Preview and picks for NCAA Football Week 4

The final weekend of September features more key college football games from the top-25. I passed on posting college football picks last week while traveling and handling other commitments, but managed to have another winning week posting NFL picks. 

The Week 4 college football schedule includes three more top-25 match-ups. I chip-in top-25 coverage and key match-up picks throughout the season with added insight, picks and odds updates from leading online sportsbooks along with other information you can bet on. 

You can follow along and decide if you want to bet on the picks, opinions and leans provided each week, as available, from a proven sports handicapper including in college football. This season top-25 Picks are 0-1 with Opinions and Leans each 2-1. Trending lightly on early season top-25 match-ups, and more stats to evaluate and use in the weeks ahead.

I like to dig into stats and have provided information and insight for years looking for match-up edges, along with stats and situational plays that can often be overlooked when evaluating the games and match-ups. 

Week 4 Top 25 Match-ups

No. 5 Clemson at No. 21 Wake Forest | 12:00 p.m. ET on ABC
Line: Clemson -7 and Total 56 at BookMaker

Both teams are 3-0, and ACC Atlantic Division favorite Clemson has a conference win over Georgia Tech to start the season. The Tigers have won all three of their opening games by at least 23 points. Quarterback D.J. Uigaleilei has been able to dink and dunk with success against early season weaker opponents, but any stumbles will open up an opportunity for five-star frosh QB Cade Klubnik. Clemson ran over then No. 13 Wake Forest late last season 48-27 with 332 rushing yards while holding the Deacons to 36 yards rushing. Tigers star RB Will Shipley has rushed for 2 TDs in each game this season while averaging more than 9.0 yards per carry. Wake Forest has scored at least 37 points in all three wins this season, but their running game disappeared last week in a narrow 37-36 win over lowly Liberty with the Demon Deacons rushing for just 21 yards on 26 carries. Leading veteran QB Sam Hartman has picked up where he left off last year for Wake with 7 TD passes the past two weeks after missing the opening game. He'll have to carry the weight again, as the Demon Deacons are not as strong as last season and Clemson has the superior defense and front to create pressure. While Wake may have also been looking ahead to this contest with less focus last week, there are still defensive concerns after allowing Liberty to rush for 180 yards last week. Clemson has won 13 straight in the series including 10 in a row by at least 14 points. Lay it again. 

Opinion: Clemson

No. 20 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee | 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Line: Tennessee -10.5 and Total 56 at BetOnline

Colleague notes: Florida’s young secondary should get picked apart by Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. A more balanced Vols attack and nearly 500 yards is projected. The market is against Florida, who had narrow wins over Utah and South Florida last week. Counting on more turnovers and interceptions by Gators QB Anthony Richardson, who was bad against Kentucky and has 4 INTs this season. Tennessee has never been more than a TD favorite vs Florida going back 45 years. The Gators are also 5-1 SU/ATS in the last six meetings and 16-1 the last 17 meetings vs Tennessee. Still, we favor a double-digit victory by the Volunteers with ESPN Gameday in town Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville for this SEC showcase. 

Opinion: Tennessee 

No. 10 Arkansas vs No. 23 Texas A&M | 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Texas A&M -2 and Total 48.5 at Jazz Sports 

Neutral field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Despite a pass defense allowing 350 yards per game to rank near the very bottom of FBS teams, Arkansas does lead the nation in sacks and has a top-10 rushing defense allowing just 76.5 yards per game. Drew Sanders (5) and Jordan Domineck (4.5) are among the top sack leaders in the college football. Texas A&M is keeping possession of the ball just over 25 minutes per game. That will need to increase to win. The Razorbacks strong rushing attack is averaging 262 yards per game with duel threat QB KJ Jefferson playing well both running and passing with a 70% completion rate and just 1 interception. But now he faces a top-tier defense. The Aggies offense has been inept with quarterback issues, but the defense has been most stingy. Despite the money move towards Arkansas, lean towards Texas A&M with the stronger defense and projected better offensive performance.

Lean: Texas A&M 

Top 25 Schedule 

Here's the rest of the top-25 college football schedule and TV times on Saturday, Sept. 24. 

No. 1 Georgia vs. Kent State | 12 p.m. | ESPN+/SECN+
No. 2 Alabama vs. Vanderbilt | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 3 Ohio State vs. Wisconsin | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 4 Michigan vs. Maryland | 12 p.m. | FOX
No. 5 Clemson at No. 21 Wake Forest | 12 p.m. | ABC
No. 6 Oklahoma vs. Kansas State | 8 p.m. | FOX
No. 7 USC at Oregon State | 9:30 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
No. 8 Kentucky vs. Northern Illinois | 7 p.m. | ESPN2
No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 23 Texas A&M (Arlington, Texas) | 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 11 Tennessee vs. No. 20 Florida | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
No. 12 NC State vs. UConn | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN3
No. 13 Utah at Arizona St. | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 14 Penn State vs. Central Michigan | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
No. 15 Oregon at Washington State | 4 p.m. | FOX
No. 16 Ole Miss vs. Tulsa | 4 p.m. | SEC Network
No. 17 Baylor at Iowa St. | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
No. 18 Washington vs. Stanford | 10:30 p.m. | FS1
No. 19 BYU vs. Wyoming | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN2
No. 22 Texas at Texas Tech | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 24 Pitt vs. Rhode Island | 12 p.m. | ACC Network
No. 25 Miami (Fla.) vs. Middle Tennessee | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on Twitter @FairwayJay for more sports and gambling insights.