Zach Mettenberger is playing at a high level entering LSU's game with Auburn. (Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports)
Welcome to Week Four of The Lowe Down. I tell ya what, isn’t it funny how things work out? Take Texas A&M for example. Last year the Aggies football program fielded one of its best team’s in years, maybe decades, and lost two games by a total of eight points in its new conference, the SEC. This year, the Aggies, who once again field a great team, are coming off a heart-breaking loss to top-ranked Alabama that will likely cost them a shot at a potential national title. Just think if the 2012 Aggies squad would’ve still been in the Big 12 last year or this year. There’s no doubt Texas A&M would be the class of that league hands down, especially with Texas falling flat on its face in recent seasons. Hey, the Aggie brass was ecstatic to move to the nation’s best football conference, but in an ironic twist of fate changing conferences likely cost Texas A&M a potential national title. Go figure. Last week’s record was 18-2, bringing the yearly record to 47-13. To the games we go…
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Friday, September 20th
Boise State (2-1) at Fresno State (2-0) 8:00 p.m. CT
The Mountain West title could be on the line when these two hook up in a Friday night showdown. After getting humiliated by Washington on the road in its season opener, Boise, which has won seven straight in the series, has bounced back with easy wins over Tennessee-Martin and Air Force. But the Broncos defense, which isn’t as good as in years past, will have its hands full trying to defend quarterback David Carr and a powerful Fresno State offense that’s averaging 46.5 points per game. Look for the Bulldogs to win a high-scoring affair.
The Lowe Down: Boise State 34, Fresno State 48
Saturday, September 21st
San Jose State (1-1) at Minnesota (3-0) 11:00 p.m. CT
Shhh! Do you hear that? It’s the upset special alarm and it’s about to go off right in the Gophers eardrum. Despite Minnesota’s strong start, it could have to play the Spartans without starting quarterback Philip Nelson, who left last week’s 29-12 win over mighty Western Illinois with a hamstring injury, and head coach Jerry Kill, who suffered a seizure on the sidelines and had to be taken to the hospital during last week’s game. Those two losses, plus the Gophers uncertainty on defense, could be major factors against a quality San Jose State team with an excellent quarterback in senior David Fales.
The Lowe Down: San Jose State 27, Minnesota 24
Purdue (1-2) at No. 24 Wisconsin (2-1) 2:30 p.m. CT
If you missed the ending of the Wisconsin/Arizona State game last week, then you need to take a second and watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQmNYPOgx40 … Yeah, so what did ya think? To be honest, I had no clue what to think when I saw that play — and apparently the refs didn’t either. Although it’s unfortunate to lose a game that way, Wisconsin head coach Gary Anderson could have been a better game manager (could’ve just kicked the field goal from the right hash) in that circumstance. Regardless, the Badgers lost a game they should’ve won. And that won’t bode well for a Purdue team that’s reeling after losing a heartbreaker to Notre Dame a week ago.
The Lowe Down: Purdue 14, Wisconsin 45
Tennessee (2-1) at No. 19 Florida (1-1) 2:30 p.m. CT
Doctor, doctor, I need some help in removing this gigantic crow from my mouth. How dare I think that Tennessee could actually compete with Oregon? Man that was a beat-down. Now comes another significant test for Butch Jones’ team in the form of the Florida Gators. Let’s face it, neither one of these teams are very good on offense. Tennessee doesn’t have a quarterback and it lacks playmakers at receiver. Florida doesn’t have receivers either and the offensive line has been a disappointment. But Florida has a much better defense, is fresh off a bye week and is playing at home. Those are reasons enough to like the Gators.
The Lowe Down: Tennessee 14, Florida 27
Michigan State (3-0) at No. 22 Notre Dame (2-1) 2:30 p.m. CT
Well it didn’t take long for Notre Dame to fall back to the pack did it? After coming out of nowhere and playing for a national title a year ago, the Irish just don’t look like the same team in 2013. Brian Kelly’s bunch misses the playmaking prowess of quarterback Everett Golson and running backs Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood on offense, and the skill-set and leadership of Manti Te’o and Zeke Motta on defense. Those elements should be major factors in what figures to be a defensive struggle with the Spartans. Michigan State will start Connor Cook at QB after he passed for 202 yards and four touchdowns against Youngstown State. But does he have the moxie to will his team to a victory in South Bend? It’s doubtful, but the Spartans keep it close.
The Lowe Down: Michigan State 17, Notre Dame 22
Louisiana-Monroe (2-1) at No. 20 Baylor (2-0) 3:00 p.m. CT
Sooner or later the Bears will have to be respected as a national player. The offense, led by quarterback Bryce Petty and tailbacks Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin, is electrifying, and the defense, paced by linebackers Eddie Lackey and Bryce Hager and safety Ahmad Dixon, is an opportunistic bunch that makes it share of plays. Last year, Louisiana-Monroe earned a reputation as a sneaky team capable of beating a lot of people. The Warhawks won’t hunt down the Bears though in this one. Too much skill resides on the side of Baylor.
The Lowe Down: Louisiana-Monroe 28, Baylor 68
Colorado State (1-2) at No. 1 Alabama (2-0) 6:00 p.m. CT
Top-ranked Alabama did what it had to do in College Station last weekend and it now gets somewhat of a breather when Colorado State invades T-Town. The Rams, led by former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, aren’t a very good team defensively, but they are capable on offense. Center Weston Richburg is one of the nation’s best at his position and quarterback Garret Grayson, a dual threat, and tailback Chris Nwoke are solid players in their own right. Alabama head coach Nick Saban has indicated that he might shuffle some personnel up on defense due to last week’s gashing and this game creates the perfect scenario to do so. Considering Saban knows what McElwain likes to do on offense, look for the Crimson Tide D to bounce back and play well against the Rams.
The Lowe Down: Colorado State 7, Alabama 38
No. 23 Arizona State (2-0) at No. 5 Stanford (2-0) 6:00 p.m. CT
I said it last week and I’ll say it again. Don’t sleep on the Sun Devils. They are a talented team and quarterback Taylor Kelly gets better with each game. Last week in the win over Wisconsin, Kelly passed for 352 yards and added another 24 on the ground. Good passing teams with explosive offenses have given the Cardinal problems in the past so an upset could be possible here. However, Stanford has a good quarterback in its own right in Kevin Hogan. Hogan has been sharp so far this season and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to make plays against Arizona State’s defense. But in the end, the Cardinal D will make a play to keep David Shaw’s team unbeaten.
The Lowe Down: Arizona State 27, Stanford 30
SMU (1-1) at No. 10 Texas A&M (2-1) 6:00 p.m. CT
You have to tip your hat to the Aggies. They played a hell of a game against Alabama. Even when it appeared as if Texas A&M was ready to be run out of the building, Johnny Manziel rallied the troops and gave the nation a fantastic finish. Speaking of Manziel, how about the connection between he and stud wideout Mike Evans? Man alive. I’m not sure if most NFL teams could have handled that pair last Saturday. Going forward, it will be tough for any team on A&M’s schedule to handle Manziel, Evans and the rest of the Aggies’ playmakers. Defensively, however, Texas A&M needs to get better.
The Lowe Down: SMU 21, Texas A&M 62
Auburn (3-0) at No. 6 LSU (3-0) 6:45 p.m. CT
Not long ago, Nick Marshall and Zach Mettenberger were playing at Georgia. Now they are both right slap-dab in the middle of an SEC West race that should go down to the last week or so of the season. Under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Mettenberger has looked sharp in his first three games. The classic drop-back passer has thrown for 797 yards and nine TDs, has yet to be picked off and just looks 10-times more composed than a season ago. Pressuring Mettenberger and slowing LSU’s potent ground attack will be paramount for Auburn defensively if it wants to pull the upset. Offensively, a major key for Auburn will be establishing a running game. Gus Malzahn’s O is that much more effective when the ground attack is having success because it opens up opportunities for play-action passes downfield. Marshall, who led a dazzling game-winning drive against Mississippi State a week ago, has been a good game manager up to this point, but he will need to hit some big plays in the passing game for the Tigers (from Lee County, Ala.) to shock the nation. Anything is possible, but look for LSU to squeeze out a win on a potentially wet night.
The Lowe Down: Auburn 23, LSU 31
In other Saturday games:
North Carolina 27, Georgia Tech 37
Florida A&M 14, No. 4 Ohio State 55
Florida International 13, No. 7 Louisville 58
North Texas 10, No. 9 Georgia 56
No. 15 Michigan 45, UConn 20
Maine 10, No. 18 Northwestern 45
Utah State 30, USC 27
Arkansas 30, Rutgers 26
Troy 23, Mississippi State 37
Utah 23, BYU 34
