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SALT LAKE CITY — We have our first in-state rivalry this week between BYU and Utah State, and the points are worth double in Pick'em. So study up and make your picks!
Remember: The games start on Thursday this week, so get your picks in earlier than normal.
Utah State at No. 19 BYU
Thursday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. MDT (ESPN)
The Cougars won by two touchdowns last year in Logan but are favored by more than three this year in Provo against the 1-3 Aggies. Dating back to 2015, BYU and Utah State have traded two-game win streaks in the series. With BYU winning the last two meetings, could fate favor the Aggies?
Why Utah State will win: The Aggies are in a tough spot, there's no denying it. They have lost three straight under a struggling quarterback in Logan Bonner, who has eight interceptions to just six touchdowns. While a Bonner breakout game would be a welcome sign and huge help toward an upset in Utah Valley, it is not the most likely outcome.
Utah State will have to win on the back of its star senior running back Calvin Tyler Jr. The Doak Walker Award candidate leads the team in rushing yards with 292 but has been kept out of the end zone so far this season.
Why BYU will win: The Cougars have won the last two meetings by double digits and are coming off a convincing 38-24 win over the Aggies' Mountain West Conference foe Wyoming.
Jaren Hall threw for four touchdowns against the Cowboys to add to his season total of nine touchdowns and just one interception. The junior signal caller is rising on NFL draft boards after his most recent performance and will look to slice up another Mountain West defense on Thursday with his arsenal of wide receivers, especially now that Gunner Romney is set to make his season debut.
Betting line: BYU -24Over/under: 60.5
No. 15 Washington at UCLA
Friday, Sept. 30 at 8:30 p.m. MDT (ESPN)
Two undefeated Pac-12 teams meet in a Friday-night clash that is sure to cause some fireworks.
Why Washington will win: The Huskies shot into the Top 15 after a major upset over No. 11 Michigan State and a 40-22 bludgeoning of Stanford to open Pac-12 play.
Michael Penix Jr. has 12 touchdowns and one interception to lead an offense averaging over 530 yards per game. He is assisted by running back Wayne Taulapapa and receiver Jalen McMillan, who have three touchdowns each. The Huskies have scored at least 39 points in every game so far this season, including three 40-point games.
Why UCLA will win: The Bruins have four wins and three 40-point games, as well, but against slightly different opponents. UCLA won by just a point at home against South Alabama and was held to 32 points against the Jaguars before flexing its muscle in a 45-17 road win at Colorado last week.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is similar in efficiency to Penix, with eight touchdowns to one interception, and running back Zach Charbonnet already has four touchdowns on the ground this season. It will be a battle in the trenches as both defenses allow less than 90 rushing yards per game to their opponents on average.
Betting line: Washington -3Over/under: 65.5
No. 7 Kentucky at No. 13 Ole Miss
Saturday, Oct. 1 at 10 a.m. MDT (ESPN)
Another undefeated meeting follows to start the Saturday slate — this time between SEC foes Kentucky and Ole Miss.
Why Kentucky will win: The Wildcats did something the Utah Utes couldn't this season: go to Gainesville and beat the Florida Gators. Kentucky beat then No. 12-ranked Florida 26-16 in Week 2 and followed it up with back-to-back 30-point outings, including a 31-0 shutout of Youngstown State in Week 3.
Quarterback Will Levis is already in double-digit touchdowns at 10, to go along with four interceptions on the season. The ground game is an area for improvement — the team averages 81 yards through four games and just one score for leading rusher Kavosiey Smoke.
Why Ole Miss will win: The Rebels got a shutout of their own in Week 3, beating Georgia Tech 42-0 on the road. The offense is averaging over 40 points per game and will be tough to bottle up in its home stadium.
Corner Canyon High star and USC transfer Jaxson Dart has just five touchdowns so far to two interceptions, but running back Quinshon Judkins has made up for it with five scores of his own on 429 rushing yards.
Betting line: Ole Miss -6.5Over/under: 54
Oregon State at No. 12 Utah
Saturday, Oct. 1 at 12 p.m. MDT (Pac-12 Network)
A pair of 3-1 Pac-12 teams meet in Salt Lake on Saturday after the Beavers lost a close one, 17-14 against No. 7 USC, and Utah went to Arizona State to open conference play with a 34-13 statement win.
Why Oregon State will win: Holding Lincoln Riley, Caleb Williams and the No. 7 team in the nation to 17 points is no easy task, but the Beavers have their work cut out for them coming to Utah.
Quarterback Chance Nolan has thrown six picks to just seven scores this season and faces an uphill battle against a Utah team giving up just 14 points on average. If running back Deshaun Fenwick (233 yards, four touchdowns) can keep up the solid production on the ground, the Beavers might just stand a chance.
Why Utah will win: Winners of three straight after a close loss in Week 1 to Florida, the Utes are finally looking like the Pac-12 title favorites they were projected to be in the preseason.
Cam Rising leads the team with 10 touchdowns to two interceptions, and the offense is getting balanced production from the ground and air game with four scores from Tavion Thomas and four from tight end Dalton Kincaid, who will now take on a bigger load with Brant Kuithe out for the season.
Betting line: Utah -10.5Over/under: 55
No. 22 Wake Forest at No. 23 Florida State
Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. MDT (ABC)
The Demon Deacons picked up their first loss of the season in double overtime against No. 5 Clemson to open ACC play. They will look to prove their national ranking against the 4-0 Seminoles.
Why Wake Forest will win: Quarterback Sam Hartman has 13 touchdowns, and the Demon Deacons dropped 45 (!!!) points on Dabo Swinney. Sure, they let the Tigers score 51 points and only beat Liberty by a point, but this offense can deal.
If Wake Forest can just figure out a way to score more points than Florida State, who gave up 31 points to Louisville, this might be a season to remember in North Carolina.
Why Florida State will win: The Seminoles are undefeated and allow less than 20 points on average to their opponents. Quarterback Jordan Travis' five touchdown passes are nothing to write home about, but he's also thrown just one interception.
The Seminoles run an efficient offense, averaging 37.5 points per game and are playing at home again after a 44-14 annihilation of Boston College a week ago in Tallahassee.
Betting line: Florida State -7Over/under: 65
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