We are a quarter of the way through the 2024 season and the narratives are starting to take shape.
Is this team real? Should we care more about a pleasant surprise or a bitter disappointment? Who should we bet on to deliver when it matters most?
In that spirit -- and as the son of a Wall Street veteran -- we're playing a little Buy or Sell today on the storylines that matter headed into Week 5.
There is more pressure on Carson Beck than Jalen Milroe on Saturday
The best game of the weekend happens in Tuscaloosa when No. 2 Georgia travels to No. 4 Alabama. A lot will be made about Kalen DeBoer's first game as Alabama head coach against Kirby Smart, but I'm more interested in the quarterback duel. It pits two of the SEC's premier QBs (and Heisman Trophy contenders) against each other in a game that could have a significant impact on the SEC and College Football Playoff races. This is a huge opportunity for Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe if he can guide the Crimson Tide to another win over Georgia after his SEC Championship heroics a year ago.
But the real pressure is on Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, who is currently projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in CBS Sports' most recent NFL mock drafts. Beck didn't look like that guy against Kentucky, but could prove he warrants that lofty title with a win in Tuscaloosa. With the Heisman and NFL Draft, people will remember how Beck played in this game.
Verdict: BUY
Colorado will make a bowl game
Deion Sanders' Colorado program is off to a 3-1 start after a thrilling overtime win over Baylor that featured a miraculous Hail Mary touchdown pass. That win over Baylor could prove huge if Colorado is going to a bowl game this year after going 4-8 in Year 1 of the Coach Prime era. Still, there are quite a few challenging games left on the schedule including Kansas State, Utah, Arizona and Oklahoma State.
There's a viable path to six wins this season and no team may have a better 1-2 punch than Colorado with Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but as the season wears on, the lack of depth could become a problem. If Colorado can beat Central Florida this weekend, it'll change my opinion, but for now, I still have the Buffaloes just missing the cut at 5-7.
Verdict: SELL
Clemson-Miami are on an ACC Championship collision course?
ACC conference play is just beginning and all offseason it felt like this could be a wide-open season. Florida State, a preseason favorite, is already out of the running. So are trendy dark horse picks North Carolina State and Virginia Tech. Through four games, No. 7 Miami looks like the class of the ACC with Heisman Trophy contender Cam Ward leading the way. The Hurricanes look like the surest bet right now to make the ACC Championship but have some tough road trips to Cal and Louisville coming up next month. Louisville has a viable path to the ACC Championship, but perhaps the most challenging schedule with Notre Dame, Miami, Clemson and Boston College still to come.
I love what Jeff Brohm is doing in Louisville and wouldn't be surprised in the least if the Cardinals make it to Charlotte, but right now I still lean toward Clemson because of the Tigers' easier schedule.
Verdict: BUY
Sonny Dykes should be on the hot seat
Sonny Dykes being thrown out of a loss to rival (and former employer) SMU sparked online conversation about Dykes' long-term future at TCU. The loss to SMU was a bad one and dropped Dykes' record to 7-9 in his last 16 games since that magical 2022 season. But Dykes isn't going anywhere and it's still too soon to put him on the hot seat after taking the Horned Frogs to the 2022 national championship game.
TCU isn't the most aggressive in the NIL game, certainly not compared to some of its in-state and Big 12 peers, and that's dampened the recruiting bump it should have gotten from the 2022 season. Dykes could be pushed to make offseason staff changes, but he still deserves another year before the pressure should crank up on whether he can get TCU back on track.
Verdict: SELL
Will Michigan State be Ohio State's first real test?
Ohio State hasn't played anybody is an overdone narrative already, but it is true. According to CBS Sports research, Ohio State is one of 10 FBS schools yet to play a Power 4 opponent, joining programs like the Kennesaw State Owls, Massachusetts Minutemen and New Mexico State Aggies.
Ohio State finally gets a Big Ten opponent this weekend in Michigan State but can the Spartans really test the Buckeyes? Consider me skeptical as Jonathan Smith, who is a very good coach, still works to get his program in order in Year 1 in East Lansing. Quarterback Aidan Chiles has shown some flashes, especially in a win over Maryland, but Michigan State doesn't have the athletes yet to keep pace with Ohio State.
The Buckeyes' next two opponents -- Iowa and Oregon -- have a much better shot of really putting them to the test.
Verdict: SELL
