Fortune Teller: Tennessee exorcises demons, beats Florida
Once a week, psychics from all over the country gather with a giant crystal ball and attempt to read the future of college football. Ahead of the 2016 season's fourth slate of games, here are the fortunes they revealed:
West Virginia moves atop Big 12
West Virginia isn't firing on all cylinders yet, but its getting close. Quarterback Skyler Howard is playing the best ball of his career, thanks in part to an impressive crop of receivers, while the running game is as strong as ever with Rushel Shell and Justin Crawford in the backfield. Even the much-maligned Mountaineers defense has been making plays this year.
Big 12 teams have struggled thus far, only Baylor and West Virginia remaining undefeated. With the Bears headed for a loss at Oklahoma State, the time has come for West Virginia to ascend. Look for the 3-0 Mountaineers to vault into the Top 25 and become the Big 12's top-ranked squad when the new AP Poll is unveiled.
Tennessee defeats Florida for first time since 2004
Tennessee last defeated Florida in the same year Usher finished atop the billboards with his hit song, "Yeah!" But for the first time in 12 years, Tennessee is going to get the job done against the Gators.
The Volunteers have been listening to the trash talk for weeks, but they've refused to engage in a war of words. Perhaps, though, it's the Gators who should be sweating this matchup, as they're the ones rolling into Knoxville sans their starting quarterback.
They say all good things must come to an end, which means Florida's winning streak versus Tennessee - currently at 11 games - has to end eventually. You know what else they say? There's no time like the present.
Eason carves up Ole Miss
Ole Miss has made a season of getting shredded by freshman quarterbacks, so why should this week be any different? The Rebels gave up 478 total yards to Deondre Francois in the opener, and last week surrendered 304 to Jalen Hurts. While Georgia rookie Jacob Eason isn't the running threat that the other two are, he's just as poised from the pocket, and is even more accurate.
After picking up his first career 300-yard passing performance in last week's last-minute win over Missouri, Eason will repeat the feat against Ole Miss, and leave Hugh Freeze wondering how his team was a preseason top 10.