College Football Betting Guide Week 5: Top Class Slate Produces Top Class Results
What a slate of college football we had last weekend, and it led to our panel of experts turning in a 27-19 (59%) week; our best collective effort of the season so far. Hopefully we can keep that positive momentum going.
As a result, the table has leveled out some, even though we still have half of pickers over 50% and half under 50%.
Overall, our locks have been fantastic through week 4, posting a collective 20-12 (63%) record. Looks like McGee is changing up his strategy this week, so hopefully he can turn things around in the lock department soon.
See below for our week 5 picks. We have a season-high 4 consensus selections this week, featuring 2 from the same game!
Runder Arrade
Penn State @ Northwestern – Over 45.5
West Virginia +3.5
Alabama @ Mississippi State – Over 60.5
Indiana @ Rutgers – Over 55.5
LOCK: Ohio -3
John Hauser’s Bobcats head across the state to Kent this week to take on the Golden Flashes. So far in 2026, Ohio has had close games against respectable Jacksonville State and South Alabama squads while hanging with Nebraska in the first half on the road at Memorial Stadium. Kent State on the other hand, got smashed against a bad South Carolina team and projects to be pretty poor the rest of the season. I don’t see Ohio losing this game, so I’m happy to lay the field goal.
Jerry Rosenblatt
BYU -6.5
Illinois -10
Oregon St @ Colorado St – Over 61.5
Tennessee -7
LOCK: Florida -5
It’s hard to think the Gators aren’t the pick of the week after last week’s dominating performance over Ole Miss. The spread wants you to believe that home field advantage will be heavily against the Gators. Missouri fans have already written off the season. Don’t overthink this one.
Ovaltine Jenkins
Virginia Tech -3.5
Navy @ Air Force – Over 45.5
Tennessee -7
Kentucky +3
LOCK: North Dakota State -18.5
The Thundering Herd have a midday matchup at the Fargodome against Wyoming on Saturday, coming in having won 4 of 4. On the other side, the Cowboys rank 134th in the FBS with a -6 turnover margin on the season and are 1-3 against the spread. I see the hosts overpowering their opponent in the first half and cruising in the second to take home the inaugural Battle of the Basins trophy.
Mr. PG
Texas Tech -13
Florida @ Missouri – Over 56.5
Kentucky +3
Penn State -3
LOCK: Virginia Tech -3.5
James Franklin knows how to beat bad teams. Pitt might be formidable but Pat Narduzzi is a DORK. He’s too busy whining and complaining to do anything but get stuffed in a locker. And for that reason, Pitt is a bad team, and they’ll see first hand what big game James can do when it isn’t a big game.
Pookie Beadson
Memphis -20.5
Mississippi State +6.5
BYU -6.5
Northwestern +3
LOCK: Alabama @ MSST – Over 60.5
This over line may scare some away, but Pookie Beadson could be the next Green Lantern the way he ain’t afraid. This matchup features two emerging star, dual-threat QBs in Kamario Taylor and Keelon Russell, who have yet to see a defense they couldn’t shred for 30 points or more. We’ve seen some real SEC shootouts early in this season: this matchup is next in line. Pew-pew!
Brick Cash III
Penn State @ Northwestern – Over 45.5
Notre Dame -21
Washington +9.5
San Jose State @ Hawai’i – Under 51.5
LOCK: Ohio State @ Iowa – Over 45.5
How have these teams been performing on offense so far? I think Iowa has put up some reasonable points against quality defenses and has been able to capitalize on their opportunities. Ohio State has a very similar story except with a Heisman-caliber quarterback. I think the Buckeyes are due to put up some pretty big numbers against Iowa this weekend. Furthermore, when I woke up this morning, I saw a big OH license plate frame on four different cars on my way to work so if that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is. And in this country, we read the signs.
Dirty Tomas
Cal +2.5
South Florida -6.5
Indiana @ Rutgers – Over 55.5
Miami (OH) -13.5
LOCK: Clemson +16.5
Is Miami good? Yes. Is Clemson good? Maybe. Is 16 and a half points at home a ton of points? YES! The spread for this contest should be closer to 10 points. Either way the Tiger fans will be loud early, and this one is set to be much closer than the so-called experts believe. Rumors of Clemson’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
Adam McGee
Kentucky +3
Notre Dame -21
SMU -20.5
Georgia -24.5
LOCK: Mississippi State +6.5
My locks have been on fade alert for weeks 1-4, and it’s time for me to fade myself. This game opened with Mississippi State as a 3 point dog and now they are catching 6 at home in what should be a close SEC matchup. I will ignore my heart and follow the value Vegas has handed us.
Consensus Picks
These are expert picks that have a combined point total of 3 or higher (locks count as 2). Selections that fade that pick count as -1 (-2 for locks).
Alabama @ Mississippi State – Over 60.5 (3)
Mississippi State +6.5 (3)
Virginia Tech -3.5 (3)
Kentucky +3 (3)
Runder’s Additional Selections
Season Record: 73-65 (53%)
THURSDay
- Western Kentucky +2.5
Friday
- Pittsburgh +3.5
- Pittsburgh @ Virginia Tech – Over 54.5
- Northwestern +3
SATurday Morning
- UCF +12.5
- Wake Forest -12.5
- Michigan @ Minnesota – Under 43.5
- UConn +7.5
SATurday afternoon
- Iowa +14.5
- Cal +2.5
- Florida -5
- Virginia -2.5
- Miami (OH) -13.5
- Memphis -20.5
- Maryland +14.5
- Kentucky +3
- Purdue @ Illinois – Over 61.5
SATurday Evening
- Arkansas @ Texas A&M – Over 50.5
- BYU -6.5
- UTSA -11.5
- Army -2.5
SATurday after dark
- Texas State @ San Diego State – Under 59.5
- Arizona -7
- San Jose State @ Hawai’i – Over 51.5
Leave a Reply