Week 5? Already? Wow, this season is flying by. Finally, just about all of the P5 Conference teams are into league play. That is, all of them that are actually playing this weekend, unlike four of the teams from the PAC-12, who have an early bye.
We speak truth here, so we have to acknowledge that last week’s picks were atrocious. There goes 100 basis points off my season average, just like that. Well, nowhere to go but up. Let’s get to the picks.
All game times in Eastern Daylight Time.
Last Week: 4-6 (.400)
Season: 24-13 (.649)
DK’s 2015 Week 5 CFB Game Picks
South Carolina @ Missouri (Saturday, October 3rd, 12:00 p.m., SECN)
The battle of the Columbias has lost some of its luster this season, as South Carolina has consistently underperformed. To its end, Missouri hasn’t really set the world on fire either. Maty Mauk doesn’t look much like he did last season, but he is at home, and that should be enough to get the win for the Tigers.
Pick: Missouri 28, South Carolina 17
West Virginia @ Oklahoma (Saturday, October 3rd, 12:00 p.m., FOXS1)
Why does no one seem to be talking about West Virginia? The ‘Eers are unbeaten, and they figure to have a say in who wins the Big XII. It says here that they will begin to have a say this weekend. WVU will knock off the Sooners in Norman.
Pick: West Virginia 45, Oklahoma 33
Minnesota @ Northwestern (Saturday, October 3rd, 12:00 p.m., BTN)
Northwestern has been the pleasant surprise of the entire B1G so far in the 2015 season. The Wildcats have notched ever-more-impressive wins over Stanford and Duke this season, and they get a chance to get out of the gate well in B1G play. Jerry Kill’s team will bring its characteristic grit to Evanston, but Northwestern will keep its record unblemished at Ryan Field on Saturday.
Pick: Northwestern 27, Minnesota 21
Iowa @ Wisconsin (Saturday, October 3rd, 12:00 p.m., ESPN)
Iowa is unbeaten. Now, raise your hand if you believe that the Hawkeyes are for real. My hand remains un-raised as well. The Badgers haven’t been world-beaters thus far in 2015, but they have handled their business well since the season-opening loss to Alabama. Bucky rolls.
Pick: Wisconsin 38, Iowa 14
Louisville @ North Carolina State (Saturday, October 3rd, 12:30 p.m., ESPN3)
Louisville has not enjoyed the usual second-year bounce that Bobby Petrino teams get, and NC State has yet to drop a game this season. Jacoby Brissett continues to improve and to impress, and he will lead his team to the brink of bowl eligibility, despite the dismissal of starting running back Shadrach Thornton.
Pick: North Carolina State 24, Louisville 10
Air Force @ Navy (Saturday, October 3rd, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Air Force brings its ground-and-pound wishbone attack (ironic, no?) to Annapolis to kick off the Commander-In-Chief Trophy round robin tournament. Running back DJ Johnson is off to a solid start for the Falcons. Keenan Reynolds is now tied for second all-time in rushing touchdowns in FBS history, trailing Montee Ball by just four scores. He may threaten Ball’s total this Saturday. Navy wins at home.
Pick: Navy 38, Air Force 21
Boston College @ Duke (Saturday, October 3rd, 3:30 p.m., ESPN3)
Boston College brings the nation’s second best scoring defense to Durham to take on Duke, fresh off an impressive win over Georgia Tech. The Golden Eagles have given opposing offenses fits, and Duke’s attack has been inconsistent all season. The fighting Al Preziosis will get the mild road upset this Saturday.
Pick: Boston College 17, Duke 7
Alabama @ Georgia (Saturday, October 3rd, 3:30 p.m. , CBS)
Alabama travels to Sanford Stadium to take on the undefeated Bulldogs in a critical SEC match-up. Georgia is favored over the Crimson Tide for the first time in forever. Can UGA handle the expectations of success against elite competition? In (Nick) Chubb we trust.
Pick: Georgia 35, Alabama 24
Mississippi @ Florida (Saturday, October 3rd, 7:00 p.m. ESPN)
Ole Miss has risen all the way to the Top 5 this season, while the Gators needed a miracle to nip Tennessee by a point last weekend. Luck runs out this week, as Chad Kelly and Laquan Treadwell figure to light up the scoreboard at the swamp.
Pick: Mississippi 42, Florida 21
Notre Dame @ Clemson (Saturday, October 3rd, 8:00 p.m. ABC)
The national game of the week happens in Death Valley (East) under the lights Saturday evening. Young, strong-armed DeShone Kizer has played well for the Irish, but Deshaun Watson has more experience and a sure-to-be-raucous home crowd in his corner. This one figures to be every bit as close as we all hope it will be, as these teams match up very evenly across the board. If the game were being played in South Bend, the outcome would be different. It isn’t being played in South Bend, though.
Pick: Clemson 28, Notre Dame 27
