NCAAF Week 5 Preview

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports

Week 5 is the best slate of College Football we’ve had all year. Let’s break it down and get y’all ready for this amazing weekend.

Biggest Games

1. Oregon at Penn State (-3.5) - 7:30 pm ET

In my opinion, whoever gets this win should be the number 1 team in the nation. Both teams are elite, and national title contenders. It’s going to be hard for the Ducks to go into that environment and get a win, but they’re certainly capable.

2. LSU at Ole Miss (-1.5) - 3:30 pm ET

LSU wants to remain one of the top teams in the country, but they have to go on the road vs a good Ole Miss team and get a win. Ole Miss has looked good with Trinidad Chambliss at QB, but LSU is by far the best team they have played.

3. Alabama at Georgia (-2.5) - 7:30 pm ET

This game never disappoints. It lost some of it’s luster with Alabama already having a loss, but that also makes it even more important for the Tide to win this game. If Georgia wins, they will certainly be the SEC front runners once again.

4. Ohio State (-7.5) at Washington - 3:30 pm ET

Ohio State is on legitimate upset alert on Saturday. Washington is a good team, and with the Buckeyes coming off a BYE, some rust on the road might not be a great recipe for THE Ohio State University.

5. Auburn at Texas A&M (-6.5) - 3:30 pm ET

The entire Auburn football program is still complaining about the Oklahoma loss, but they have to focus on a very tough opponent in arguably the best environment in college football. The Aggies could get another quality win if they take down the Tigers.

Upset Alert

1. Indiana (-8.5) at Iowa - 3:30 pm ET

Coming off a massive win, this is certainly a let down spot for the Hoosiers, You can’t take Iowa too lightly, or they will come out and give you an ugly defensive battle that is hard to win.

2. Tennessee (-7.5) at Mississippi State - 4:15 pm ET

This will be a good test for Tennessee, and if Mississippi State actually gets this win, we’re gonna have to talk about them as legitimate playoff contenders. It’s gonna be a good environment, and both teams need this.

3. Florida State (-6.5) at Virginia - 7:00 pm ET Friday

A Friday night game, always very fun, and the Seminoles are on upset alert. Virginia is a very solid team. Being on the road on Friday night could make things weird for FSU.

Biggest Storylines

- Who is the B10 favorite?

Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State are all at the top right now. The winner of Oregon and Penn State should make it to the top in my opinion, but Indiana is also coming. Plus, if Washington beats OSU, why shouldn’t they be in the mix?

- SEC favorite

This week could also tell us a lot about the SEC, not as much as the Big Ten, but still a lot. Right now, Georgia, Oklahoma, and LSU seem to be leading, but if Bama, A&M, and Tennessee can get wins, they will be in the mix too.

- Notre Dame

Another loss for the Irish and they are 100% out of the CFP. They’re going on the road vs an SEC team which is never easy, but the playoffs essentially start now for them.

Players to watch

- Oregon QB Dante Moore

Getting, by far, the biggest start of his career, in the toughest environment of his career, we are going to learn a TON about this QB. 

- Penn State DE Dani Dennis-Sutton

This man is going to be AFTER Dante Moore, trying to make his life miserable. He will be an X-factor in this game and if he can disrupt the Oregon offense it’ll give the Lions a huge edge.

- Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss

The biggest moment of his career, Chambliss has to deliver against a pretty good LSU defense. It’s far from an easy task, but he’s starting to slowly creep into Heisman talks, and this is what he needs to do.

- Alabama WR Ryan Williams

This game is where he made his mark a year ago. Williams needs to make some huge plays for the Crimson Tide to upset the Dawgs.

- Washington CB Tacario Davis

Tacario Davis vs JJ Smith is going to be a MOVIE. If Davis can take Smith out of the game, which is near impossible, then I love the Huskies chances.

- Auburn RB Jeremiah Cobb

Cobb didn’t have as big of an impact vs Oklahoma as the Tigers would have liked, but they need him to be great vs Texas A&M for them to have a good shot at winning.

Friday Night Lights

(Does not include FSU-Virginia)

- TCU at Arizona State (-3.5) - 9:00 pm ET

This is a very interesting Big 12 game. Both teams could be contenders in the conference, and winning this would be massive. It’ll tell us a lot about the Big 12 conference, and I’m excited.

- Houston (-13.5) at Oregon State - 10:00 pm ET

Oregon State is still looking for their first win of the season, but this would be a perfect time to do that. It would be a bad look for the Cougars to lose this, but they very well could.

Predictions

- Florida State (-6.5) at Virginia: Florida State

As much as I think they’re on upset alert, I still think they’ll get the job done.

- TCU at Arizona State (-3.5): TCU

TCU looks very good this year, and I predict they will win this game and cement themselves at B12 contenders.

- Houston (-13.5) at Oregon State: Oregon State

I’ve got the Beavers getting their first win in a great game over the Cougs.

- USC (-6.5) at Illinois: Illinois

After last week, Illinois wants revenge. This would be a great way to get it in a nice ranked win.

- Notre Dame (-4.5) at Arkansas: Notre Dame

Marcus Freeman will have them ready for this one, and they just outmatch Arkansas from a talent perspective.

- Rutgers at Minnesota (-4.5): Minnesota

In a battle of mid Big Ten teams, I’ve got the Gophers.

- Duke (-4.5) at Syracuse: Syracuse

Even without their starting QB, I think the Orange rally to get a huge win.

- Louisville (-4.5) at Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh

Eli Holstein is going to make some huge plays down the stretch to win this game.

- Cincinnati at Kansas (-4.5): Kansas

Kansas is straight up better than Cincy, give me the Jayhawks.

- UCF at Kansas State (-6.5): Kansas State

Kansas State NEEDS this win. They have been absolute garbage all year, so they need a morale boost badly.

- Ohio State (-7.5) at Washington: Washington

Down goes number 1! I predict Washington will knock off the defending champs in a stunner.

- LSU at Ole Miss (-1.5): LSU

It’ll be a close one, but I think LSU gets the job done.

- Auburn at Texas A&M (-6.5): Texas A&M

Auburn will not be mentally ready for this game, and the Aggies will capitalize.

- Indiana (-8.5) at Iowa: Indiana

I don’t know about covering the spread, but I do think IU will win.

- Utah (-12.5) at West Virginia: Utah

Both teams aren’t great, but I think Utah will win without covering.

- Tennessee (-7.5) at Mississippi State: Tennessee

I really wish I could pick Mississippi State, but they just aren’t good enough to beat the Vols in my opinion.

- Arizona at Iowa State (-5.5): Iowa State

ISU will get a quality win over an undefeated Arizona team.

- Oregon at Penn State (-3.5): Penn State

It’ll be a very close game, and I want to pick Oregon, but I like the matchup for Penn State.

- Alabama at Georgia (-2.5): Georgia

Alabama has looked great since the Florida State game, but I think Georgia gets it done at home.

- Kentucky at South Carolina (-5.5): South Carolina

They need this win very badly, and they’ll get it in dominating fashion.

- BYU (-6.5) at Colorado: Colorado

I’ve got the Buffs getting a very nice win over a ranked BYU team, in the Big 12 after dark.

- UCLA at Northwestern (-6.5): Northwestern

UCLA is just so bad. They won’t win.

- Georgia Tech (-13.5) at Wake Forest: Georgia Tech

I like this matchup a lot for the Yellow Jackets, I think they cover.

- Washington State at Colorado State (-5.5): Colorado State

Colorado State is a solid G6 team, and Wazzu looks pretty bad. Give me the Rams.

- San Jose State at Stanford (-3.5): San Jose State

I think the San Jose State defense will come to play, and pull off a nice upset.

KZACFBpicks scoring system:

-35+ = 0.5 points

-21.5-34.5 = 1 point

-15.5-21 = 1.5 points

-11-15 = 2 points

-7-10.5 = 2.5 points

-3.5-6.5 = 3 points

-0.5-3 = 3.5 points

+0.5-3 = 4.5 points

+3.5-6.5 = 5 points

+7-10.5 = 5.5 points

+11-15 = 6 points

+15.5-21 = 6.5 points

+21.5-34.5 = 7.5 points

+35+ = 10 points

You can find Owen Pannell on X here.

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