Week 4 Games of the Week: How to Watch, Previews, and Predictions
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Week 4 provides us with plenty of intriguing matchups, but one D-III game will always be more special than the rest. If you're from Minnesota, St. John's-St. Thomas is a rivalry you're familiar with. The two campuses are 83 miles away, but there's plenty of intensity when the red and purple go against each other. Week 4's Game of the Week will be at Target Field, where over 34,000 people are expected to take in the game.
St. John's has struggled in this rivalry the last few games, but history doesn't matter much when the game begins. If there were a spread, it might as well be a coin toss. That's how intense this rivalry is. Regardless of record and success, both teams have this game circled on the calendar and are more focused than any other week.
The Johnnies come into this game undefeated, and are looking for revenge. Quarterback Jackson Erdmann begins his second season with the Johnnies, and his experience from last season is already paying huge dividends. Erdmann has yet to play a full game, and is a big reason why the Johnnies have already score 203 points this season. With a big arm that is also accurate, he has the tools to be a competent passer. Could you imagine what the Johnnies could have done with a quarterback like that the two years before Erdmann got to campus? I mean, shoot, you wouldn't have to waste Sam Sura's abilities so much because the quarterback can't complete a pass. And yes, Sura won that 2014 game against the Tommies by himself.
Case in point, Erdmann can ball, but he will need more time to throw than he did last year. St. Thomas' defense was in the backfield too much in last year's game, and the Johnnies' offensive line needs to give their quarterback more time. His favorite target, Evan Clark, is a dynamic threat on the outside. If his quarterback can find him downfield, St. Thomas could be in trouble.
Opposing Erdmann at quarterback will be Jacques Perra, and it's not the first time they've met. Ermann's Rosemount Irish defeated Perra's Roseville Raiders in 2013 in the state semifinals for football. Now, they take the bigger stage. St. Thomas is hoping that Perra can keep their success going, but they've already encountered a hiccup. They lost to UW-Stout 25-22 two weeks ago. I don't think I need to say anything else. Is this the sign of a downfall?
GAMES OF THE WEEK
LAST WEEK: 3-1
SEASON RECORD: 9-3
OVERALL RECORD: 87-43
Texas Tech can still throw the ball, maybe even better now that Patrick Mahomes is gone. Ok, so Nic Shimonek isn't on Mahomes' level, but it's mostly due to more talent around him. Some things haven't changed much: Tech still doesn't run the ball much (or effectively), and their defense is still playing a bend-don't-break style. But their offense can still score a ton, which is why this matchup is so intriguing.
Houston has one of the best defenses in the AAC, maybe even in college football. Regardless of how you feel about their defense as a whole, there's no denying how good defensive tackle Ed Oliver is. He has dominated in his first two games, and appears to be on his way to another elite season. The Red Raiders need to account for him with at least two blockers, otherwise it's going to be a long night. The front seven won't be the issue for the Cougars, it's the secondary that needs to step up. Safeties Khalil Williams and Garrett Davis have been great so far, but need to get the rest of the defensive backs on the same page. They will be facing plenty of passes in this game, and need to be sharp.
There are so many storylines in this game, but it comes down to just one. Houston can't get caught in a shootout with Tech. Their offense is built to keep up, but the Cougars want to control the Red Raiders offense. If Oliver continues his dominant ways, and the secondary appears up to speed, you'll be looking at yet another Power 5 win for Houston. And trust me, TDECU Stadium will be rocking, and that's another advantage that Houston has (just ask Lamar Jackson).
My pick: Houston 38 Texas Tech 34
I'm just more excited that both of these teams are good in the same year. While there is still plenty of season left, it's just fun to see TCU and Oklahoma State start out hot to begin the season. TCU's finally getting back to playing Gary Patterson-like defense, and Oklahoma State's offense looks unstoppable.
OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph has made a strong case for the Heisman, but it seems that the only way he's going to win it is if he can lead his team to a win over Oklahoma. He's not focused on that. TCU is his only focus, and I've yet to see any otherwise. TCU will have it's hands full in the passing game, as four Cowboys receivers eclipsed the 100 yard mark last week. The Horned Frogs struggled to stop SMU's offense last week, so you can bet Patterson emphasized attention to detail this week.
Kenny Hill is almost forgotten in the Big 12 with the play of Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield and Rudolph, and the emergence of Will Grier in West Virginia. The Texas A&M transfer is the unquestioned leader, and will most likely have to win a shootout in this one. Hill's offense might be a little more balanced than OSU's, but regardless, he's going to have to score a ton of points. If he can limit turnovers that have plagued him in the past, they have a chance. There's a reason why Oklahoma State's favored by 13 even though both teams are ranked.
My pick: Oklahoma State 59 TCU 55
Georgia received more love than Mississippi State in the offseason, but Dan Mullen's Bulldogs are proving they deserved more. Mullen has, once again, put his team into the Top 25, and it's because he's developed another special quarterback. Nick Fitzgerald has been heralded as a better quarterback than the great Dak Prescott, and that thought alone is terrifying. Fitzgerald is more of a runner, but Mullen has improved his quarterback's passing abilities as well. Their defense is also playing at a high level, and held LSU to 270 yards and just seven points last week.
Stopping the run has been a key for the Bulldogs, but they face another Bulldogs team that can run the ball really well. Georgia's offense has been letting Nick Chubb and Sony Michel carry them for most of the season, and that plan of attack works. The two already have 450 yards and six touchdowns on the year. Freshman quarterback Jake Fromm has benefited from that, but might have to do more this week if Chubb and Michel are stifled, and Nick Fitzgerald gets on a roll. Defensively, Georgia has yet to allow 20 points to any team, and they have experience facing a dual threat like Fitzgerald. Notre Dame's Brandon Wimbush has already prepared the Bulldogs for this game, and that could be a tremendous advantage.
Winning between the Hedges is never easy, but that won't faze Mullen's team one bit. Are we in the midst of another Mississippi State early season run? Or is Georgia making a statement on their way to the top of the SEC? You'll want to tune in to this one.
My pick: Georgia 28 Mississippi State 27
Last year, this game was a Top 10 matchup going in, but ended in a Washington blowout of the Buffs. Colorado's breakthrough year ended on a sour note, but they can get some revenge this week.
Running back Philip Lindsay returned for his senior year, and is the workhorse in the backfield once again. Receivers Shay Fields, Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo give quarterback Steven Montez plenty of options to find downfield, but can they beat Washington's defense? Their offense hasn't looked as explosive to this point in the season, and they're going to need to score a lot to keep up with the Huskies. Head coach Mike MacIntyre also needs to find a way to stop a dynamic offense led by junior Jake Browning.
Browning returns for his third year as a starter next the another three year starter in Myles Gaskin. Receiver John Ross is gone, but Dante Pettis has taken over as the go-to guy. Pettis' punt return abilities are dangerous as well. The big question is how well the defense can play. It's been an easy non-conference slate for Chris Petersen's team, but Colorado is way more advanced than Fresno State, Rutgers, and Montana.
With USC getting all of the attention from the Pac-12, Washington has quietly stayed in the Top 10. This is their first real test of the season, and it has the potential to remind the nation that they're still an elite team in college football.
My pick: Washington 42 Colorado 28
