CliffNotes for the Cool Kids...

• Intel from last week: Tennessee's ready to bop with the big boys, Michigan bags itself a nice win, Dabo's Clemson ain't dead yet, and Utah's already asserting itself in the Big 12.

• We preview a tasty lineup this week, headlined by a gigantic primetime clash between Georgia and Alabama.

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Week 4 Rapid-Fire Takeaways

By Sam Ranson

Tennessee aces the test

Not only did Tennessee’s defense—and in particular, a dirty ‘n’ nasty Tennessee defensive front—contain Jackson Arnold and the Sooners in Norman on Saturday night, they dominated Oklahoma’s offense to the point that Arnold got a case of the Shane Falcos and lost his damn job. Nico Iamaleava played a steady game for the Vols—looking like a seasoned veteran in the process—in a really nice road win, and Tennessee has the appearance of not only a playoff contender, but potentially a national title contender. Many a pair of faded Wranglers just got REAL TIGHT up there in Knoxville folks!

Utah’s still that guy, pal

Mike Gundy may be a man, but Kyle Whittingham’s a daddy. The guy just wins. His teams play smart. They play physical. They play together. Utah fired a shot across the bow of the remaining traditional Big 12 powers on Saturday, surviving a late surge from Oklahoma State in Stillwater in a game the Utes largely bossed—a late, manly spurt from Oklahoma State made this one look closer than it was. Utah’s the team to beat in the Big 12 until further notice (well that didn’t take long…). On a related note, BYU threw the Book of Mormon at Kansas State over the weekend, as the entire state of Utah gave the most polite middle finger you’ve ever seen to their new conference mates.

Michigan takes a step

Is Michigan a national title contender? No. Their offense is extremely one-dimensional, and as a whole, this team just isn’t as talented as last year’s natty winners (which is how it usually goes). THAT SAID, Saturday’s hard-nosed, 27-24 win over a rising USC outfit represented a huge step forward for Sharrone Moore and his Michigan program, as Moore pulled the trigger on a full-time switch at quarterback to Alex Orji, and seemed to embrace Michigan’s strengths (while accepting its weaknesses) in leading Big Blue to a nip-and-tuck home win against what’s likely a top 20 team. Must have been an absolute Orji in Ann Arbor on Saturday night…

Clemson’s found its footing

Clemson got knocked out and then caught a couple more times while they were on the mat by my ‘Dawgs in Week 1, but that final score belied a highly competitive first half in which Clemson’s defense looked equipped to compete in that game. Only problem was…their offense didn’t belong on the field with Georgia’s defense, and when the dam broke in the second half, Kirby and co. absolutely brained the Country Gentlemen. We still probably favor Miami to win the ACC, but Clemson’s defense is legit and, more importantly for the Tigers, they look to have figured something out on offense. Quarterback Cade Klubnik’s confidence is growing after it looked like he might be mentally broken toward the end of last year, and Clemson has hung a combined 127 points on App State and NC State (who admittedly look like bad teams). The Tigers have recovered well from that beatdown in Atlanta in Week 1, and we expect they'll be a tough out moving forward.

Can Ohio State play somebody??

This isn’t the typical SEC fan drivel—we’re not blindly knocking Ohio State’s opponents just because they don’t reside in the South—but here’s a list of the Buckeyes’ opponents so far this season: Akron, Western Michigan, and Marshall…Come on boys. All that talent, and you’re keeping the Ferrari in the garage like you’re Cameron’s dad in Ferris Bueller. You’re rubbing it with a diaper. Let that thing breathe! Let your son’s psychotic best friend take it into the inner city to buy some hookers!! Now, the Buckeyes do travel to Michigan State this weekend, but this ain’t 2015, and Mark Dantonio ain’t stalking that East Lansing sideline in an oversized grey sweatshirt he borrowed from his older brother back in ’72. Look, Ohio State’s immensely talented, and they’ve flashed that Ferrari sixth gear for stretches in the beatings they’ve doled in their first three games, but we’re not going to know a whole lot about this team until they hit the meat of their schedule. That begins next week with a home date against Iowa, followed by a massive test at Oregon, a home tilt with Nebraska, and a likely "White Out Game" at Penn State. It’ll be fun to see these guys rev it up against some actual competition.

Week 5's Sexy Showdowns

#2 Georgia at #4 Alabama

7:30pm ET, ABC, Georgia -1.5

By Michael Brown

The last time Alabama was a home underdog was in 2007 against eventual national champion LSU. That was year one of the Saban era, and a spry, 32-year old Kirby Smart was on Saban's staff. This Saturday, Georgia heads to Tuscaloosa as 1.5-point favorites over the Crimson Tide.

Let’s start with a hard truth here: Georgia, as good as they've been, has an Alabama problem: In the Kirby Smart era, the ‘Dawgs are 97-16 overall (57-10 in the SEC), with six SEC East championships, two SEC championships, and two national titles. In that same period, UGA has faced Alabama six times, and have come out on top only once. Bringing that record to 2-7 under the lights of Bryant-Denny is going to be a tall order.

Absent a weird Week 2 performance, Alabama has handled business this season, dominating Wisconsin at Camp Randall in Week 3 before enjoying a bye last week. Jalen Milroe has been a weapon in both the passing and running game, especially when given time, and as is typical of ‘Bama teams in this century, the 'Tide are loaded at the skill positions: 17-year-old true freshman receiver Ryan Williams has wasted no time endearing himself to the Gump faithful, skipping prom to instead become Milroe's favorite deep threat. Where this matchup could get dicey for the 'Tide is along the offensive line, which showed some vulnerability against USF. That's likely more exception than rule, but expect the 'Dawgs to throw some interesting looks at that unit to see if they can fluster them early and gain a significant advantage there.

Georgia's last game—a white knuckler at Kentucky in Week 3—wasn't a fun one for 'Dawgs fans. Carson Beck and the offense couldn’t get anything going, and it's a game arc Georgia fans have seen before from a Bobo-led offense: things get off to a shaky start, and we throw all creativity and risk out the damn window. Halfback dive, halfback off tackle, screen pass, punt. Kill me. To make matters worse, Georgia saw some additional key contributors go down with injury. With future NFL guard Tate Ratledge out for at least a few weeks, backup center Jared Wilson draws the first road start of his career. On the defensive side, Warren Brinson, Jordan Hall, and, most importantly, stud defensive end Mykel Williams, are hopeful to return this weekend, but we'll see who actually takes the field at about 7:40pm on Saturday night.

Regardless of their offensive performance, Georgia is going to need its defense to step up and contain Milroe. They can’t bust their asses on first and second down only to let Milroe scramble for 16 on a third and long. Inside linebacker Jalon Walker has got to be the guy in that regard. The lone loss of Walker's career came against Alabama in last year’s SEC championship game—a game in which Walker recorded two sacks in just twelve defensive snaps. There’s no question he’ll see more action this weekend, and he’s going to have to be a factor for Georgia to contain an explosive 'Bama offense.

Dr. Chim Richalds’ Pick: The 'Dawgs avoid the early onslaught from 'Bama, running the ball successfully and (somewhat) quieting the crowd as they stave off a second-half surge from Milroe and the 'Tide and come away with a massive road win. Georgia 28-24.

#19 Illinois at #9 Penn State

7:30pm ET, NBC, Penn State -17.5

By Billy Lowry

“They’re calling for ‘White Out Energy,’ whatever the hell that means," said Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, the grease from a Culver's butter burger dripping down his chin.

It won’t be an official "White Out" on Saturday night, but the stakes will be white hot as the Fighting Illini travel to Happy Valley to take on Penn State in primetime. In the new Big Ten, there's no rest for the weary: 18 teams. 9 games (lookin’ at you, SEC). No divisions. Dreams of playing for a conference title reset each week. Every L a big knock down the ladder.

This isn’t news to the Illini, who stamped their arrival with a gutsy OT win at Nebraska last Friday night. The Friday night crowd in Lincoln had a '90s vibe, but Illinois had all the answers in crunch time. That experience will do them well as they look to play spoiler again, and the game plan should be similar: Control the line of scrimmage, bank on mistake-free QB play from a reinvented Luke Altmyer, and make timely defensive stops. Easy peasy, right? Safe to say Penn State takes the talent level up a few notches, and Happy Valley After Dark is a whole different beast…

For Penn State coach James Franklin, the story of the last two seasons—and his entire tenure in State College, if we're being honest—has been his inability to win the big one. At a highly respectable 21-5 overall over the past two years, the Nittany Lions accomplished goal number one: they took care of the Big Ten rank-and-file. But when it came time to rise up against rivals Michigan and Ohio State, they flatlined. 0-4. Dreams dashed.

We won’t pretend Illinois is an opponent of that caliber, but this game could provide some crucial insight into whether Penn State quarterback Drew Allar's taken another step in his development. Can Allar live up to his five-star hype and take Penn State to the next level? Or have the Nittany Lions already hit their ceiling under Franklin? Going 28-for-62 with just two touchdowns as he did in their losses to Ohio State and Michigan last season certainly won’t get it done.

Another interesting wrinkle: Do the ghosts of Illinois' 2021 takedown of #7 Penn State in a record NINE-OVERTIME thriller come back to haunt the Nittany Lions? Either way, someone is leaving Saturday night with their Big Ten aspirations in need of resuscitation.

Badger Bill’s Pick: This spread seems like too big a number, but the schedule makers gave the Nittany Lions a mighty fine gift here. Penn State 31-14.

#15 Louisville at #16 Notre Dame

3:30pm ET, Peacock (yeah…), Notre Dame -6.5

By Sam Ranson

Notre Dame responded angrily to their shocking home loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2, brutalizing in-state rival Purdue 66-7 (yeesh! Boiler down!) before taking care of Miami of Ohio 28-3 in a more workmanlike performance last week.

The Irish defense has given up a total of 39 points—less than 10 points per game for all you math majors out there—over four games. They're more than competent on that side of the ball. The question for the Irish is—good lord…what was that from Riley Leonard in the second half of the Northern Illinois meltdown? Was that an aberration? Or is that a part of who he is? Because if Notre Dame’s passing attack’s going to look like that in games where they need to move it through the air, there’s likely a pretty definitive ceiling on what this team can be.

Here’s the rub for the Irish: This year’s schedule doesn’t offer many opportunities to impress, and Saturday afternoon’s home tilt against an undefeated and ranked Louisville—a team that put it on the Leprechauns in a 33-20 win last year—is certainly one of them. We wouldn't be surprised if that Week 1 win over Texas A&M continues to look better as the season progresses, as Mike Elko appears to have found himself a quarterback in Marcel Reed, but Notre Dame absolutely needs this game.

Louisville returns 15 starters from last season’s 10-win squad and again looks a solid, well-coached team under second-year head man Jeff Brohm. That said, the Irish, particularly along the line of scrimmage, will easily represent the Cardinals’ toughest test to this point. Can a heavily portaled Louisville offensive line stand up against a salty, veteran defensive front? Can the Cardinals, who lost two stud running backs to the league off last year’s team, establish anything in the run game to keep that front from feasting on an injury-prone quarterback in Tyler Shough? Tune in to Peacock (aka "The Cock") to find out!

BurtReynolds69’s pick: Notre Dame has dominated its Tobacco Road step brethren over the past five years, and the Irish continue that this weekend, avenging last year’s loss to keep their playoff hopes alive. Notre Dame 30-20.

Florida State at SMU

Welcome to...TTM’s Sneaky Banger of the Week!

8pm ET, ACC Network (yeah...), SMU -6.5

By Sam Ranson

Sue me bitches. My ‘Noles won a game and I wanna talk about it. Can they make it two in a row on the road against an explosive SMU team whose narrow loss to BYU isn’t looking so shabby now?

For us it’ll all hinge on the FSU run game, because we know damn well DJU and those receivers—and that o-line—can’t just roll a drop-back passing game out there when the defense is playing pass. If FSU’s offensive line can build on the moderate success in the run game they had against a stingy Cal defense (I know that sounds funny, but if you watched the Cal/Auburn game, you know what I’m talking about), the ‘Noles may be able to throw play action off of that and, for the first time this season, run the offense they’d been planning to run from day one! Hey-ohh! Only (maybe) took 5 weeks!!

On the other side, SMU’s offense is more than just theoretically dangerous—they just hung 66 (!) on TCU—and will be intent on establishing their own dynamic rushing attack to complement the dual-threat ability of young quarterback Kevin Jennings. But the Seminoles’ defensive line has brought a renewed level of tenacity over the past couple weeks, bagging 7 sacks and 12 tackles for loss in their win over Cal.

This may seem like a recurring line around here, but this is football, and football at its core is a fairly simple game: If FSU can bottle up SMU’s rushing attack and force Jennings into obvious passing situations—while remaining mindful of Jennings’ ability to tuck it and run (“Not a given!” ‘Nole fans are screaming at their computer screens)—I like the Seminoles to welcome another ACC newb into the conference with a loss.

BurtReynolds69’s pick: FSU runs for nearly 200 yards, DJU hits (a couple) deep balls off the run game, and the Seminoles’ defense counters SMU’s explosives with some impactful plays of their own as FSU outlasts the Ponies in Dallas. FSU 27-24.

Badger Bill’s B1G Lock of the Week

Minnesota at #12 Michigan: Anything Minny can do, USC can do—check that, could have done—better…and it didn’t matter. Goldy might not score, and PJ Fleck's a loser. Back Michigan at -9.5.