, SEC opener, two great quarterbacks, I can’t wait.

It Just Means More

We mentioned this one on the podcast, Oklahoma takes on Tennessee to open SEC play this weekend. Do the Sooners pass their first SEC test?

BH: Since I wrote a novel in the first question I’ll keep it short for this one. I believe Tennessee has a legitimate shot to not only win the SEC, but win the College Football Playoff as well. As for Oklahoma, I’ll still take the stance they are a “cupcake” football team until they prove otherwise. “Vols” by 13.

ZM: I completely agree with Brian. The Sooners are going to get BLOWN OUT at home to open SEC play. Tennessee by 15-plus.

MK: This game might be close but this Tennessee team is too strong.

BIG Country

We get our first coast-to-coast Big 10 game of the year when No. 11 USC travels to No. 18 Michigan at 3:30 on CBS. Which of these teams, or both, makes the CFP?

BH: As much as I love Jim Harbaugh, he saw the writing on the wall after the wild “Connor Stallions saga” and left the Michigan program out to dry. I don’t think we see Michigan anywhere near the College Football Playoff rankings by mid-October. USC on the other hand has a decent chance to make some noise as long as quarterback Miller Moss stays upright. The Trojans don’t have another major road test after this one in the “BIg House”. If they can improve to 3-0, a 2-1, or even 1-2, record against Penn State, Notre Dame, and Nebraska should be good enough to get them into the Playoff.

ZM: Neither of these teams will make the College Football Playoff this year. They may be huge programs but nothing is coming this year from either of them.

MK: Maybe USC can make its way into the Playoff, but I wouldn’t be surprised if both miss. Michigan is horrible.

Cashin’ Out

Favorite bet(s) today?

BH: I hate to keep harping on the same games, but the over (53.5) points in the Utah vs. Oklahoma State game should be closer to (63.5). These offenses are absurdly talented and efficient, and I just don’t see a world where either team scores under four touchdowns. I also like NC State (+19.5) against Clemson. I know backing road teams in college football tends to cause chest pains, but the Wolfpack were ranked in the preseason AP Poll for a reason. Clemson just is not very good, and a near three touchdown spread is too juicy to pass up.

ZM: I gave you three last week, I’ll give you three this week again. Give me Tennessee (-6.5) on the road in Oklahoma, Rutgers (+3.5) against Virginia Tech in a battle of former Big East teams, and Oregon State (-3) at home against Purdue.

MK: I’ll give you three too. Louisiana Tech (-135) to knock off Tulsa at home, No. 15 Oklahoma State (-105) to win against No. 12 Utah, and Cincinnati (-170) to beat Houston.

 

The Year of The Upset

Which underdog shocks the world today?

BH: By the power of being the editor of these, I know exactly what team Zach is about to give out, and I am on board. It worked out the last time we squad rode the Scarlet Knights in Bowlmas last December, so let’s do it again. Rutgers (+140) improves to 3-0 on the road against Virginia Tech. Just to have some more fun with I’ll give out New Mexico (+425) at home against Fresno State as well. Bronco Mendenhall is too good of a coach to start 0-4.

ZM: I think Rutgers (+140) gets a huge win over Virginia Tech. I also like Cal (+130) on the road against a terrible Florida State team.

MK: I have a bunch. Kansas to beat (+100) to beat West Virginia , Coastal Carolina (+130) to take down Virginia, Arkansas (+120) to beat Auburn in the battle of the SEC bottom feeders, and for absolute shits and giggles, Villanova (+800) to beat Maryland in College Park. I would love to see South Florida knock off Miami too, but won’t bet on it.