After a fascinating week 3 in college football with Alabama surviving Florida and Auburn just coming up short at Happy Valley, week 4 features some not as challenging games for the Crimson Tide and the Tigers, as the Tide gets ready for Lane and the Rebels next week, while the Tigers will head to Baton Rouge next Saturday Night to square off with L-S-U, but some key SEC matchups and some solid national games. Here’s a look at this week’s contests.

Last Week, 21-3

Overall: 59-17, 78%

Southern Miss (1-2) @ No.1 Alabama (3-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, T-town

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom Hart, JRodg, Cole

Bama by 45

The Crimson Tide escaped the Swamp last Saturday afternoon with a 31-29 victory, but the key in college football, in regular season and postseason success, is to survive and advance. Florida has an excellent team, so to get out of Gainesville with a victory is tremendous even though there are some flaws on defense and on the offensive line that Bama needs to correct if they expect to be a prolific team. Southern Miss lost to Troy last Saturday, 21-9, and have lost to South Alabama, 31-7, and defeated Grambling State, 37-0. Alabama needs to play well, so they will be tuned up for the Lane Train and the Rebels’ invasion next Saturday @ Bryant-Denny at 2:30 PM on CBS. Should be an epic next Saturday, but the Crimson Tide needs to play well THIS Saturday to gain some momentum.

Alabama 52, Southern Miss 10

Georgia State (1-2) @ No. 23 Auburn (2-1)

Jordan-Hare Stadium

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Dave Neal, Deuce McCallister, Andraya Carter

AU by 27

Auburn played Penn State very tough last Saturday Night in Happy Valley, falling 28-20. It was a solid effort by the Tigers, though offensive coordinator Mike Bobo made a low percentage play call on 4th and goal from the 2 with the Tigers trying to tie the game late with a TD and 2 point conversion. He tried the fade pass in the endzone. I was talking to WT about it yesterday and I said it’s like hitting the 215 yard par 4 12th at Mountain Brook Club on your drive. You have to hit a fade over the creek to reach the green. It’s hard to be successful that way. Derek has had some success with it, but not too many people do. WT compared it to going for it in 2 on No.10 at Birmingham Country Club West Course, another low percentage shot when you’re facing an intimidating, large lake you have to negotiate. Can be done, but you’re probably much better off laying up on both holes and playing for a birdie. I would like to have seen Bo Nix rolling out with 3 wide receivers on the right side and a tight end, faking a wide handoff to Tank, and letting him pickup the outside backer and give Bo the option to either pass or run. That’s my 2 cents. There was a batter play call than that. But it’s history now and the Tigers are facing a similar situation as the Tide in that they have to take care of business this Saturday to have their group well-oiled for a trip to next Saturday Night at 8 to raucous Tiguh Stadium. ESPN will televise.

Auburn 35, Georgia State 3

No.7 Texas A&M vs. No. 16 Arkansas

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

A&M by 4 1/2

I’m a believer in the Hogs and the Aggies have not hit their stride yet, so I’m going to take super second year coach Sam Pittman and his hard-nosed, hard-hitting Razorbacks in a classic on Saturday afternoon.

Arkansas 28, A&M 27

No.2 Georgia @Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashvegas

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Alyssa Lang, they will be eating food on air at some point during the game. What’s up with that?

Dawgs by 35 1/2

Until proven otherwise, the Dawgs are the best team in the country right now. The Cocktail Bash will be an epic if both Dawgs and Gators can take care of business leading up to that classic on Saturday, Oct. 30th at 2:30 PM on CBS. Vandy trying their best under first year Coach Clark Lea. I really like Coach Lea a lot, so he needs time, at least 3 or 4 years to get his program and culture in place as long as there is progress this year and in the forthcoming years.

Georgia 49, Vandy 7

No. 11 Florida 45, Tennessee 20

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

6 PM CT

ESPN

Tess, Gregory, Katie George

Gators by 19

Florida was beyond impressive in the second half against the Crimson Tide last Saturday. They take care of business this Saturday against a Vols program that has a very long way to go under Josh Huepel.

LSU 30, Mississippi State 24

Davis Wade Stadium, Starkvegas

11 AM CT

ESPN

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Kris Budden

Tiguhs by 2 1/2

I like O and his Bengal Tiguhs to start getting it together, but in a hard fought, physical battle in Starkville. I’ve never seen a team robbed like State was last Saturday afternoon at Memphis. On a punt, the ball was bouncing in the endzone, when a Bulldog player knocked it back into play. It was downed enough by a State player that the back judge on the SEC Marc Curles crew was waving his arms and getting ready to blow his whistle to call the play dead. But a Memphis player picked the ball up and ran 85 yards and it was called a TD. Outrageously bad work by the Curles crew. Rather than issue an apology, Greg Sankey should suspend the Curles crew for their pathetic refereeing. It won’t change the result of the game, which is a shame, State should have won the game, but it’ll send a message to the SEC refs that mistakes like that won’t be tolerated. Mike Leach’s on-sides kicks weren’t too bright either.

Kentucky 31, South Carolina 28

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C.

6 PM CT

ESPN2

Brian Custer’s “Last Stand, “ Kelly Stouffer, Lauren Sisler

KY by 5

I like Mark Stoops and his team to survive an improved Gamecock team under first year coach Shane Beamer, and move to 4-0. Kentucky is going to have another stellar season and the future looks bright in Columbia under Beamer.

Missouri 31, Boston College 30

Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill MA.

11 AM CT

ESPN2

Mizzou by 1 1/2

Going to be a tight one in New England.

No. 3 Oregon 48, Arizona 17

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.

9:30 PM CT

ESPN

Ducks by 28 1/2

Boy, am I ever bullish on Mario Cristobal and his squad. The Conference of Champions has a shot to go deep this season with this outfit.

No.4 Oklahoma 34, West Virginia 31

Memorial Stadium Norman, OK.

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris Kirk, Holly

OU by 17

I like OU to just sneak by a very good Neil Brown coached team. The former Troy coach is going to have his team in the Big 12 title hunt if not this year, next year.

No.18 Wisconsin 28, No. 12 Notre Dame 21

Soldiuh Field, Chicago

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Badgers by 6 1/2

The Irish have been just skating by inferior talent, but now face a real team. Not so successful this week.

Other scores

@Tulane 34, UAB 30

Yulman Stadium, N’awlins

7 PM CT

ESPN+

Green Wave by 3 1/2

Blazers come up just a little short on the road. Green Wave a solid team thought they got blasted by Ole Miss last Saturday Night. Ole Miss is terrific.

No.9 Clemson 28, @ N.C. State 20

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Clemson by 10

No.24 UCLA 38, @Stanford 33

5 PM CT

PAC 12 Network

Bruins by 4 1/2

@No. 15 BYU 42, South Florida 17

9:15 PM CT

ESPN2

BYU by 23

@No. 19 Michigan 27, Rutgers 23

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Michigan by 21

No.25 Kansas State 34, @Oklahoma State 31

6 PM CT

ESPN+

OK State by 6

Friday

Liberty 31, Syracuse 28

7 PM CT

ACC Network

Liberty by 6

Liberty gets ready to invade the brand new Protective Stadium in Birmingham and face the UAB Blazers next Saturday @ 6PM CT on CBS Sports Network.

Friday

@No.22 Fresno State 42, UNLV 21

9 PM CT

CBS Sports Network

Fresno by 30

I’m buying the Bulldogs this season. Quarterback Jake Haener, a Washington transfer, was 39 of 53 for 455 yards and 2 TDs, including the game winning TD pass with 20 seconds left in regulation playing on basically one leg as he had hurt his hip on the next to last drive, as he led his team to a riveting 40-37 victory over then No. 13 UCLA. Stayed up till 1:30 in the morning Sunday to watch it. Was worth it.

Saturday

@TCU 38, SMU 35

11 AM CT

FOX Sports 1

Frogs by 9 1/2

Like the Frogs to prevail in a Texas Shootout.

@No.5 Iowa 38, Colorado State 7

2:30 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Hawkeyes by 23

Believer in this Hawkeyes team, too. Solid on offense and outstanding on defense.

North Carolina 38, @Georgia Tech 24

6:30 PM CT

ACC Network

Heels by 12 1/2

Carolina looks like they’re getting it together after blasting UVA last Saturday, 59-39. They don’t play a ton of defense, but quarterback Sam Howell and his group can play some offense. Tech held Clemson to 14 points last Saturday in a Clemson 14-8 victory. Is Clemson that bad on offense this year? Dabo and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott need to get it together or Clemson has no shot at making the playoff. None