#HLSBets CFB Week 4 Recap, Rundown, Top 25 and More!
Intro-Rundown
Welcome back to #HLSBets on HLS Entertainment! We have a great weekend of football to recap and so much to discuss so we are about to dive straight into the weekend rundown and recap, so go be sure to follow @HaroldLStokes to get the free #HLSBets Public Sheets and you can DM there for info on how to join the Bonus Sheet!
Saturday's games kicked off with some fun and wild games, let's start with one of the biggest shockers of the weekend Kent State held their own with Georgia making them play their starters nearly the entire game. Georgia ends up with the W 39-22 but this game was a wild wake up call for the team we all had just crowned as unstoppable and unbeatable. Meanwhile in Tuscaloosa, Alabama beat up on mighty Vandy 55-3, Bryce Young was able to pad his future Heisman campaign racking up stats. Speaking of padding stats CJ Stroud and Ohio State torched Wisconsin 52-21. Do not be worried by the 21 points, 14 of them were gained halfway through the 4th when the game was well in hand.
And on to the other teams outside the clear favorites. Michigan was in a tight exciting game with Maryland and the turnover battle might have been the difference with Taulia Tagovailoa throwing 2 picks and they lost a fumble as well. Michigan RB Blake Corum is a true blue workhorse that this team will ride throughout the season. Clemson @ Wake Forest might have been my favorite game of the day as a disastrous third quarter for Clemson turned this game into a shootout which might have been exactly what DJ Uiagalelei needed to wake up this season. Sam Hartman and DJ threw for a combined 11 TDs in a highlight reel of a game that Clemson snuck out a W in double overtime 51-45. In one of (the?) the last games of the day, Jordan Addison and USC scored on a late 21 yard pass from Caleb Williams to win the game 17-14 in the closing minutes of the game. The important part to remember for USC is their defense finally showed up and that has been their serious question mark.
Now for a few losers of the weekend. Oklahoma pulled an Oklahoma, Adrian Martinez showed up to Memorial Stadium in Norman Oklahoma and beat this team by himself. Martinez only threw for 234 and 1 TD but then just kept making plays with his legs running for 148 and FOUR TDs in this 41-34 huge upset. Oklahoma, we know this team is clearly moving in the right direction, but this was a clear indicator that the soft defense is still in there and Venables has a lot to root out. Speaking of things needing rooted out, Miami is still Miami, but this was BAD. Yes, everyone including myself vastly overrated this Miami team, but I still knew there was a lot of work to be done by Mario Cristobal but losing to Middle Tennessee 45-31 was just embarassing. We have talked up Texas Tech's new head coach and the incredible work he has done with this team, and it was on display this weekend as they beat Texas 37-34 in a game that we thought Ewers could return for but didn't.
Leaning from losers to winners and that middle ground in between, Texas A&M somehow survived Arkansas 23-21. Arkansas got up 14-0 to start the game and in that middle chunk of the game the Aggies rolled off 23 straight points, but the game ended with a thud as the Razorback kicker doinked it off the top of the upright. Why Achane doesn't get 25+ touches a game is crazy to me. Kentucky beat Northern Illinois 31-23 but the final score definitely does not tell the full story as NIU scored 9 points late to cut it close. Utah took care of business against Arizona State 34-13, and the Sun Devils only cut it to that after scoring their lone TD of the day with 2 minutes remaining. Tennessee has some SERIOUS question marks on defense, we have all been questioning Anthony Richardson these past two weeks but this defense just let him get over 500 yards by himself. Vol fans can be thankful for Hendon Hooker for putting up his own 460 as they separated themselves in the second half but Florida made it close at the end as the Vols win 38-33.
Penn State had fans calling for firings in the 2nd quarter allowing Central Michigan to tie things up 14-14 but Penn State pulled ahead to win 33-14. Oregon scores a miraculous 29 fourth quarter points (22 in the final 4 minutes) to comeback and go up 10, but we will talk about the final TD later. The Ducks won 44-41. Ole Miss won this game handedly but have even more concerns after falling down 14-7 in the first quarter and giving up 3 unanswered scores starting with a field goal to end the first half. Getting blanked by Tulsa in the entire second half is a bad look, Ole Miss still won 35-27. The final score does not tell the full tale as BYU wins 38-24 over Wyoming, in a game that BYU nearly doubled Wyoming's yardage. Wyoming scored two 4th quarter TDs to make this game look closer than it was.
So many teams just letting off the gas this weekend including Washington, who was beating down Stanford 30-7 going into the 4th, but then gives up 15 points to end the game 40-22. Israel Abanikanda CARRIED the Pitt team to a 45-24 win over URI, with his 19 carries for 177 and 4 TDs. Yes it obviously is UConn, but this NC State team is rolling right now with Leary slinging it for a 41-10 win. Michigan State is crumbling right now and running into Minnesota who is slowly becoming a wagon. The Spartans had absoulutely nothing for this Gopher offense who were 23/26 passing and ran the ball 48 times for 5 yards a carry. Minnesota wins 24-7. James Madison has officially staked its claim on the Sun Belt taking down App State 32-38 in a game they were down 28-3. The Mountaineers dominated the first half until the winding minutes of the 2nd quarter, and then JMU locked down the Mountaineer offense while scoring 29 unanswered points. For some reason Baylor was the underdog on their trip to Ames, Iowa but were in control for most of the game. Scoring almost midway in the fourth to put the score up 31-14 had me nervous as someone with the 45.5 total over, but then Iowa State put up a strong fight to end the game scoring 10 more points but couldn't quite comeback. Baylor won 31-24. On to the updated top 25!
#HLSBets Week 4 Top 25
1. Georgia 4-0 W 39-22 over Kent State (LW1)
2. Alabama 4-0 W 55-3 over Vanderbilt (LW2)
3. Ohio State 4-0 W 52-21 over Wisconsin (LW3)
4. Clemson 4-0 W 51-45 over Wake Forest (LW4)
5. Michigan 4-0 W 34-27 over Maryland (LW5)
6. USC 4-0 W 17-14 over Oregon State (LW7)
7. Utah 3-1 W 34-13 over Arizona State (LW8)
8. Tennessee 4-0 W 38-33 over Florida (LW13)
9. Kentucky 4-0 W 31-23 over NIU (LW9)
10. Oregon 3-1 W 44-41 over Washington State (LW10)
11. NC State 4-0 W 41-10 over UConn (LW11)
12. Oklahoma State 3-0 Bye Week (LW12)
13. Oklahoma 3-1 L 34-41 to Kansas State (LW6)
14. Texas A&M 3-1 W 23-21 over Arkansas (LW17)
15. BYU 3-1 W 38-24 over Wyoming (LW16)
16. Baylor 3-1 W 31-24 over Iowa State (LW21)
17. Ole Miss 4-0 W 35-27 over Tulsa (LW22)
18. Minnesota 4-0 W 34-7 over Michigan State (LWNR)
19. Penn State 4-0 W 33-14 over Central Michigan (LW23)
20. Wake Forest 3-1 L 45-51 to Clemson (LW25)
21. Washington 4-0 W 40-22 over Stanford (LW24)
22. Kansas State 3-1 W 41-34 over Oklahoma (LWNR)
23. James Madison 3-0 W 32-28 over App State (LWNR)
24. Kansas 4-0 W 35-27 over Duke (LWNR)
25. Coastal Carolina 4-0 W 41-23 over Georgia State (LWNR)
Fell Out: #14 Arkansas, #15 App State, #18 Michigan State, #19 Florida, #20 Texas
Bets I Should Have Won
TCU @ SMU
O/U: 70.5UNDER
Winner: SMU +105, +2
Final: TCU 42 - 34 SMU
Man oh man, I was so sure SMU was going to win this game and was just thrilled and on the edge of my seat watching them fight tooth and nail for a comeback. I am an idiot for taking the under, but man IF they had just not gotten off to such a horrible start I seriously believe this SMU team would have won.
Oregon @ Washington State
O/U: 57.5 UNDER
Winner: Oregon -250, -6.5
Final: Oregon 44 - 41 Washington State
Well, we knew this game would be here. Dear lord Oregon was just embarrassed for so much of this game, but we have to give them credit for how they fought back and won. This Ducks team put up and incredible 29 4th quarter points and I was just thrilled to go 2-1 for the game.. and then it happened. With 55 seconds left in the game Cameron Ward drove his team down the field to cut the lead from 10 to 3. Ruining the spread after so thankfully gifting it to us the drive before on a pick 6. A 60 yard bomb and a 1 yard run with 1 second left on the clock. Pain.
Bets I Am Excited For
This weeks BIAEF is two parts, the first game on this weeks #HLSBets public sheet and a quick look at a few games I am looking forward to this weekend. Let's look at the exciting games this weekend first! Kentucky @ Ole Miss is an extremely fun matchup. We have Lane Kiffin already complaining about the poor home attendance, prepping his fans to come out in force to prove him wrong. I do not think this is a "who is a pretender" game, but I think this will give a us a really good idea at how the SEC East and West stack up to each other this season. I am seriously thinking about taking Texas Tech over Kansas State, it is the most stereotypical let down spot for Kansas State but they do host. Nothing about Alabama Arkansas excites me, it is going to be a bloodbath. Iowa State @ Kansas is the game I care the most about as I ride with Jayhawk nation. Oklahoma State @ Baylor is for sure going to be on this weeks Bonus Sheet I LOVE the lines, same with Wake Forest @ FSU. NC State @ Clemson is the best game of the weekend on paper and will for sure be on the Bonus Sheet as well. Clemson just won a shootout but can they overcome NC States defense.
Washington @ UCLA Friday 9:30pm ESPN
O/U: 64.5 OVER
Winner: UCLA +120, +3
Weather: going to drop into low 70s mid 60s during the game, 0% chance of rain
I chose this game because, comedy. I am screwed no matter which way I think this game will go. I have been and avid DTR truther each of the past few seasons when the espns of the world kept propping him up as a preseason Heisman candidate just because he plays QB for a team in LA and they know it will get clicks. I also have been an avid hater of Penix while at Indiana, and then talked trash about him and picked against him before he torched Michigan State for 400 yards, 4 TDs and the W. This is going to be UCLA's first actual test of the season after playing Bowling Green (45-17), Alabama St (45-7), South Alabama (32-31), and @ Colorado (45-17). Washington has clearly had the tougher schedule with, Kent State (45-20), Portland St (52-6), Michigan St (39-28), and Stanford (40-22). I am rolling with DTR and Charbonnet to win this game.
Heisman Frontrunners
CJ Stroud +120
Bryce Young +500
Caleb Williams +700
Our main three still staying the same let's not just dive into their stats again, we know Stroud and Young are putting up great numbers, but Caleb Williams did struggle a bit against Oregon State. I am sure Caleb will continue his stat padding as the season continues, but this was his first sign of weakness this season.
Fun note Hendon Hooker has jumped up to tied for 4th at +1500 with Stetson Bennett. Hooker has been very impressive to start this season throwing for 1,193 yards and 8 TDs on an excellent 71.7%, he also adds 175 and 3 TDs on the ground. Stetson has thrown for 1,224 yards and 5 TDs on an even more impressive 74.2%, with 44 yards and 4 TDs on the ground. Sam Hartman is a guy I wish would be involved more for the Heisman talk but won't, he is an incredible player and will have the stats the be approved of resume wise. Sadly though, Hartman would have needed to beat Clemson and gone undefeated to get a real chance in the eyes of voters. Do not buy into JJ McCarthy odds, as I have seen them jump up the ranks, he will never have the numbers to even pass the resume test.
Sell Stock In
App State? (Buy James Madison?)
Arkansas
Have I just been wrong about App State?? I was so impressed week 1 with them hanging 61 on UNC but that defense has shown it might be historically bad, they beat A&M on the road 17-14 had be very excited, and then showed serious cracks against Troy but held on to win a potential let down game 32-28. But then here comes my beloved Sun Belt newcomer (is the Sun Belt my favorite conference now??) James Madison hosted the Mountaineers and laid claim to the Sun Belt winning 32-28. App State had a terrific 2nd quarter and got up 28-3 but pulled a Falcons.
Arkansas is just going to be a permanent fixture here if they do not get out of this slump quick. I have been preaching they are not that good this season and called them potentially being 3-4 going into their bye week and they are right on that track. I understand not just dropping them like a rock in the rankings, but I could not reasonably put them in mine knowing what is happening to this squad. I am rooting for them to turn it around it would make the season more exciting, but this team might be bailing quick.
Buy Stock In
This Weekend of Football
Baylor
Michigan
This weekend might be the best regular season weekend of CFB this season, plan accordingly, get ready to veg out on the couch. I am excited.
The Big 12 might honestly suck this year but I need yall to finally but into the Baylor Bears. I am still ticked off about the BYU game they should have won it and would be a top 10 team right now if they did so. After this weekend we will know exactly where the deserve to be.
Okay, Michigan is finally getting into the meat of their schedule after 3 warm up games and them finally playing a decent team in Maryland and responding to adversity excites me. Watch this offense show off this weekend winning man on man football against Iowa and their defense gets to relax after be tested by Taulia. Is this me getting ahead of this before they get to stomp Penn State in a few weeks? Maybe.
Also very quickly keep another eye on Minnesota this weekend, those boats are ROWING.
Outro - Games I'm Looking Forward To
Kentucky @ Ole Miss 11am ESPN
Oregon State @ Utah 1pm PAC12 Network
Oklahoma St @ Baylor 2:30pm Fox
Wake Forest @ FSU 2:30pm ABC
NC State @ Clemson 6:30pm ABC
I ranted about how incredible last weekend was going to be and it definitely delivered, and this weekend seems to be taking it up another notch. This weekend really might be my most hide away with multiple TVs going to try to absorb every single minute of action. Thank you so much for reading! Once again be sure to follow on Twitter @HaroldLStokes to get the public #HLSBets sheets and you can DM their for more information on joining the Bonus Sheets with additional games and breakdowns of them.
