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Our Mike Marteny lays out the confidence points in ESPN College Pick Em for week 4 of the 2021 season.
There are some big prizes on the line in the revamped ESPN College Pick Em game this season. $13,200 across their three entry modes. So we here at Rotoballer will try and help you win some money, because that's what we do. I have created a group for you Rotoballer readers out there. Once based on the confidence game mode, where you pick the winner of each of the ten games they pick and then assign a point value from 1-10 based on how confident you are on each pick. You can play along with me and other Rotoballer readers here. The other group has ten games that you have to pick the winner of against the spread. You can play along with that group here. They are free to enter, so come on and match wits with the rest of the readers of Rotoballer!
It was a better week for our group overall, some more than others. The Whitetale Deer led the way with 51 points out of 55 possible this week. The next best was miamidolphins567 with 44 points. Five more broke the 40 point threshold this week. I missed five of my six lowest confidence picks, but got the top four right to still end up with a respectable score.
miamidolphins567 still leads the way with 115 points. Bamarick is four points back in second place. left handed freshman is one point behind. 2pretty4orange is one point behind that in fourth place, so the top is pretty tight. I'm in fifth three points back of fourth. keepingthelittlehumansalive is one point back of me. BKNoleGirl and lbockenek are tied for seventh one point back of that. Kev Shep and The Whitetale Deer round out the top ten this week.
This article will follow be for the confidence game mode. You can also read my against the spread picks here every week for every game so you know how I'm leaning for that version of the game. Each week, I will recap who's dominating the group before I get into the picks. If you're going to beat everyone, all of the readers will know about it!
Let's get to the countdown! I will count them up from least confident (1) to most (10). You know, for dramatic effect. If I do change my pick or points at sometime during the week, I will try to update the article or post it on Twitter. Otherwise, you know all of my picks each week. Good luck out there, and I hope one or more of us take home some of that free money from ESPN! This is a really tough week. Good luck out there!
(1) UTSA over Memphis:
If you have read anything by me this year, you know that I'm a believer in UTSA. The defense is better than it was last year and this offense has the best running back and wide receiver that you've never heard of. UTSA will win this game unless Memphis bribes the officials again. Their inability to run the ball is a problem, and one that Memphis fans aren't used to.
(2) Arkansas over Texas A&M:
The Aggies offense was having issues even with Haynes King under center. Zach Calzada has the experience, but he has issues with accuracy on the deep balls and it's putting a strain on this offense. A&M was fortunate to escape Boulder with a win against a Colorado team that was blanked by Minnesota in Boulder last week. This Arkansas team is tough on both sides of the ball. This has the makings of a defensive battle, so I'm going with the better offense in this scenario. Far and away, that's Arkansas right now.
(3) Wisconsin over Notre Dame:
The Notre Dame offense made big plays when they needed to, but they weren't a cohesive strength against Purdue. If it comes down to having to throw to win, Notre Dame has a decided advantage with Wisconsin transfer (oh, the irony!) Jack Coan. Wisconsin does have the better defense though, and their running game is strong enough to control this game. If they can do that, the Badgers should head back to Madison with a win.
(4) UCLA over Stanford:
I'm not as confident as the consensus here. Stanford is a lot better than they looked in week 1, and it has everything to do with Tanner McKee. If UCLA comes out flat or disinterested, this is a game the Cardinal can win, especially in Palo Alto. I don't feel that the Stanford defense can stand up to the UCLA offense, but the Cardinal could surprise quite a few people and keep this close.
(5) Oklahoma State over Kansas State:
The Cowboys defense is good enough to slow down the Kansas State run game to the point where Will Howard will have to make some plays to win this game. I just don't see that happening. Howard is able to eliminate mistakes when he only throws ten passes, but he won't be able to get away with that here. Oklahoma State finally wised up and rode Jaylen Warren in Boise last week. We're going to see another strong game from the Utah State transfer here.
(6) Iowa State over Baylor:
Both offenses finally got going against severely overmatched opponents. It's one thing to struggle against Iowa. It's quite another to struggle against a Texas State team that just lost to Incarnate Word. Iowa State's offensive line play makes me a bit nervous, but I'm still not a believer in Baylor. Rolling Texas Southern and Kansas may fool some, but not me.
(7) Oklahoma over West Virginia:
The Oklahoma defense is finally a strength, but the offense has not looked that good this year. I don't even know why. We're finally getting production out of Jadon Haselwood as the number two receiver and Kennedy Brooks looks like he always has. The reason this game is lower is because Oklahoma living dangerously will cost them at some point. I don't feel like West Virginia is good enough to win in Norman, but stranger things have happened....
(8) Texas over Texas Tech:
I just feel like Texas Tech should be better than they are will all of the offensive talent they throw out there. I will be very surprised if the Red Raiders can stop Bijan Robinson. He's the kind of back that can control this game. Casey Thompson may not be a better passer than Hudson Card, but the offense looked better with him running it.
(9) USC over Oregon State:
That was quite a comeback for the Trojans up in Pullman. The sluggish play in the first half is a bit of a concern, but the Trojans managed to avoid a QB controversy since Jaxson Dart suffered a meniscus tear. Kedon Slovis is going to have to prove himself the rest of the season and make sure the team (and the fans) know he's the best guy for the job in 2022. It starts here against the Beavers.
(10) Michigan over Rutgers:
Greg Schiano deserves credit for the improvement of the Scarlet Knights, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. It wont be enough to take down Michigan in the Big House. This is just to let you Michigan fans know what is going on if Rutgers hangs around for a while. It doesn't mean the castle walls are falling. It just means that Rutgers is a lot better than they were a year or two ago.
