2024 Games of the Slot: Week 4
2024 Games of the Slot: Week 4
Breaking down which game to watch at each time slot this weekend
So last week’s slate wasn’t the most eye-popping one out there. But that doesn’t mean that it had no fun. Just look at the Apple Cup and Backyard Brawl and any other two-word rivalry that was played in the middle of September because conference realignment couldn’t get out of its own way.
But this week is a return to form. We’ve got some great games lined up and I can’t wait to get into them. So why wait any longer? As always, all times are in Eastern.
Friday Night
Game of the Slot: Illinois at 22 Nebraska (8 p.m., FOX)
For a Friday night, this is a very good game. Both teams are ranked for the first time in forever, it feels like. Both teams are plucky underdogs in the Big 10 picture, but a win here would set them up great going forward.
For Illinois, it’s all about defense. The Fighting Illini are tied for 13th in the nation by only allowing 8.7 points per game and rank 33rd in the nation in total defense, allowing only 247.7 yards per game. But I’ll put the onus of the Illinois offense here. Luke Altmyer has been solid so far with a 68.1 QBR on the season. He’ll need to be better against Nebraska to get the win. He has two great receivers in Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin, but against a stout Nebraska run defense, they’ll be the keys for Bert Bielema’s offensive attack.
For Nebraska, it’s about staying hot. Their defense has performed even better than Illinois’, allowing only 6.7 points per game. Colorado was the only team so far to hit double-digits, and they only mustered 10. The Huskers have done well against the run so far, ranking 16th in rushing defense with 70.3 yards allowed per game. But this is a team led by true freshman Dylan Raiola. Nobody is questioning the five-star’s talent, but Illinois is by far the best defense he’s faced. Is mini-Mahomes up to the task?
Multi-Box Games: Stanford at Syracuse (7:30 p.m., ESPN); San Jose State at Washington State (10 p.m., The CW)
Stanford-Syracuse sounds like a Twilight Zone ACC matchup, but here we are. Stanford is building, but they aren’t quite there yet, while Syracuse is playing very well early on. Can the Orange keep powering forward? Out west, I think the San Jose State and Washington State matchup should be fun. San Jose State is trotting out one of the nation’s most explosive passing attacks in this new-fangled run and shoot variant led by one of the nation’s most productive receivers in Nick Nash, who has 34 catches for 485 yards and six scores in three games. Washington State is coming off an emotional Apple Cup win and vibes are immaculate in Pullman. Can they survive a rivalry hangover and pull out a win over a sneaky solid Spartan team?
Saturday - 12 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: NC State at 21 Clemson (ABC/ESPN+)
The ACC is very winnable this year, but one of these teams have a legitimate shot. A loss here isn’t going to eliminate anyone from the race, but it’s certainly going put the winner up big.
NC State looked downright bad against Tennessee and that only got worse as quarterback Grayson McCall went down with an injury against Louisiana Tech last week. McCall hasn’t been the savior that Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack staff thought he would, but they’ll have to rely on freshman C.J. Bailey to lead the team in their biggest contest on the schedule. If NC State wants to compete in this game, they’ll need to improve in all facets.
Or, they can hope for Week One Clemson to return. So far, the Tigers have had a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde season, looking like has-beens against Georgia and world-beaters against Appalachian State. The 66-20 win against the Mountaineers was the best the offense has looked since Garrett Riley came to Columbia, but they’ll need to build on that. I also want to see more out of a defense that couldn’t stop a Bulldog sneeze in Week One. An emphatic win here would show that the Georgia result was an early-season aberration and shake the anti-portal monkey off of Dabo Swinney’s back for the time being.
Multi-Box Games: Kansas at West Virginia (ESPN2); Tulane at Louisiana (ESPNU); James Madison at North Carolina (ACC Network)
Neither of Kansas or West Virginia’s seasons have gone according to plan, so this is a get-back game for both sides. Jalon Daniels has been healthy for the Jayhawks, but hasn’t played like an average - let alone decent - quarterback. West Virginia also hasn’t seen much from their offense. Whoever loses this one is going to have some tough explaining to do to their fanbase. Tulane at Louisiana is one of the week’s great G5 matchups. Tulane’s 1-2 record is deceiving after taking Kansas State to the buzzer, while Louisiana has beaten up on lesser opponents like Kennesaw State and FCS Grambling State. I think Tulane’s better, but Louisiana hasn’t had any tough opponents yet to truly know. North Carolina is struggling for footing after a bad-looking season-ending injury to quarterback Max Johnson. Conner Harrell hasn’t looked ready yet to lead the Tar Heels, and James Madison presents his toughest opponent yet. But these aren’t the Dukes of last season.
3-4 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: 15 Utah at 14 Oklahoma State (4 p.m., FOX)
Is this a Big 12 title preview? I don’t know, but it’s going to have massive implications in what may be the most competitive conference in the nation.
So much of this game rests on if Utah is going to have Cam Rising (I know, same story, different year). Utes wide receiver Dorian Singer stated that Rising is likely available for this massive game, which is a huge boost for the Utes. Rising only has 29 attempts this season, but his seven touchdowns and no turnovers show that he’s dealing like he was never out. Toss in the season that tailback Micah Bernard is having (274 yards, 6.7 yards per carry) and Utah has the makings of a solid offense.
Oklahoma State is in the midst of remaking themselves due to a shockingly ineffective running game. Tailback Ollie Gordon has been healthy, but the Cowboys rank 105th in the nation in rushing yards per game with 112.3. Luckily, quarterback Alan Bowman has been up to the task with a 84.0 QBR on the season. Oklahoma State will need their defense to step up, though, after allowing 20.3 points per game. They pulled it together after spotting Arkansas a solid first half, but Utah won’t let the Pokes back in as easily.
Multi-Box Games: 6 USC at 18 Michigan (3:30 p.m., CBS); Georgia Tech at 16 Louisville (3:30 p.m., ESPN2); Rutgers at Virginia Tech (3:30 p.m., ACC Network)
Let’s be honest - USC at Michigan could also be the game of the week. We’ll see how USC responds to a physical Michigan team, but they weren’t phased by LSU in the season opener. Michigan will have some turnover with Alex Orji taking over at quarterback, so expect a run-heavy approach from the Wolverines. In recent years, Michigan would punch USC in the mouth and the Trojans would fall over in defeat. I don’t know if that’s the case this year with a much more physical Trojan team. Pivoting to the ACC, Georgia Tech and Louisville both factor in as title contenders. The Yellow Jackets looked great aside from a loss to Syracuse, but have a win over then-Number 10 Florida State on the resume. Louisville hasn’t broken a sweat against Austin Peay or Jacksonville State, but that’s also Austin Peay and Jacksonville State. Let’s see how the Cardinals do in their first real test against a physical Georgia Tech team. We round the slot out with a really interesting Rutgers-Virginia Tech game. Rutgers is a huge unknown, but is a lot better than in recent years behind a rushing attack led by Kyle Monangai. Virginia Tech was a trendy ACC title contender but got off to a slow start against Vanderbilt. Kyron Drones just posted his best game against Old Dominion and is looking to build off that strong performance.
Wondering where these rankings are coming from? Check out this week’s SID Sports Top 25 and Players of the Week!
6-8 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: 8 Tennessee at 10 Oklahoma (7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+)
Oklahoma is embarking on their maiden SEC voyage and boy did they not get an easy draw to start.
Tennessee is good. Really good. They’ve annihilated everyone they’ve come across to the tune of a combined 191-13. Nobody has stopped Josh Heupel’s veer and shoot scheme as Nico Iamaleava and Dylan Sampson have torched everyone they’ve come across. Even faced with a known physical program like NC State, the Volunteer offense didn’t flinch. Their defense has been astounding too, but they haven’t come across a decent offense until now.
Speaking of decent offenses, Oklahoma may only qualify as decent. Jackson Arnold hasn’t been the most efficient through the air with a 63.4 QBR on the season, but he’s gotten more and more comfortable using his legs to extend plays. But the Sooners need some offensive life. They rank 114th in passing yards per game (166.3), 67th in rushing yards per game (159) and 51st in scoring offense (33.7 points per game). Brent Venables will have the defense balling, but offense will have to keep up with a Tennessee team that will most assuredly score a ton of points.
Multi-Box Games: 13 Miami at South Florida (7 p.m., ESPN); Bowling Green at Texas A&M (7:30 p.m., ESPN+/SEC Network); Toledo at Western Kentucky (7 p.m., ESPN+)
I push South Florida against Alabama last week and look how that turned out. So why are they back? Mostly because I want to see if Miami can contain the Bulls’ offense. Speaking of why is it here, Bowling Green at Texas A&M? Really? You bet. The Falcons pushed Penn State to their limits the last time out. Texas A&M has a freshman quarterback likely to start against a really underrated defense. Call this an upset watch. Let’s also get to the best Group of Five matchup of the week - Toledo at Western Kentucky. Toledo is coming off the annual “What Just Happened” game with a 41-17 win over Mississippi State where they dominated the SEC program in every facet of the game. They won’t see that when they take on a really good Western Kentucky team that knows their scheme like the back of their hand. Look out for a really entertaining, close game with possibly some Group of Five playoff implications.
West Coast After Dark
Game of the Slot: 12 Kansas State at BYU (10:30 p.m., ESPN)
I think Kansas State is really coming into form right now as Avery Johnson has picked up the ground game. Combining Johnson with D.J. Giddens has made the Wildcats a clock-control nightmare for most teams. Pair that with a defense allowing only 13.3 points per game and you get the foil to most of the high-flying offenses in the Big 12.
BYU isn’t a slouch, though. They’re sitting at 3-0 with a solid win over SMU under their belt. They’ll host Kansas State, and LaVell Edwards Stadium isn’t the easiest place to go into and get a win. Jake Retzlaff has been a revelation in Provo, but has to find consistency. He’s got the gunslinger, all-or-nothing mentality that I think lends well to the BYU program, but that doesn’t get the results you want. He’s got to cut down on the turnovers (he’s already tossed three) and his completion rate is a little low at 60 percent. Without a strong running game behind him, the Cougars will need Retzlaff’s best to pull the after dark upset.
Multi-Box Game: Fresno State at New Mexico (8:30 p.m., TruTV/Max); Portland State at Boise State (9:45 p.m., FS1); Purdue at Oregon State (8:30 p.m., The CW)
Fresno State finally returned to form in a 48-0 win over New Mexico State. Now, they get a winless, rebuilding New Mexico coming down the pipe. Anything less than a two-score Bulldog win would be a surprise. Is Portland State at Boise State going to be a good game? Probably not, but Ashton Jeanty is going to run for a bajillion yards and that’s a ton of fun, right? Finally, Purdue at Oregon State has some potential to be fun, but these are two teams desperately looking for a path back to winning. Oregon took the Civil War handily with a 49-14 and Notre Dame laughed Purdue off the field last week to the tune of 66-7. Let’s see which program is able to bounce back from a bad loss in a late-night kerfluffle.
What I’m Reading:
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No prime time love for Iowa @ Minnesota. In the battle for Floyd of Rosedale?