College Football 2011: Week 4

COLLEGE FOOTBALL- Week 4 of the 2011 Season

BIG GAME OF THE WEEK:
The 20th Annual Rhine River Cup: Heidelberg Student Princes at Otterbein Cardinals (both 1-1 overall, 0-1 in the OAC)

For 20 years, these two have played for what is called "The Rhine River Cup", a trophy that was first played for overseas in 1992, played to a 7-7 tie. For the second time in the last five years (2007- a 34-31 Cardinal win), the Student Princes visit the Cards for Otterbein's homecoming. Otterbein has won the last several meetings against Heidelberg, and would like to continue the streak. Otterbein came off a heartbreaking overtime loss up at Ohio Northern last week, while Heidelberg lost at Baldwin-Wallace. The key for Otterbein to win is to avoid mistakes and not allow Heidelberg to stay in the game, much like Otterbein allowed Gallaudet to hang around, and how the Cards lost to Ohio Northern. Look for a close game at Memorial Stadium.
Pick: Otterbein 34, Heidelberg 21

UPSET PICK:
# 7 Oklahoma State Cowboys (3-0) at # 8 Texas A&M Aggies (2-0)
Pick: Texas A&M 37, Oklahoma State 35

OTHER BIG GAMES INVOLVING TOP 25 TEAMS:
# 2 LSU Tigers at # 16 West Virginia Mountaineers (both 3-0)
Pick: LSU 41, West Virginia 21

The Brady Hoke Bowl: San Diego State Aztecs at # 22 Michigan Wolverines (both 3-0)
I am not thoroughly convinced the Wolverines have improved under Brady Hoke. Questions may or may not be answered about their defense when the team that Hoke left behind- San Diego State, comes to the Big House.
Pick: Michigan 34, San Diego State 10

Vanderbilt Commodores at # 12 South Carolina Gamecocks (both 3-0)
Pick: South Carolina 41, Vanderbilt 0

# 15 Florida Gators (3-0) at Kentucky Wildcats (2-1)
Pick: Florida 43, Kentucky 13

# 14 Arkansas Razorbacks at # 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (both 3-0)
Pick: Alabama 27, Arkansas 16

# 11 Florida State Seminoles (2-1) at # 21 Clemson Tigers (3-0)
Pick: Florida State 38, Clemson 20

North Carolina Tar Heels at # 25 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (both 3-0)
Pick: Georgia Tech 27, North Carolina 24

Missouri Tigers (2-1) at # 1 Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)
Pick: Oklahoma 33, Missouri 10

# 10 Oregon Ducks (2-1, 0-0) at Arizona Wildcats (1-2, 0-1)
Pick: Oregon 42, Arizona 3

# 23 USC Trojans (3-0, 1-0) at Arizona State Sun Devils (2-1, 0-0)
Pick: USC 20, Arizona State 14

OTHER I-FBS Games of Note:
Colorado Buffaloes (1-2) at Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1)
Braxton Miller makes his debut as the lone starting quarterback for the Buckeyes, as they play the Colorado Buffaloes.
Pick: Ohio State 35, Colorado 7

Georgia Bulldogs at Ole Miss Rebels (both 1-2, 0-1)
Pick: Georgia 16, Ole Miss 12

Toledo Rockets (1-2) at Syracuse Orangemen (2-1)
Pick: Syracuse 35, Toledo 14

OAC Action:
Heidelberg Student Princes at Otterbein Cardinals (both 1-1, 0-1)- see "Big Game of the Week"
Ohio Northern Polar Bears at Muskingum Muskies (both 2-0, 1-0)
John Carroll Blue Streaks (0-2, 0-1) at Marietta Pioneers (1-1, 0-1)
Wilmington Quakers (0-2, 0-1) at Mount Union Purple Raiders (2-0, 1-0)

and
Capital Crusaders (1-1, 1-0) at Baldwin-Wallace Yellowjackets (2-0, 1-0)
Pick: Baldwin-Wallace 41, Capital 13

NCAC Action:
Hiram Terriers (1-2, 1-1) at Oberlin Yeomen (0-1, 0-1)
Wabash Little Giants (2-0) at Chicago
Allegheny Gators (1-2, 1-0) at Wittenberg Tigers (3-0, 2-0)
Case Western Reserve at Denison Big Red (2-1)
Carnegie Mellon Tartans at Kenyon Lords (0-3)- "Thespy Bowl"

and in GLIAC Action:
Wayne State at Ohio Dominican Panthers (2-1, 1-1)