D.S. Williamson
The 2017 College Football Week 5 Preview is short on real excitement. In fact, the most exciting game of the week might be on Friday, September 29. 5 USC travels up the Pacific Coast Highway to battle 16 Washington State. The winner should become the favorite to beat Washington for the Pac 12 Championship. Other interesting games have 8 Georgia traveling to Tennessee, 24 Mississippi State battling 13 Auburn, and 2 Clemson heading to Blacksburg to take on 12 Virginia Tech.
Check out my 2017 College Football Week 5 Preview!
2017 College Football Week 5 Preview
Thursday, Sep. 28
Texas -5.5 at Iowa State +5.5
Texas got Week 3 off after almost beating USC at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum in Week 2. The Longhorns appear to have gotten better from their Week 1 loss to Notre Dame. Texas probably shouldn’t be favored by more than 3 points in this game, though. In fact, Iowa State’s offense might keep them in this battle. The Cyclones average 40.3 points per game.
I like Iowa State to win this one straight up. But, just in case Texas has gotten better from Week 1, I’ll take the points.
Pick: Iowa State +5.5
Friday, Sep. 29
13 Miami -6 at Duke +6
The Duke Blue Devils (the football team, not the basketball team) has won 4 straight games to open the 2017 College Football Regular Season. The Dookies are not only 4 and 0 straight up, they’re also 4 and 0 ATS. Miami beat Duke 40 to 21 last season. Duke should put up a fight for at least 3 quarters. Then, I expect Miami’s better talent to get them the win and cover ATS.
Pick: Miami +6
5 USC -3.5 at 16 Washington State +3.5
This is the best game in Week 4. The way I see it is USC has been escaping by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins. I mean, even California had the Trojans on the ropes. Texas probably should have beaten USC. The problem I see for the Trojans is that of the 2 fantastic quarterbacks in this game, Washington State QB Luke Falk plays behind a better offensive line than what USC QB Sam Darnold plays behind.
I like the Cougars to upset USC on the money line. Taking Washington State and the points is a College Football Week 4 Best Pick.
Best Pick: Washington State +3.5
Saturday, Sep. 30
17 South Florida -24 at East Carolina +24
South Florida has covered in 2 straight after failing to cover in their first 2 games of the season. The Bulls are much better than the East Carolina Pirates. The fact that East Carolina beat UConn 41 to 38 as a +5 road dog is why South Florida is only favored by 24 points.
I don’t see East Carolina keeping this close. The South Florida Bulls are worthy of their Top 20 ranking. I see USF winning by 4 to 5 TDs.
Pick: South Florida -24
Northwestern +14.5 at 10 Wisconsin -14.5
Wisconsin is an excellent football team. The Badgers might have the best quarterback under center that they’ve had in a long time in Alex Hornibrook. Hornibrook completes 70% of his passes. Northwestern shouldn’t stand much of a chance. This is especially true after seeing Northwestern lost 17 to 41 to Duke in Week 2. Wisconsin puts a beating on the NWest Wildcats.
Best Pick: Wisconsin -14.5
Vanderbilt +10 at 20 Florida -10
Vanderbilt talked way too much trash in the days leading up to the Alabama game to sit down in the first quarter and lose 0 to 59. Trash talking is okay. Plus, the Commodores had a right to trash talk after beating Kansas State 14 to 7. But, Alabama isn’t Kansas State. And, if you trash talk, you had better back it up.
In any case, the butt whipping was so tremendous that I doubt Vandy comes back from it. I like Florida to hand the Commodores a second straight blowout loss.
Best Pick: Florida -10
8 Georgia -7.5 at Tennessee +7.5
Everybody’s in love with the Georgia Bulldogs after they squashed Mississippi State 31 to 3 this past Saturday. I admit, Georgia is a good football team. But I still don’t believe they cover as a close to -8 favorite versus the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville. I mean, the Vols aren’t a terrible team. Also, it’s almost impossible to beat Tennessee in Knoxville. I like Tennessee straight up. But, I’ll take the points.
Pick: Tennessee +7.5
Indiana +16.5 at 4 Penn State -16.5
Penn State escaped Iowa with a 21 to 19 win as a -13 favorite in Week 3. The Nittany Lions got their Mulligan. They have no more left. What it means is that I must back the team I predicted to win the Big Ten Championship to cover against inferior opponents like Indiana. I’m not as psyched about Penn State beating the Hoosiers by 17 points as I would have been had they dominated the Hawkeyes in Iowa. I’m still backing the Lions, though.
Pick: Penn State -16.5
24 Mississippi State +9.5 at 13 Auburn -9.5
Mississippi State let the pressure of being a top SEC team get in their way versus Georgia in College Football Week 3. The Bulldogs won’t make that mistake versus the Auburn Tigers in Week 4. Auburn has a decent defense. The problem is that Auburn’s offense doesn’t always score TDs. I think Mississippi State bounces back with a big effort. I like the Bulldogs to cover.
Pick: Mississippi State +9.5
Troy +19 at 22 LSU -19
LSU bounced back from their loss to Mississippi State with a decent 35 to 26 win over Syracuse. The problem with the Bayou Tigers is that they no longer have a shutdown defense. 19 points is a lot to give up to a team like Troy that averages 24 points per game. LSU should blowout the Troy Trojans. I don’t believe they will. LSU can’t seem to blowout anybody this season.
Pick: Troy +19
9 Ohio State -29 at Rutgers +29
Rutgers is 3 and 1 against the spread. The reason that’s important is because Ohio State is only 1 and 3 ATS. The Buckeyes are also 1 and 6 ATS in their last 7 games overall. Should Ohio State beat Rutgers by 30 points? Yes. Will the Buckeyes beat the Scarlet Knights by 30 points? I don’t think so.
Pick: Rutgers +29
South Carolina +10 at Texas A&M -10
Yes, Texas A&M blew a huge lead over UCLA in Pasadena in Week 1. Since then, look what’s happened. UCLA has gone 1 and 2 straight up and 1 and 2 against the spread. A&M has gone 3 and 0 straight up and 2 and 1 ATS. Don’t get me wrong, South Carolina is a good team. The Aggies, though, have already faced adversity and come out ahead. I like Texas A&M to keep the good times rolling.
Pick: Texas A&M -10
2 Clemson -7.5 at 12 Virginia Tech +7.5
I like Virginia Tech a lot. I think Hokies coach Justin Fuente is one of the best coaches in all of college football. He’s building a long-lasting, strong, program at Virginia Tech. However, VA Tech hasn’t come close to facing a team as talented as the Clemson Tigers. Clemson has already beaten Auburn and Louisville this season. Clemson’s seasoning should get them the SU and ATS wins on Saturday.
Pick: Clemson -7.5
14 Oklahoma State -8.5 at Texas Tech +8.5
Both of these teams are shooters. They score at will. Oklahoma State is a bit of a better shooter than Texas Tech. Texas Tech’s defense isn’t close to the one that the Cowboys faced from TCU in Week 3. The Red Raiders don’t have much of a shot of keeping it close.
Pick: Oklahoma State -8.5
6 Washington -26.5 at Oregon State +26.5
There’s no real handicapping to do here. Oregon State is just a bad football team while Washington is one of the Top 5 football teams (at least in my opinion) in the nation. Washington should beat the Oregon State Beavers by at least 30 points in this game. The only way for Oregon State to keep this one close is if Washington coach Chris Petersen calls off the dogs at halftime.
Best Pick: Washington -26.5
Ole Miss +27.5 at 1 Alabama -27.5
For years, Ole Miss has been the thorn in Alabama’s side. Not this year. Ole Miss lost to Cal in their last. They’re also 0 and 3 against the spread after playing South Alabama, Middle Tennessee State, and the vaunted California Bears. To make it more fun, maybe Bama coach Nick Saban should play 8 on 11. What do you think?
Best Pick: Alabama -27.5
California +14 at Oregon -14
I know that neither Cal nor Oregon are ranked. But, their game on Saturday night should be entertaining because neither squad is that much more talented than the other. Cal has a decent defense. Oregon’s offense, especially at home, can be unstoppable. I think the Ducks cover the spread.
Pick: Oregon -14
Northern Illinois +12.5 at 21 San Diego State -12.5
The reason San Diego State covers spreads is because the Aztecs have a gifted defense. Northern Illinois has a talented defense as well. Unfortunately, the Huskies don’t score a ton of points. San Diego State averages close to 30 per game. I like SDSU.
Pick: San Diego State -12.5
Colorado +6.5 at UCLA -6.5
UCLA shouldn’t be favored over any team in college football, much less one that beat them 20 to 10 last season when the Bruins had a semblance of a defense. Colorado is by no means a great football team. The Bruins might be the worst team in the Pac 12 after Oregon State, though. I think the Buffalos take it.
Best Pick: Colorado +6.5
