Week 4: How the final projected Top 25 fared

Week 4's big games include #3 Texas at #21 Tennessee, #11 Oregon at #19 USC, #12 LSU at #17 Texas A&M.  All the higher-projected teams (Texas, Oregon, LSU) play on the road which makes it interesting. 

Tennessee has a huge opportunity to launch themselves into the Playoff picture. Texas probably stays in the Playoff zone even with a loss, given their win over Ohio State.

USC has the same opportunity, but it will be a big test for their defense which has given up 30+ points three times already this season, playing a team that just scored 84 points! It's also a must-win for Oregon who already has a loss.

LSU at Texas A&M might be an elimination game for the Playoff as the loser will have two early losses. Note that our power rating favors the Aggies by a point while Vegas has LSU by over a touchdown. The latter seems more realistic given the teams' prior performances.

Other big games include #5 Georgia vs. Oklahoma, maybe the Sooners' last stand? And #7 Mississippi is in a possible "letdown" game at Florida; we may see how good the Gators really are this year. #8 Penn State has to prove themselves against Wisconsin, #10 Alabama hosts South Carolina, and #13 Utah is at Iowa State. All three are potential upsets. 

In the G6 race, #16 James Madison has one of its toughest remaining tests at Old Dominion, #20 North Dakota State is idle, and #25 Boise State has a test at Western Michigan.

                            Record  Playoff 
Rnk Team              Conf Cur Proj  Odds  This weekend (Vegas/SR spread)
 1. Notre Dame        Ind  3-0 12-0  77.6 @Purdue (+27.5/+47)
 2. Indiana          *B10  3-0 12-0  60.4  Northwestern (+21/+35)
 3. Texas            *SEC  3-0 11-1  60.0 @#21 Tennessee (+5.5/+9)
 4. Texas Tech       *B12  3-0 12-0  51.5  Sam Houston (+34.5/+47)
 5. Georgia           SEC  3-0 11-1  54.7  Oklahoma (+14/+9)
 6. Miami FL         *ACC  3-0 11-1  48.3  Central Mich (+41.5/+49)
 7. Mississippi       SEC  3-0 11-1  47.5 @Florida (-3/+11)
 8. Penn State        B10  3-0 12-0  46.1  Wisconsin (+10/+27)
 9. Ohio State        B10  2-1 10-2  44.0  Illinois (+27.5/+29)
10. Alabama           SEC  3-0  8-4  40.0  South Carolina (+12.5/+13)
11. Oregon            B10  2-1 10-2  30.7 @#19 USC (+3/+5)
12. LSU               SEC  2-1  9-3  34.0  #17 Texas A&M (+8.5/-1)
13. Utah              B12  3-0 11-1  30.0 @Iowa State (+7.5/+13)
14. Brigham Young     B12  3-0 10-2  26.4  idle
15. Louisville        ACC  2-1 11-1  23.7  Wake Forest (+12.5/+21)
16. James Madison    *SUNe 3-0 12-0  23.5 @Old Dominion (+6/+5)
17. Texas A&M         SEC  2-1 10-2  24.7 @#12 LSU (-8.5/+1)
18. Houston           B12  2-1 10-2  22.2 @GA Southern (+18.5/+23)
19. Southern Cal      B10  4-0  8-4  21.3 @#11 Oregon (-3/-5)
20. North Dakota St  *MWC  4-0 12-0  17.9  idle
21. Tennessee         SEC  3-0  9-3  25.5 #3 Texas (-5.5/-9)
22. Pittsburgh        ACC  3-0  9-3  15.5  Bucknell (NL/+58)
23. Michigan          B10  3-0  8-4  17.8  Iowa (+5.5/+13)
24. Kansas St         B12  3-0 11-1  18.3 @Cincy (+6.5/+7)
25. Boise St         *P12  2-1 11-1  16.9 @Western Mich (+7/+13)

As usual I will update this post with results as they come in this weekend!