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Spread Options: Dr. Saturday's Week 4 picks against the spread

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It took us three weeks to have our first bad week. We were 2-6-2 in Week 3. Our total record is 14-12-4. Still above .500 but not great. Let's rebound in Week 4.

Boise State at Virginia (+2), 8 p.m. ET FRIDAY: Boise State will be playing two quarterbacks Friday after Ryan Finley broke his ankle in Week 3. Virginia hung with Notre Dame at home until the pass from DeShone Kizer to Will Fuller that may go down in Notre Dame lore depending on how the Irish's season pans out. We like the Cavaliers to pull the upset.

Stanford at Oregon State (+15), 9 p.m. ET FRIDAY: We don't feel the same way about Oregon State, but this game should be within two touchdowns. The X factor is Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan and the line reflects that. With a healthy Hogan, the Cardinal are heavier favorites. But it's also possible he may miss the game. Watch this line closely, but we like Oregon State even if Hogan gets the start.

BYU (+7) at Michigan, Noon ET: The Cougars can't get no respect. BYU was a 16.5-point dog to UCLA and lost by one in Week 3. UCLA is a better team than Michigan is, especially at the quarterback position. Tanner Mangum and the BYU offense should be able to move the ball on the Michigan defense. Remember that the final score of the Wolverines' win over Oregon State was inflated by some self-inflicted mistakes by the Beavers.

Bowling Green at Purdue (UNDER 75), Noon ET: We liked Bowling Green earlier in the week, but the line on the game has moved significantly in the Falcons' favor. BGSU is now favored by 4.5. All three of the Falcons' games this year have either hit or surpassed 75 total points. One of Purdue's has. With a new quarterback in David Blough at quarterback for the Boilermakers, we're not confident that Purdue will have enough offense to make Bowling Green 4-4 when it comes to hitting 75.

Oklahoma State at Texas (+3), 3:30 p.m. ET: It's the Joe Wickline Bowl. Here's an idea... the winner of the game should also win the legal battle over Wickline's contract at OSU. If the Cowboys win, Texas has to pay the buyout on his contract. If Texas wins, there has to be a settlement negotiated. It'd save both schools from legal drama at the very least. We like the Longhorns in this one; the Texas offense looked completely different with Jerrod Heard at QB. Yeah, it was the Cal defense, but Cal may be a better overall team than Oklahoma State.

Tennessee (-1.5) at Florida, 3:30 p.m. ET: This line has moved significantly throughout the week too. It started with the Gators giving 1.5 points and shifted as news of the suspensions of QB Treon Harris and CB Jalen Tabor emerged. We liked Tennessee early in the week and we like the Volunteers now, especially knowing that this game is going to be entirely Will Grier's for Florida. The UF defense is the best that the Tennessee offense has faced all year, but do you think that Florida can contain QB Josh Dobbs and RBs Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd enough to get the win?

Marshall (-7) at Kent State, 3:30 p.m. ET: You're probably doing a double-take at this line, right? After going 11-3 in 2012, Kent State is 7-19 over the past two-plus seasons. Marshall is 25-6 in that timeframe. So what gives? Marshall QB Michael Birdsong is doubtful with a shoulder injury, which means the QB job is all true freshman Chase Litton's. He's gotten some playing time already this year and his stat line is impressive (24-31 passing for 270 yards and four touchdowns). We're comfortable with Litton on the road.

Texas A&M (-7.5) vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m. ET: Will Arkansas coach Bret Bielema get his butt kicked for a third straight game? His Hogs have played Texas A&M close each of the past two seasons. But right now we have no reason to have any faith in Arkansas. The defense hasn't been very good and the offense, well, you know about the offense. This is a prove-it game for Texas A&M, who hasn't been tested since Week 1 vs. Arizona State, also at a neutral site.

Missouri (+2.5) vs. Kentucky, 7:30 p.m. ET: The over/under on this game has moved up to a whopping 45 points. Each offense scored nine points in Week 3. The Tigers won over UConn while Florida beat the Wildcats. Missouri could have tailback Russell Hansbrough back after a severe ankle suffered early in Week 1 has hampered him through the first three weeks. The Tigers are the better team – the defense is once again legit.

UCLA at Arizona (+3), 8 p.m. ET: We're making this pick on the guess that UCLA's defensive injuries will be too hard to overcome. LB Myles Jack's anterior meniscus injury meant that the Bruins are now down three defensive starters for the season. Arizona could get All-American LB Scooby Wright back for this game. Coincidentally, Wright is recovering from a meniscus injury. Homefield advantage tips this in Arizona's favor for us.

LOCKS OF THE WEEK (TO BE WRONG)

Nick Bromberg (0-3): Georgia Southern (-16) at Idaho, 9 p.m. ET: Going to go off the grid for this one in the hopes of trying to get one right. Idaho is a disaster of a football team (which isn't a new development if you look at the Vandals' record over the past few seasons) and doesn't have a chance against GSU's triple-option offense. Bet the house on the Vandals because you know this will be wrong.

Sam Cooper (0-3): Bowling Green (-4.5) at Purdue: Purdue had a similar line last week and was blown out, allowing 51 points to a Virginia Tech team that is not exactly an offensive juggernaut. This week the Boilermakers take on a high-powered Bowling Green offense that already beat up another Big Ten team (48-27 over Maryland) on the road this season. Purdue needs to put up a lot of points if it is going to win this game, but with redshirt freshman David Blough making his first career start at QB, I don't think the Boilermakers will be able to keep up with BGSU. Hopefully my streak of cursing QBs doesn't move on to Matt Johnson.

Graham Watson (0-2-1): Oklahoma State at Texas (+3): Few teams can ride the momentum of a moral victory, but that’s what Texas is going to do this week against Oklahoma State. While the Longhorns’ schedule has been brutal, it has prepared them for the rigors of the Big 12 slate. Texas quarterback Jerrod Heard is a dynamic player who showed last week that he could change a game with his feet and his arm. I think he carries the Longhorns past an Oklahoma State team that has cruised past three non-Power Five opponents. Texas beat Oklahoma State a year ago and this is a better Texas team. I like the Longhorns a lot here.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!


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