This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. It's a massive week in the SEC and Big Ten. The SEC has three top-25 matchups on its Week 4 slate and the Big Ten has two, each with sizable College Football Playoff implications.
No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Michigan and favored in their ranked matchups, but both are on upset alert with highly capable underdogs on the other sideline. And for No. 10 LSU and No. 23 Texas A&M, the loser of their head-to-head showdown might already be out of the CFP race. The Longhorns' trip to No. 14 Tennessee is so monumental that even President Donald Trump will be in attendance.
That could cause in-game problems for both teams, as Steve Sarkisian said any time the President moves locations inside the stadium, coach-to-player communication is cut off. Sarkisian even said this occurred in last year's national championship game and impacted the final drive. Throwing another wrench into the matchup: Tennessee linebackers coach William Inge is in the hospital due to a "personal medical issue." The top showdown in the Big Ten pits No. 12 USC against No. 20 Oregon.
Both coaches desperately need a win in this spot. While Dan Lanning is still in search of a championship season, Lincoln Riley faces even tougher pressure as he seeks to prove that the Trojans are back in college football's top tier. Our picks for all of the biggest Week 4 games are in.
Tom Fornelli's Lock of the Week comes from No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan, where he foresees the Hawkeyes having a tough time moving the ball. Here are our picks for every marquee matchup: When the Cowboys and Ravens fly to Rio de Janeiro for the NFL's third Brazil game, they will embark on a challenge the league has never seen before. Neither Dallas nor Baltimore has a bye week on the other side of this international trip.
The flight home won't feel so long for the winning team, and our experts Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin think the Ravens will be that fortunate squad -- but only if Zay Flowers suits up. Also, if the first two weeks were any indication of what's next, then Week 3 should also feature a handful of puzzling results. For one, it wouldn't shock our Tyler Sullivan if the Steelers go touchdown-less for the second consecutive game.
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