Of the college football teams I currently have ranked in my top 20, seven play on the road this weekend, including four of my top seven. It's a recipe conducive to having great games and upsets.
Here are the games I'll be watching closely in Week 4:
Four games to watch
Auburn at Kansas State (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET): This is the first time since 1969 that a top-10 team has visited Manhattan, Kansas. The last 16 times a Bill Snyder team has been the underdog, it won 10 outright. Snyder is 116-28 at home. These two teams have played three times, and Auburn has won all three by an average of 12 points. The big questions for the Wildcats are can they stop Auburn's run game, and can they control the ball. If they can do both, they have a chance to win. I'm not predicting an upset, but I wouldn't be shocked if K-State pulled out the win at a venue that is a tough place for opposing teams to play, especially at night. Prediction: Auburn 38, Kansas State 28.
Oklahoma at West Virginia (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET): The last time these two teams played in Morgantown was two years ago. It was an unbelievable game, with Oklahoma winning late, 50-49. There were four lead changes in the final 8 minutes. Oklahoma blew a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter and pulled it out by scoring with 24 seconds left. West Virginia QB Clint Trickett passed for more than 500 yards last week vs. Maryland. On a neutral site in Week 1, the Mountaineers played Alabama very close. I'm picking Oklahoma here but it would not shock me if West Virginia pulled off the upset. Morgantown is a tough place to play. Prediction: Oklahoma 37, West Virginia 27.
Florida at Alabama (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET): Coach vs. the pupil. Florida coach Will Muschamp worked for Nick Saban at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins. Florida is coming off an overtime win over Kentucky. QB Jeff Driskel is back for Florida and has done pretty well. Last year the Gators were 2-1 when he suffered a season-ending injury, and the team went into the tank, losing its last seven games. The big question for Alabama is QB Blake Sims. I still can't figure out why Jacob Coker hasn't played more. If Florida is to win, it has to stop the Alabama run game. I don't think that will happen. Prediction: Alabama 33, Florida 20.
Clemson at Florida State (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET): Last year at Clemson, FSU won 51-14, but the score really wasn't that close. Clemson scored a touchdown and put up 145 yards on its last two possessions. The Tigers start true freshman QB Deshaun Watson, one of nine freshman and sophomores on offense. He's going to be a good player one day, but it's asking a lot for someone that inexperienced to play on road against a team like Florida State, which has had more players on the first and second All-ACC teams last year than the rest of the league's teams combined. The Seminoles are a dominant team at home; they scored 408 points in seven home games last year. The suspension of Jameis Winston could certainly alter how this game plays out, though. Prediction: Florida State 20, Clemson 13.
Upset special
Miami at Nebraska (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET): There are a lot of people jumping on Nebraska's bandwagon, but I haven't seen anything that makes me a believer yet. The Huskers' running back -- Ameer Abdullah -- is special, but they really haven't played anyone yet, and they really struggled at home against McNeese State in Week 2. Miami has two outstanding players, RB Duke Johnson and WR Phillip Dorsett. Under Al Golden, the Hurricanes have won six, seven, and nine games in his first three seasons. I don't know if they get to double-digit victories in Year 4, but I like them here. Prediction: Miami 27, Nebraska 24.
Follow Gil Brandt on Twitter _@GilBrandt_.
