Any thoughts that LSU might make it back to the College Football Playoff took a big blow on Saturday, when the Tigers were upset by Mississippi State in their 2020 season opener, which actually took place on Week 4, as the SEC delayed the start of their season due to COVID-19 concerns. Oklahoma also suffered a shocking loss on Saturday, falling at home to previously unranked Kansas State. With the Big Ten, the MAC and the Pac-12 all resuming play soon, the whole of college football will be back this fall, but for now we still have just some of the sport’s conferences in play.
Take a look at our college football betting picks for Week 5.
NCAA News:
2020 Week 5: Top College Football Picks & Predictions
Saturday, October 3
#13 Texas A&M (+17) at #2 Alabama
Last week, we gave the Aggies some hype, as Jimbo Fisher is moving into his third season at the helm in College Station, with two terrific recruiting classes in a row. Then the Aggies opened the season at home against Vanderbilt but only won, 17-12. Alabama did not cover the spread in their opener either, going to Missouri and winning, 38-19. However, the Tide led 28-3 at halftime. In the last five meetings between the Tide and the Aggies, the Tide have won by an average margin of 17.2 points. The Aggies were able to put up just over 21 points in each of those contests — but only managed 17 against Vanderbilt in the opener. It’s hard to see the Aggies covering next week.
Alabama to win and cover. | Bet on the Game Now!
#7 Auburn (+7.5) at #4 Georgia
Georgia opened their 2020 campaign with a trip to Arkansas, where they beat the Razorbacks, 37-10. That made 20 consecutive losses in SEC play for the Razorbacks, but that margin of victory conceals the difficult time that the Bulldogs had moving the ball. It was the Georgia defense that served as the catalyst for the big win. Auburn had a hard time moving the ball in their opener as well, but they figured things out and pulled away from Kentucky, winning 29-13. Last year, Auburn hosted this matchup and lost to the Bulldogs by seven. It’s not uncommon to see college offenses struggle in the opener and then solve problems by the second week, and I see Georgia getting more separation this week.
Georgia to win and cover. | Bet on the Game Now!
TCU (+13) at #9 Texas
Neither one of these teams has figured out the defensive side of things; thankfully, their offenses can score in bunches. Texas trailed Texas Tech, 56-41, late in the fourth quarter, but they came back to force overtime and won, 63-56. TCU hosted Iowa State and lost, 37-34. It’s worth noting that the Cyclones did not come into 2020 projected to put up big numbers on offense, so that could say more about the state of the TCU defense. Texas should be able to pull away from TCU — but win by two touchdowns?
TCU to cover. | Bet on the Game Now!
#25 Memphis (-1) at SMU
You’ll want to check on the status of this game before locking in your wagers, because COVID-19 problems have made chaos of the Memphis Tigers’ season. They won their season opener against Arkansas State, but then they had to cancel games with Houston and Texas-San Antonio, as they had 20 people in the football program test positive for COVID-19 and had 20 other people enter quarantine. It remains unclear whether they will have enough players across the depth chart for Saturday.
If they play, they will not have taken the field in four weeks. This would be a rematch of a prime-time game last season, when both teams came in unbeaten but Memphis won en route to an AAC West title, an AAC title and a berth in the Cotton Bowl. Memphis has a new coach in Ryan Silverfield, but they still have quarterback Brady White, who went 26 of 36 for 275 yards and four touchdown passes in that win over Arkansas State.
SMU comes in with a 3-0 record, with wins over Texas State, North Texas and Stephen F. Austin, the last coming in 50-7 fashion on Saturday. In three games, quarterback Shane Buechele has thrown for 852 yards and seven touchdowns, with two interceptions, and an overall QBR of 75.3, 15th in the nation. Those two picks both came in the first game of the season. Tailback Ulysses Bentley IV leads the team with 380 yards on just 36 carries, with a season long of 84 yards and seven touchdowns. The questions for SMU, once again this year, center on the defense, which gives up too many points.
SMU to cover. | Bet on the Game Now!
