College football picks: New conference rivalries for No. 11 USC and No. 15 Oklahoma take spotlight

Conference realignment often seems to have done more harm than good for college football and it is easy to lament what has been lost in the name of chasing dollars.

Then Week 4 of the season rolls around and the schedule is highlighted by No. 6 Tennessee at No. 15 Oklahoma in the Sooners’ first Southeastern Conference game and No. 11 Southern California visiting No. 18 Michigan in USC’s Big Ten debut.

Yes, those matchups were created by greed, but they are pretty tasty. That’s how they get you.

USC and Michigan have played 10 times, eight at the Rose Bowl. The last time the Trojans and Wolverines played on each other’s fields was 1957 and ’58.

The Volunteers and Sooners have met four times, including a home-and-home in 2014 and ’15 that was swept by OU.

These new conference rivalries will take some getting used to, but there is no doubt they make the list of most intriguing games this weekend.

The Wolverines’ stock is way down as coach Sherrone Moore makes a switch to QB Alex Orji, who still seems limited as a passer. Stock’s up for USC and its seemingly improved defense. Beware small sample sizes. Expect Michigan to test whether the Trojans’

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