College Football Predictions Week 5: Best Bets & Odds for Top Matchups

This Saturday has a chance to be the best and most impactful of the season, and our college football predictions for Week 5 breakdown all the marquee matchups on the slate.

With Oregon vs. Penn State and Alabama vs. Georgia among the four top-25 matchups on the schedule this week, plus Ohio State and Texas A&M taking on challenging unranked opponents, there are over a dozen can't-miss games. And our college football picks have you covered with the best bouts of Week 5.

College football predictions: Week 5

Here are all of our college football expert picks for Week 5, which we'll update throughout the week.

• Army vs. East Carolina prediction (coming soon)
• Army vs. East Carolina player props (coming soon)
• Florida State vs. Virginia prediction (coming soon)
• Florida State vs. Virginia player props (coming soon)
• Florida State vs. Virginia anytime touchdown scorer predictions (coming soon)
• TCU vs. Arizona State prediction (coming soon)
• TCU vs. Arizona State player props (coming soon)
• Houston vs. Oregon State prediction (coming soon)
• Houston vs. Oregon State player props (coming soon)
• Early USC vs. Illinois prediction (coming soon)
• USC vs. Illinois prediction (coming soon)
• USC vs. Illinois player props (coming soon)
• Early Notre Dame vs. Arkansas prediction (coming soon)
• Notre Dame vs. Arkansas prediction (coming soon)
• Ohio State vs. Washington prediction (coming soon)
• Ohio State vs. Washington player props (coming soon)
• Early Auburn vs. Texas A&M prediction (coming soon)
• Auburn vs. Texas A&M prediction (coming soon)
• Auburn vs. Texas A&M player props (coming soon)
• Early LSU vs. Ole Miss prediction (coming soon)
• LSU vs. Ole Miss prediction (coming soon)
• LSU vs. Ole Miss player props (coming soon)
• Utah vs. West Virginia prediction (coming soon)
• Arizona vs. Iowa State prediction (coming soon)
• Early Oregon vs. Penn State prediction (coming soon)
• Oregon vs. Penn State prediction (coming soon)
• Oregon vs. Penn State player props (coming soon)
• Oregon vs. Penn State anytime touchdown scorer predictions (coming soon)
• Early Alabama vs. Georgia prediction (coming soon)
• Alabama vs. Georgia prediction (coming soon)
• Alabama vs. Georgia player props (coming soon)
• Alabama vs. Georgia anytime touchdown scorer predictions (coming soon)
• BYU vs. Colorado prediction (coming soon)

College football odds & expert picks: Thursday

Here are the latest college football odds for every Week 5 game via the best college football betting sites, which update live in real time. 

Army vs. East Carolina odds

• Date: Thursday, Sept. 25
• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (Greenville, N.C.)
• How to watch: ESPN

College football odds & expert picks: Friday

Florida State vs. Virginia odds

• Date: Friday, Sept. 26
• Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Scott Stadium (Charlottesville, Va.)
• How to watch: ESPN

TCU vs. Arizona State odds

• Date: Friday, Sept. 26
• Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: Mountain America Stadium (Tempe, Ariz.)
• How to watch: FOX

Houston vs. Oregon State odds

• Date: Friday, Sept. 26
• Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Reser Stadium (Corvallis, Ore.)
• How to watch: ESPN

College football odds & expert picks: Saturday

USC vs. Illinois odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: Noon ET
• Location: Memorial Stadium (Champaign, Ill.)
• How to watch: FOX

USC vs. Illinois early prediction: USC -6.5 

Here's why I'm predicting USC to cover the spread vs. Illinois:

"This USC team has had little hype, but it's the best one Lincoln Riley has had in some time, thanks to an offense ranked No. 4 by SP+. QB Jayden Maiava leads the country in QBR (94.3), and has so many weapons like Makai Lemon and Waymond Jordan. Meanwhile, Illinois just got embarrassed and lost by 53 to Indiana. Bouncing back from that is going to be tough for Bret Bielema's team."

Notre Dame vs. Arkansas odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: Noon ET
• Location: Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
• How to watch: ABC

Ohio State vs. Washington odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Husky Stadium (Seattle)
• How to watch: CBS, Paramount+

Auburn vs. Texas A&M odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Kyle Field (College Station, Texas)
• How to watch: ESPN

LSU vs. Ole Miss odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, Miss.)
• How to watch: ABC

LSU vs. Ole Miss early prediction: Ole Miss -1.5 

Here's why I'm predicting Ole Miss to cover the spread vs. LSU:

"LSU may be ranked higher than Ole Miss, but that's purely based on its win over a Clemson team that just lost to Syracuse. Lane Kiffin's squad has been more impressive, even with backup QB Trinidad Chambliss in the lineup. Led by Kewan Lacy, the Rebels' offense is ranked No. 5 by SP+, and LSU might not be able to keep up with how sporadic its offense has been (No. 29 by SP+)."

Utah vs. West Virginia odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Milan Puskar Stadium (Morgantown, W.V.)
• How to watch: FOX

Arizona vs. Iowa State odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
• Location: Jack Trice Stadium (Ames, Iowa)
• How to watch: ESPN

Oregon vs. Penn State odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Beaver Stadium (University Park, Pa.)
• How to watch: NBC

Oregon vs. Penn State early prediction: Penn State -3

Here's why I'm predicting Penn State to cover the spread vs. Oregon:

These two teams are ranked the top two by SP+, but neither has played a quality opponent yet. With Penn State's lineup having more experience, on top of this being a white out game in Happy Valley, the Nittany Lions have the edge. It doesn't hurt that Penn State is coming off a bye, either. This could come down to Penn State's pass rush.

Alabama vs. Georgia odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Sanford Stadium (Athens, Ga.)
• How to watch: ABC

Alabama vs. Georgia early prediction: Alabama +3.5

Here's why I'm predicting Alabama to cover the spread vs. Georgia:

"Alabama's season-opening loss to Florida State has overshadowed how loaded this team is, but the Crimson Tide have gotten back on track since Week 1. They're ranked No. 4 in SP+, and Ty Simpson, Ryan Williams, and Germie Bernard should be able to challenge a Georgia defense that struggled against Tennessee and ranks outside the top 10 in SP+."

BYU vs. Colorado odds

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
• Kickoff: 10:15 p.m. ET
• Location: Folsom Field (Boulder, Colo.)
• How to watch: ESPN

College football expert picks: Week 5

• College football picks against the spread Week 5 (coming soon)
• College football player props Week 5 (coming soon)
• College football moneyline parlay Week 5 (coming soon)
• College football upsets picks Week 5 (coming soon)
• College football best bets Week 5 (coming soon)
• College football anytime touchdown scorer predictions Week 5 (coming soon)
• College football AI predictions for Week 5 (coming soon)

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