Important conference games highlight a not-so-great fourth Saturday in September. Good conference matchups include Clemson at Florida State (ACC), Kansas State at Oklahoma (Big 12) and LSU at Auburn (SEC).

Here at home, none bigger for the Mocs in several years as three-time national champion Appalachian State comes calling to Finley Stadium with a 6 p.m. kickoff and a Homecoming crowd of 15,000. The Mocs have not beaten the Mountaineers since 2004.

Best Day Games: Missouri at South Carolina (3:30 p.

m., CBS) and Miami at Ga. Tech (3 p.m.)

Best Night Games: Kansas State at Oklahoma (7:50 p.m., FOX) and Clemson at Fla. State (8 p.m., ESPN)

Saturday's 16

Ole Miss (2-1) at Tulane (0-2) (Noon, FSN) … Rebs bounce back after big loss to Texas … goes to Alabama next week

Winner: Ole Miss

 Maryland (2-1) at West Virginia  (2-0) (Noon, FX) … third of four straight at home for W.Va.  … tough Big 12 schedule kicks in next week with Baylor at home.

Winner: West Virginia

Virginia (2-1) at TCU (2-0) (Noon, ESPN) … TCU should win handily at home and remain undefeated …

Winner: TCU

Kentucky (1-2) at Florida (3-0,1-0)  (12:21, ESPN Game Plan) … The Swamp eats the ‘Cats for lunch … start of a long stretch of tough SEC games for UK …

Winner: Florida

Miami (2-1, 1-0) at Ga. Tech (2-1, 1-1)  (3 p.m., ESPN Game Plan) … Yellow Jackets should win at home …

Winner: Ga. Tech

Missouri (2-1, 0-1) at South Carolina (3:30 p.m., CBS) … Old Ball Coach will be too much for the Mizzu Tigers …Georgia comes calling to S.C. in two weeks.

Winner: South Carolina

Oregon State (1-0, 0-0) at UCLA (3-0, 0-0)   (3:30 p.m., ABC Regional) … Bruins win in PAC-12 opener for both teams …

Winner: UCLA

Samford (3-0, 1-0) at Western Carolina (0-3, 0-1) (3:30 p.m.) … Big road SoCon game for Pat Sullivan’s Samford Bulldogs … Samford has not been 4-0 since 1995.

Winner: Samford

Appalachian State (1-2, 0-1) at UTC (1-2, 0-0) (6 p.m.)  … Mocs have lost last two games to ASU by total of three points … must win for UTC … Appy State has won six straight in Finley Stadium (including three national championship games (2005-06-07) since losing to UTC in 2004 ...

Winner: UTC

Cal (1-2, 0-0) at USC (2-1, 0-1) (6 p.m.) … Trojans bounce back at home in LA. Coliseum

Winner: USC

LSU (3-0, 0-0) at Auburn (1-2, 0-1)  (7 p.m., ESPN) … Tigers from Bayou Country win this one … LSU is at Florida in two weeks …

Winner: LSU

Akron (1-2) at Tennessee (2-1, 0-1) (7:30 p.m., CSS … UT moves to 3-1 and is at Georgia next week and beginning of tough four-game stretch  …

Winner: Tennessee

Michigan (2-1) at Notre Dame (3-0)  (7:30 p.m., NBC) … Teams are not nearly as strong as when this modern era rivalry started again in 1978 (first played 1887-1943) and game doesn’t have strong national appeal but it’s still Michigan-Notre Dame … Michigan leads the overall series, 32-15, and has won the last three games …

Winner: Notre Dame

Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-1) at Georgia  (3-0, 1-0) (7:45 p.m., ESPN2) .. Dawgs win between the hedges and wait for Tennessee next week …

Winner: Georgia

Kansas State (3-0) at Oklahoma (2-0) (7:50 p.m, FOX) … excellent Big 12 opener in September between two undefeated teams …

Winner: Kansas State

Clemson (3-0, 0-0) at Florida State (3-0, 1-0)  (8 p.m., ESPN) … fans will be rockin’ in Tallahassee at Doak Campbell Stadium with the Seminole Chop .

Winner: Florida State

Last Week: 12-4   Season: 38-10

 

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net