CFB 2023 Week 4 – Conference Play!!

Week 3 was fun!! Ok, not for 1/2 the teams, right? A few upsets to include the Gators taking down the Vols in The Swamp ( who called that one?!?!? ) and Missouri taking down the Purple Power Cats of K State ( nice call by the Padre and nice 61 yard FG by Mizzou K Mevis!). Fans at FSU and Colorado were sweating like a fat kid playing dodgeball in their games!

Week 4 has 6 Top 25 matchups and a good bit of conference play that typically generates some upsets and great games.

ZT had someone bring him some “special fries” from a local food truck while he was on an extended call with the Federal Government. That call alone is enough to upset one’s stomach so why not toss some hot sausage fries on top! Consumed so fast no “before” pic on this one but in the event one of ZT’s docs is reading this, note he did chase it down with a healthy bottle of water!

ZT prognosticating on the road in the Omaha area…avoided the temptation to prognosticate on the Big Red Thrashing Machine as felt seeing all that RED could generate some potential bias so here we go….

#4FSU Seminoles @ #26 Clemson Tigers 11am

Dabo NEEDS a W in Death Valley this weekend to get his Mojo back after missing CFB playoffs for past 2 years. Still working out Offensive woes after an opening week loss to Duke with a couple of “practice games” the past 2 weeks. QB Cade “I need a bigger” Klubnik needs to ramp up fast this week! Seminoles almost got shocked by the BC Eagles ( even with 18 Eagle penalties ) after cruising through weeks 1-2. Big question…is FSU QB “River” Jordan Travis healed from his shoulder to be 100% this week? He needs to be. ZT calling the early day upset in Death Valley. Upset Special Tigers 31 Scalped Indians 30

#16 Oklahoma Sooners @ Cincinnati Bearcats 11am

OU QB Dillon “I’m not that kind of angel” Gabriel was phenomenal vs. Tulsa completing over 90% of his passes with 5 TDs in 3 quarters before being rested. Fun to see former UF QB Emory “board” Jones ( yes, he has nice finger nails ) has not been all the Bearcats have hoped he would be this season. We will see if Oklahoma is becoming “worthy” to join the SEC as they slug through this season. Expect to see Cincy try to run the ball but won’t be easy. Boomer Sooner runs over the Bearcats by the 3rd quarter! Boomer Sooner 44 Road Kill 20

#15 Ole Miss Rebel Black Bears @ #13 Bama 230pm

Undefeated Kiffin back in T-Town and he is drooling. Not just about the Co-Eds but about his chances to take down the Tide. Good timing as Saban and his new OC Tommy “Boy” Rees are having trouble deciding who should the QB. A fan asked ZT “what about the #4 guy?” and response was “after seeing the first 3, assume #4 should consider another sport like curling!” Bama has announced a return to season starter Jalen Milroe and expect to see the ground game & play action to increase. Note Ole Miss has scored 100 points in the 2nd half this year and Bama has not been stellar in their traditional 4th quarter domination. Kiffin gets his wish in an upset. Upset Special Rebels 27 Dumbo’s Cousins 23

#19 Colorado Buffaloes @ #10 Oregon Ducks 230pm

Coach Prime riding high with a LOT of swagger but about to face a new level of competition and on the road in Eugene. Buffaloes with a solid win over CSU and showed why they likely are a 2023 bowl team but they are not going to win a Natty yet, regardless of the media love. Ducks QB Bo “I love Trix” Nix is solid, particularly at home. Ducks are excited about playing a team getting more hype press than Travis Kelce attending a Taylor Swift concert. Ducks 45 Ted’s Montana Grill entree 28

#6 THE Ohio State Buckeyes @ #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 630pm

ZT notes ND was smart to “flush” and send OC Rees and QB Buchner to Bama. ( ZT, leave it alone as Buchner is benched and Rees is like a guy on coaching’s death row so get back to prognosticating! ). Buckeyes had solid outing vs. the WKU Hilltoppers getting ready for this matchup. Fighting Irish are a home underdog in this one but expect QB Sam Hartman and RB Audric Estime to lead the charge and will have 4-leaf clovers in their pockets. OSU QB Kyle “don’t yank my” McCord loves connecting with WR Marvin Harrison Jr. but can they do it in front of TD Jesus? ZT says close but NO.. Irish 28 No dot on the i 24

ZT’s Quick Snack Selections

#22 UCLA Bruins @ #11 Utah Utes 230pm

Bruins will look like they are honoring the writers strike in this one. Utes are 3-0 without Cam “Bad Moon” Rising and will be 4-0 Utes 31 Brewin Lattes 21

Arkansas Razorbacks @ #12 LSU Tigahs 600pm

Tigers love to eat anything in the pig family. ZT has this on good authority from his prison pen pal Joe Exotic ( who indicated in March he may run for President ). Tigahs QB Jayden “Jack” Daniels is ready this week along with their defense. Pig Sooie QB KJ Jefferson will be running around like a wounded hog. Tigahs 24 BLT material 21

#14 Oregon State Beavers @ #21 Washington State Cougars 600pm

Who doesn’t like Beavers and Cougars…are those also pronouns on the west coast? ZT getting old so likes Beavers more than Cougars… BUT, Pullman is a tough place to play so going with mild upset….. Mrs. Robinson 35 Buc-ee’s Mascot 31

#24 Iowa Hawkeyes @ #7Penn State Nittany Lions 630pm

White Out in Happy Valley will blind the birdmen. Nittany Lions 27 Stevie Wonder’s Birds 10

California Golden Bears @ #8 Washington Huskies 930pm

Cal only loss is to Auburn….that’s all ZT needs to know ( Ok, At least Auburn knows how to use their QBs vs. that other team in Alabama). Husky QB Michael Penix, Jr. goes wild and elevates his Heisman status. Huskies 41 Tarnished Bears 21

ZT is OUT and traveling back from business on a Saturday…Geez, expect to watch the early games in an airport lounge, likely eating lots of Hummus…..surely they won’t have CNN and weather on the big screens!!

Padre has been partying like its 1999 since the victory over the VOLs ( ok, actually like 2008 and their last Natty but no song about 2008 so.. ). Hoping he comes out of it to prognosticate!!

I am still in shock from my Gator’s victory over Tennessee. The cynical side of me ( created from 13 years of emotional roller coaster underachieving ) wants to think Tennessee is just a bad football team. However, for this week at least, Florida beat Tennessee and all is well like it’s 1996. So in honor of the 1990’s Gators dominance over Tennessee sentimentality swirling in my soul, all picks are 90’s themed for this week. Go Gators!

Florida 34 Charlotte 17

Like Garth Brooks’ album “The Chase”, which was the “meh” album that followed the huge hit “Ropin’ The Wind”, this game just doesn’t come close energy wise to the previous game. It will have its moments, but ultimately the best moment will be an INT or something – like the best song on “The Chase” was “That Summer”. It’ll do – but “meh”.

FSU 32 Clemson 23

Like Marilyn Manson’s popularity in the 1990’s, Florida State’s sudden rise is mind-boggling to me – and equally demonic! Too far? Eh. It’s a Gator joke. FSU continues their run to the CFP. I’m nauseous.

Texas A & M 24 Auburn 23

I think Auburn is a better coached team, and a better team overall, but the game is in College Station. And like Buzz Lightyear arriving on Woody’s territory in Toy Story, the Tigers and all their newness are not welcome guests in Aggieland.

Bama 30 Ole Miss 26

Like Bill Clinton during a scandal, Bama looks like they are finally done. The dynasty is over! And like good ole Slick Willie, the Tide finds a way out!

Oregon 34 Colorado 26

Vegas says Colorado has no chance, but, like in previous weeks, I think Coach Prime and his boys surprise. Yet, in the end, like “Saved by The Bell: The College Years”, sometimes it just doesn’t work out.

Minor Upset UCLA 26 Utah 24

Utah is the cool pick – like that cool pager you had in the 90’s. But look out! UCLA is actually in “Saved by The Bell” rich peeps land, and they got that fancy Chip Kelly Nokia Cell Phone. Bruins in a close one as they drive off in their Mercedes convertible.

LSU 37 Arkansas 17

Like your rich middle school friend at a pool party, LSU brings a Super Soaker to a water pistol fight. This won’t be fair!

Minor Upset Wazzu 31 Oregon State 30

The Oregon Trail game was full of surprising and treacherous setbacks. And like the game, Oregon State’s wagon loses a wheel in Pullman.

Penn State 34 Iowa 13

Like Blockbuster Video before them, Iowa’s arrival in the Top 25 ends with a thud.

Minor Upset Memphis 30 Mizzou 27

Mizzou is riding high after a big upset on a big field goal….and like Hanson after the success of “MMMBop”, reality hits the Tigers of Missouri hard.

GAME of The Week Ohio State 32 Notre Dame 29

It feels like Notre Dame has finally moved from the original NES ( Nintendo ) mode to Super Nintendo mode with the addition of Sam Hartman. So why not pick them? Because Ohio State is a cool new PlayStation. I say the Buckeyes go into South Bend and get the win.

UPSET of The Week Baylor 29 Texas 27

Like Mike Tyson strolling into Tokyo Dome on February 11, 1990, Texas is walking into this game feeling like they are top of the world! Baylor? They have mightily disappointed. But a James “Buster” Douglas sometimes happens. Call me crazy (and I probably am), but I think a shocking knockout in Waco will happen Saturday night!

ZT on the road again next week while the Padre researches how Gators respond to walking on Kentucky Bluegrass ahead of a week 5 matchup....