Week 4 of the College Football season is here as Mizzou (3-0) begins conference play in their SEC opener vs South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC) in primetime on ESPN with a 6:00 p.m. CST kick-off. College Gameday heads to Florida at Miami (for some reason), and plenty of other ranked matchups highlight Saturday’s Week 4 slate.
Let’s make some picks (with the odds presented by our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook ).
But first, a standings recap after Week 3:
Stava: 10-9 ATS (15-4 SU)
Deck: 6-8 ATS (10-4 SU)
Hurst:
4-6 ATS (6-4 SU)
Gustafson: 5-4 ATS (5-4 SU)
Matejka: 4-6 ATS (6-4 SU)
No. 23 Missouri Tigers (-9.5) vs South Carolina Gamecocks (6:00 p.m. CST on ESPN)
Sammy Stava: South Carolina losing to Vanderbilt was probably the worst thing that can happen to Mizzou. All of the pressure is on the Tigers to win this one, and the Gamecocks will be desperate and motivated to bounce back. Is Mizzou the better team than South Carolina? Yes, but it’s College Football man — anything can happen, and the Mayor’s Cup always seems to be close. Though this Mizzou team earned my trust the way they battled adversity in the Border War. Tigers pull away late 30-21, MIZ.
True Deck: Like I said in Pregamin’ I don’t think it matters if Sellers plays, I think the Tigers take care of business. Coming in hungry for revenge after losing a heartbreaker in South Carolina last season, Mizzou’s going to come out flaming. I’ll take a dominant Tigers’ victory, 35-10.
Josh Matejka:
Nathan Hurst: This line seems off to me. I’m going to assume that Sellers is going to play at this point so I’m going to take South Carolina to cover, even if I’m picking Mizzou to win.
Matthew Gustafson: I think you’ve got to assume the LaNorris Sellers plays – this game is critical for South Carolina’s rapidly diminishing playoff hopes. Mizzou has the talent advantage, has played better in the opening three weeks, and will have a strong home environment behind it. The Tigers will also be out to avenge last year’s Mayor’s Cup defeat, their first since 2018, and Eli Drinkwitz will have his team ready to play. Mizzou takes back the Cup, 38-24.
No. 17 Texas Tech Red Raiders at No. 16 Utah Utes (-3.5) (11:00 a.m. CST on FOX)
Sammy Stava: Rice-Eccles is such a tough place to play, and Kyle Whittingham is one of the most underrated coaches in the country. Big fan of quarterback Devon Dampier as well. Utes in an offensive showdown, 38-34.
True Deck: Two teams that haven’t faced big challenges yet this season, I think we’re in for a good one. I like Utah to have the lead for a majority of the game in a shootout. Utah QB Devon Dampier might lead his team in passing yards and rushing yards. I’ll take the Utes to cover in a high scoring affair, 48-41.
Josh Matejka:
Nathan Hurst: Texas Tech is greatly overrated based on the amount of money they spent on NIL (can you name anyone they actually brought in with all that cash, because I can’t.) Salt Lake City is a brutal road environment. Give me the Utes to cover all day.
Matthew Gustafson: The Utes fell apart due to a rash of injuries last season, but Kyle Whittingham’s team looks like it’s back to its usual standard of excellence in 2025. And with Cameron Ri – ahem – Devon Dampier at quarterback, Utah should be able to outduel Behren Morton’s Texas Tech. Brice-Eccles proves too touch for the Red Raiders, and the Utes win 34-28.
No. 22 Auburn Tigers at No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners (-6.5) (2:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: Oklahoma is vastly improved this season with the addition of John Mateer. Sooners take care of business at home. 28-20, OU.
True Deck: I think John Mateer is very good, and I think Auburn isn’t. I don’t see this one being close and it’ll shoot Oklahoma up the ranks. I’ll take the Sooners by a landslide at home, 35-7.
Josh Matejka:
Nathan Hurst: Oklahoma is the real deal and this game is in Norman. I’d take the Sooners by a touchdown in Auburn, so I’m definitely taking them here to win by a few scores.
Matthew Gustafson: John Mateer is the real deal, and Brent Venables’ defense again looks like one of the better units in the country. Auburn is improved from last season, but Oklahoma has the better team – and home field advantage. The Sooners pass their first SEC test, 35-24.
No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 19 Indiana Hoosiers (-6.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on NBC)
Sammy Stava: Perhaps Illinois is good, but Top 10 good? Not buying it. Bloomington should be rocking at night as Curt Cignetti has that program rolling and Fernando Mendoza is a stud quarterback. 35-30, Hoosiers.
True Deck: Seeing a Top 10 team as 4.5 point underdogs against a barely Top 20 team with no strong wins is always an interesting one to look at. I get it, Indiana is at home but I think Illinois is the better team here. I thought Illinois had a really strong outing against Duke (I picked the Blue Devils outright in that game lol) so I’m done picking against Illinois. I’ll take the Fighting Illini, 28-20.
Josh Matejka:
Nathan Hurst: I’m still not convinced Illinois is actually good. To be honest, I’m not really convinced Indiana is either, but they at least have recent history on their side. I’ll take the Hoosiers to win by a touchdown at home.
Matthew Gustafson: I’ve actually been fairly impressed with the Illini so far. The team’s dismantling of Duke in Durham became less eye-opening when the Blue Devils lost the next week at Tulane, but it was still a blowout win over a power conference opponent not named UCLA. The Hoosiers often underwhelmed against top competition last season, and I think Illinois’ relatively tougher non-con matchups provide an advantage entering Bloomington. Give me the Illini, 28-24.
Florida Gators at No. 4 Miami Hurricanes (-8.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: The wheels are already falling off for the Gators. The Canes have a case to be the best team in the country right now. Carson Beck and “The U” roll, 37-21.
True Deck: I’m with the team on this one. I really don’t have a lot of faith in DJ Lagway after watching him throw five interceptions against LSU. I like Carson Beck and Miami to take care of business in the first half, and slow down in the second. Give me the Canes, 35-14.
Josh Matejka:
Nathan Hurst: Florida is on the verge of complete collapse. In fact, we might have already seen that happen, offensively at least, last week against LSU. Miami is really good and they are hosting this game. They might just put the final nail in Napier’s coffin. Give me the Canes to cover.
Matthew Gustafson: Could Billy Napier get fired after this game? Maybe I’m crazy, but it feels like a blowout during a rivalry game could be the death knell for his time in Gainesville, and Miami is going to be ready for this one. I’ll take the Canes, 34-17.
