Conference matchups across the country add some spice to the final college football weekend in September. The top 25 teams make their conference debut for the 2022 season in Week 4 games on Saturday. Familiarity often accompanies tighter games and closer scores, as teams that are more familiar with each other can serve as better touchstones than cannon fodder for nonconference games.
All told, the three conferences will feature a pair of top-25 teams trying to get a head start on the standings. For the likes, there is a lot to prove. 10 Arkansas, no. 11 Tennessee and 21 Wake Forest as they seek more respect with their ranked division rivals in their respective divisional games. In the top ten, no. 3 Ohio State and no. 4 Michigan State will try to maintain a strong start against the teams they have dominated in recent years. The night ended with a battle between the big 12s. 6 Oklahoma and Kansas State have recently become a trap game for the Shortcuts.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports for college football coverage throughout the day, starting with the opening ceremony. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best games of Week 4.
Caesars Sportsbook Odds | Always East
noon | fox, Fubo TV (Free Trial) – The Terrapins will present Michigan with a deeper challenge than any previous opponent, especially in the low-court offensive passing offense. However, the Wolverines have been cleaning up bad competition for the first three games. Many have been waiting for Michigan to switch JJ McCarthy to center, so don’t be surprised to see the Wolverines throw in a few more shots than usual as well. It might be a backdoor cover, but it’s still a cover. Prediction: Michigan -17 – Sheikhan Jayaraj
noon | ABC, Fubo TV (Free Trial) – Wake Forest’s outright success or at least a more competitive result against every other ACC team except the Tigers comes down to a major disadvantage at the line of scrimmage. We’ve been dazzled by some quarterbacks and wide receivers from Clemson throughout the college football playoff era, but the most consistent unit each year has been the defensive line. Over the years, this defensive line has overwhelmed Wake Forest, disrupting all the complex and well-designed aspects of the offense. I think that trend continues, as does the trend for double-digit profits. Prediction: Clemson -7 – Chip Patterson
Featured Games | Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators
3:30 PM | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — Florida has won 16 of its final 17 games in the series, which the Volunteers have won by just over 10 points over the past 30 years. History aside, Tennessee’s status as a double-digit favorite seems to overestimate its win over faltering Pittsburgh and underestimate Florida’s win over Utah. The Gators have looked terrible the past two weeks, but there’s enough talent on the roster — as the win over Utes showed — to pit them against a Walls project rebuilt earlier than the No. 1 Keep in touch. 11 rankings may be suggested. Prediction: Florida +10.5 – David Cobb
Featured Games | Texas A&M A&M vs. Arkansas Razor
7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo TV (Free Trial) – Give me the Razorbacks, give them to me. SEC lead rusher Laheim Sanders has been a terror between tackle and perimeter space. Along with KJ Jefferson, he’ll chip away at this defensive line and drop off late. On the other side of the ball, a strong Hogs pass will take advantage of the Aggies’ defensive line, putting Max Johnson and the offense behind the stick. It was a disaster for Johnson and a passing game that had yet to show signs of life. Prediction: Arkansas (+1.5) –Barrett Sally
Featured Games | Ohio Buckeyes vs.Wisconsin Badgers
7:30 PM | ABC, Fubo TV (Free Trial) – While I have so much respect for Wisconsin’s defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard that I believe Ohio State will do what it did to its last few opponents, I have a lot of respect for Wisconsin’s The offense doesn’t have nearly the same confidence. Keep up with this game. Until Graham Mertz proves to me that he can be trusted against top opponents, I wouldn’t bet that it will be. Dot it with buckeye. Prediction: Ohio State -18 – Tom Fornelli
Featured Games | Oklahoma Clippers vs Oklahoma Kansas Wildcats
8pm fox, Fubo TV (Free Trial) – Kansas State has played better than anyone in Oklahoma State since Chris Klieman took over the program in 2019. The Wildcats have beaten OU in Klieman’s first two seasons and have a quick run in 2021. There was optimism that this might be the end of Kleiman’s tenure on the best team, but an inexplicable loss to Duran hindered that. Still, expect the Wildcats to keep the game within two points. Prediction: Kansas +13 – Sheikhan Jayaraj
Which college football picks can you confidently pick in Week 4, and which top 25 favorites will be eliminated? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and make up the difference — all from a proven computer model that has made more than $3,300 in profits over the past six-plus seasons — and find out.