College Football Week 4 Staff Picks: Auburn looks to keep rolling in prime-time matchup

Each week during the college football season, the staff at theScore will put on their prognosticator hats and offer up selections against the spread on each of the week’s top games, highlighting several marquee matchups.

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Opening Line Report
Game Day Betting Update

Unanimous selections: Auburn -8.5, Virginia Tech -8, Florida +14.5, Texas A&M -33.5, Missouri -13.5, Oklahoma -7.5, South Carolina -22, Arizona -9, Oregon -24

Unanimous selections are 5-13 ATS for the season. Last week: 1-6 ATS.

Marquee Matchups

Florida Gators at 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (-14.5)

Chris Battaglia: Faith in Florida’s football program can’t be high after the team needed triple-overtime to overcome Kentucky, but that’s all the more reason to expect a spirited bounce-back effort against an intimidating Alabama squad. The Crimson Tide are likely to walk away with the victory here, but expect the Gators to make them earn it. Florida +14.5

Gino Bottero: The once vaunted Alabama defense has shown some flaws this season. The unit has forced only one turnover despite its last two games coming against Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss. The Crimson Tide haven't recorded an interception through three games and 101 pass attempts, recovering one fumble in 167 plays. On the other side of the ball, Will Muschamp's defense should give the Alabama offense enough trouble to keep this one close. The Gators are a better squad than advertised. Last week's struggles against Kentucky can be chalked up to the lookahead spot. Florida +14.5

Mike Dickson: Both teams have had their issues this season, as Alabama struggled to put away West Virginia, while Florida barely escaped against Kentucky with a triple-overtime victory. The Gators will have to go on the road, which is no easy task when taking on the Crimson Tide, and the Gators would be wise to lean on their running game. Florida will be looking to prove last week's near loss was a fluke and while it likely won't beat Alabama, the Gators should be able to at least keep it close. Florida +14.5

4 Oklahoma Sooners (-7.5) at West Virginia Mountaineers

Battaglia: Oklahoma is demolishing opponents as they get set to open their Big 12 schedule by visiting West Virginia. The Mountaineers held their own against Alabama but barely escaped with a victory over Maryland and their high-powered passing attack will be slowed considerably by the Sooners defense. Oklahoma -7.5

Bottero: Oklahoma hasn't played anyone yet, but its roster is so deep with talent that it should be getting a lot more national attention. West Virginia gave Alabama a nice little run for its money to open the season, but the Mountaineers are simply outclassed in this matchup, and the oddsmakers didn't do them any favors with a single-digit spread. Oklahoma -7.5

Dickson: The Mountaineers should provide the stiffest test of the season so far for Oklahoma, but that's not saying a lot considering the lack of competition. Tennessee was able to avoid a blowout but still lost to the Sooners by 24 and that was their closest game so far. West Virginia played Alabama very tight in the opening week of the season, but that close score had more to do with uncertainty on the Crimson Tide's offense than anything West Virginia did. Oklahoma should be able to find holes in the Mountaineers' defense, especially with cornerback Daryl Worley suspended, giving the Sooners yet another double-digit victory. Oklahoma -7.5

22 Clemson Tigers at 1 Florida State Seminoles (-20)

Battaglia: It’s difficult to trust a rebuilding Clemson squad against Florida State. Jameis Winston looks ready to build on his Heisman season as the Seminoles kick off their conference schedule, even if he only has one half to do it, and they are likely to set a tone by routing the only other ranked school in the ACC. The Tigers won’t know what hit them. Florida State -17

Bottero: Jameis Winston's half-game benching is a big negative for Clemson backers, as the Tigers were in prime position to make some noise against a Seminoles team that's been stuck in the mud through their first two games of the season. The Tigers still look like the play as Dabo Swinney will have his boys motivated and ready to go after last year's disappointing result in Death Valley. Clemson +17

Dickson: When these two teams met last season, they were both undefeated and had dreams of a national championship. After the Seminoles' 37-point win, Clemson's dreams were dashed. While Florida State returns a team very similar to last year's squad – minus 30 minutes of Jameis Winston – Clemson is a very different team and that was no more evident than in a 45-21 loss to Georgia in its season opener. Add up all that plus the fact the Tigers have to travel to Tallahassee and it doesn't bode well for Clemson on Saturday. Florida State -17

Wild-Card Selections

Mississippi State Bulldogs at 8 LSU Tigers (-9.5)

Battaglia: Mississippi State is working hard to earn respect in a crowded SEC and opening the conference schedule with a road matchup against LSU is a great opportunity to make a statement. Bulldogs pivot Dak Prescott can beat teams in the air or on the ground and should keep the Tigers defense honest after it posted back-to-back shutouts. Expect a close game regardless of who prevails. Mississippi State +9.5

North Carolina Tar Heels at East Carolina Pirates (-2.5)

Bottero: While many may look at this as a letdown spot for East Carolina following its win over Virginia Tech last week, consider it business as usual for this Pirates squad. Many forget that East Carolina went to Chapel Hill and emerged with a 55-31 victory a year ago, and now it gets this contest on its home turf where the Pirates should have covered the spread by at least 17 points in three straight games. Shane Carden gets the headlines, but Ruffin McNeill's defense deserves a lot of the credit for the team's hot start. East Carolina -2.5

Mississippi State Bulldogs at 8 LSU Tigers (-9.5)

Dickson: While LSU faced Wisconsin to open the season, Mississippi State will actually provide an even more challenging opponent. Led by dual-threat quarterback Dak Prescott, the Bulldogs are an underrated squad that is begging to be taken lightly. If LSU doesn't come prepared to stop one of the SEC's best quarterbacks it will be in deep trouble and in danger of an upset. Not only can the Bulldogs cover the spread, but they have the talent to shock the conference and win this one outright. Mississippi State +9.5

Lines courtesy Scoresandodds.com, Covers.