NCAA 2024 Week 5 picks

 Thursday Sept 26

Army Black Knights at Temple Owls : The Army attack is can be very exhausting to defenses, and the Owls don't seem to be able to finish games.  ARMY by ten

Friday Sept 27

Virginia Tech Hokies at #9 Miami Hurricanes : The Hokies lack the edge they have often had.  The Hurricanes offense is rolling.  MIAMI by 23

Washington Huskies at Rutgers Scarlet Knights : Rutgers had a good game on Saturday, but the Huskies have more talent.  WASHINGTON by 12

Saturday Setp 28

Top 25

Mississippi State Bulldogs at #1 Texas Longhorns : No contest.  TEXAS by lots

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan State Spartans : The Spartans played Boston College tough, but the Buckeyes are in a whole higher bracket.  OHIO STATE by lots

#7 Georgia Bulldogs at #3 Alabama Crimson Tide : This may be the most exciting game of the day!  Either team has the talent to win, but the Tide has been playing stronger.  ALABAMA by six

Kentucky Wildcats at #5 Ole Miss Rebels : Kentucky can be a tough team, but the Rebels are a real force this season.  OLE MISS by 18

#6 Oklahoma Sooners at Auburn Tigers : Easy win here.  OKLAHOMA by lots

#16 Louisville Cardinals at #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish : The Cardinals have a good team, but the Irish have bounced back strongly after their shocking loss to the Huskies.  NOTRE DAME by nine

#19 Illinois Fighting Illini at #11 Penn State Nittany Lions : The Illini currently lead the Big Ten, but that won't last.  PENN STATE by 13

#12 Oregon Ducks at UCLA Bruins : The Bruins played well this past week, but the Ducks will just swarm them.  OREGON by lots

Arizona Wildcats at #13 Utah Utes : This one won't be tough for the Utes.  UTAH by 32

Wisconsin Badgers at #14 USC Trojans : The Badgers have not started out well this season.  If they cannot find themselves, they stand no chance here.  USC by 18

#17 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Kansas State Wildcats : When the Wildcats start to slide, it usually lasts three games.  Here's game two, and they face a hard-fighting Cowboys team.  OKLAHOMA STATE by 20

#18 BYU Cougars at Baylor Bears : Easy win for the Cougars.  BYU by lots

Fresno State Bulldogs at #21 UNLV Running Rebels : This game could be very close.  Fresno State has a strong team, but the Rebels are fresh, having a bye week last week.  UNLV by eight

Stanford Cardinal at #22 Clemson Tigers : The Cardinal pulled off an upset this past week, but I don't think they'll do two in a row.  CLEMSON by 23

#23 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Purdue Boilermakers : Illinois exposed some vulnerabilities in Nebraska, but I don't think the Boilermakers defense will be able to exploit them.  NEBRASKA by 16

Minnesota Golden Gophers at #24 Michigan Wolverines : Prior to Saturday, I would have picked Minnesota.  But it now seems like the Wolverines restructured offense is starting to click.  MICHIGAN by nine

Ball State Cardinals at #25 James Madison Dukes : The Dukes are rolling.  JAMES MADISON by lots

Big Ten

Maryland Terrapins at Indiana Hoosiers : Both conference leaders seem poised to lose this week.  The Hoosiers have a chance to win, but the Terrapins seem a bit stronger.  MARYLAND by six

Other Games of Interest

Northern Illinois Huskies at NC State Wolf Pack : NC State was destroyed last week.  Can they bounce back, or they still a bit traumatized?  NORTHERN ILLINOIS by eight

Colorado Buffaloes at UCF Golden Knights : The Buffaloes may have pulled off an overtime miracle this past week, but UCF won't even give them a chance to reach overtime.  UCF by 24

Iowa State Cyclones at Houston Cougars : The Cyclones will blow over the Cougars.  IOWA STATE by 18

South Alabama Jaguars at LSU Tigers : LSU will finally get an impressive win, albeit against a weak opponent.  LSU by lots

Washington State Cougars at Boise State Broncos : This game could really go either way.  Boise State has better statistics, but I think the Cougars are hungrier for this win.  WASHINGTON STATE by six in an upset