College Football - Week Five

4-Unit Play. #166 Take Iowa State -2.5 over Kansas State (10/3 Saturday - 3 p.m. EST)

Outside of a bad loss to rival Iowa, the Cyclones have done this year with a 3-1 start. Iowa State has a solid balance attack on offense, and the defense has also done their part to help cover each of their spreads in victory. ISU has covered four of the last five meetings, and in this one they come in as the better overall team. Kansas State's struggles are evident, and I think Iowa State keeps it going in the right direction and scores a victory in Big 12 play.

5-Unit Play. #145 Take LSU +3 over Georgia (10/3 Saturday - 3:30 p.m. EST)

While everyone is quick to label LSU as an unproven commodity, I really like them in this big SEC match-up. Defense always seems to play the biggest factor when two Southeastern powers collide, and so far the Bulldogs defense has not shown up this year. Georgia is allowing 30 points per game, and so far you can pretty much move the ball against them through the air and on the ground. But in this one I see a low scoring game, and that gives the edge to the Tigers and their strong defense. UGA is 1-8 ATS in their last nine games as a favorite. I can understand why they are favored, playing Between The Hedges, but LSU is going to leave Athens with an outright win.

4-Unit Play. #119 Take N.C. State +2.5 over Wake Forest (10/3 Saturday - 3:30 p.m. EST)

Quarterback play has gone a long way to dictate ACC play this season, with most of the teams in this conference having comparable defenses and supporting weapons on offense. That being said, give me sophomore Russell Wilson. All this kid has done is set the NCAA record for most pass attempts without an interception, and right now he is the most efficient quarterback in all of college football. Conversely, Riley Skinner looks more like the turnover machine that plagued this Wake Forest team last season. N.C. State has bounced back well from their season opening loss at home to South Carolina. They make it a fourth straight victory, this one coming on the road.

4-Unit Play. #143 Take Washington +13 over Notre Dame (10/3 Saturday - 3:30 p.m. EST)

It's understandable to see how UW lost at Stanford last week, given the letdown scenario, but the Cardinal were the better team that night and played exceptionally well. Now the Huskies look to find the winner's circle, and this is another big game for them. With a banged up offense and a defense that I still don't feel is doing anything special, I think the points are more than enough. Jake Locker will match Jimmy Clausen in production, and the Washington defense will make ammends for their bad effort last time out here. Maybe not an outright victory for Steve Sarkisian, but his troops get the check mark and the cover.

5-Unit Play. #183 Take Arkansas -1.5 over Texas A&M (10/3 Saturday - 7:30 p.m. EST)

So far the Hogs defense has been a major disappointment. But to their credit, they have faced some stiff tests so far. And having been challenged, that benefits them more than will a puff schedule the first month for the Aggies. Playing on a neutral field, we'll ride with a well prepared SEC team. Texas A&M's 3-0 record means nothing with wins over not one legit team. So essentially it's not realistic to make a case for them. At least we know Ryan Mallett and his cannon arm can move the ball down the field, while Michael Smith is a waterbug and explosive threat out of the backfield. They get a nice win after a couple of conference setbacks.

5-Unit Play. #185 Take Auburn +2.5 over Tennessee (10/3 Saturday - 7:45 p.m. EST)

Again we have another SEC match-up where defense could quite possibly dictate all night long. But even more so, Tennessee's Jonathan Crompton has been a turnover waiting to happen. In fact, he has been awful. I don't think he will find his groove against a very good Tigers defense. And while they do their part, Auburn's offense has quietly produced to the tune of 45 points and over 500 yards per game. Of course it won't be that much in Knoxville, but enough for a War Eagle victory.

4-Unit Play. #188 Take California +4.5 over USC (10/3 Saturday - 8 p.m. EST)

While this Pac-10 game took a big hit with both teams already having a loss, it still remains arguably the biggest conference game of the year because the rest of the league hasn't stepped up to the plate as a full season contender. Maybe UCLA, but the winner here is still the frontrunner in my mind. And that will be Cal. Just an awful home loss to Oregon, as he Bears just didn't show up. But maybe that's good for them to get even more focused and prepared for the Trojans. Cal is still 10-1 ATS in their last eleven home games in Berkeley. And while Cal looked bad last Saturday, you could USC was just as unimpressive with a 27-6 result to lowly Wazzou. Southern Cal has failed to cover their last three spreads, and the dogged Golden Bears win outright at home.

2-Unit Play. Florida State/Boston College 'Under' 46 (10/3 Saturday - 3:30 p.m. EST)
2-Unit Play. Penn State/Illinois 'Under' 46 (10/3 Saturday - 3:30 p.m. EST)
2-Unit Play. Georgia Tech/Mississippi State 'Under' 46.5 (10/3 Saturday - 7:30 p.m. EST)