After an inflated week of six matchups between ranked opponents, college football brings a Week 5 schedule that’s somewhat lacking in punch. However, these are precisely the weeks when there are surprises that shake the foundations of the season – especially given that many top teams are only playing their second conference games of the season.
The Big Ten is the only conference without a main game, as the only participating teams with 18 or more points in their respective games are the favorites. Meanwhile, No. 22 Florida visits Kentucky as an extremely rare underdog in its SEC East battle before the Deep South’s oldest rivalry falls apart and No. 1 Georgia becomes a two-touchdown away favorite at Auburn.
Colorado, which fell out of the undefeated ranks and the top 25 of the rankings itself last weekend, faces a second important test when it hosts No. 8 USC. Will the Buffaloes’ suddenly powerful home-field advantage be enough to overcome the firepower of Caleb Williams and the Trojans’ offense?
No. 3 Texas looks to continue its hot start to the season as a 16.5-point road favorite against also-undefeated No. 24 Kansas, and No. 11 Notre Dame appears to be recovering from its heartbreaking last-second loss in its visiting game Week to recover No. 17 Duke in the nightcap.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports all day Saturday for college football coverage starting with the opening game. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best plays in Week 5.
Odds via SportsLine Consensus | Always east
No. 22 Florida at Kentucky
lunch | ESPN, fubo (Try it for free) — These two teams are far too evenly matched, at least on paper, to make a safe decision either straight up or against the spread. Florida got the more impressive win over Tennessee, but also struggled to finish drives against one of the worst FBS teams in Charlotte. Kentucky hasn’t played anyone really significant yet (sorry, Vanderbilt), so it’s hard to say where this team actually stands. One thing is certain, however: it will be a battle for ball control for both teams. Given each team’s defensive prowess and slow, methodical approach to offense, the Under seems like a smart choice. Selection: Under 44 (-110) – Will Backus
No. 8 USC in Colorado
lunch | Fox, fubo (Try it for free) — Yes, it’s a lot of points, but we should do it. USC’s offense is one of the strongest in the country and Colorado hasn’t shown the ability to stop anyone. The pass rush is non-existent, and if you give Caleb Williams and these USC wide receivers time, they will make big plays against you. As for USC’s defense, it has improved in many areas, but can be described as average rather than good. The Trojans continue to be one of the worst tackling teams in the country, and that leads to big plays for opponents. Expect the Buffaloes to find far more success on offense this week than they did on the road against Oregon. Selection: Over 73.5 – Tom Fornelli
No. 1 Georgia at Auburn
3:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ with ShowtimeCBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — Georgia catches Auburn at just the right time. The Tigers’ offense would have difficulty moving the ball against the air, let alone 11 ultra-talented Bulldogs. Kirby Smart will not feel threatened by anything Auburn does on offense. So expect offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to be extremely conservative to prevent Auburn’s defense from making big plays that could keep the Tigers in the game. The Bulldogs will wear down this defense and then put up some stats in the fourth quarter. Pick: Georgia -14.5 – Barrett Sallee
No. 3 Texas at No. 24 Kansas
3:30 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try it for free) — Texas has emerged as a legitimate national contender, but Kansas presents a unique challenge. The entire game plan is designed to balance the line game, and the defense has been opportunistic. In wins over Rice and Wyoming, the Longhorns suffered small deficits in the second half before the floodgates opened. Kansas is strong enough offensively to keep the game closer than the three-point mark, even if Texas takes its inevitable run. Pick: Kansas +16.5 – Shehan Jeyarajah
No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 17 Duke
7:30 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try it for free) — I’m leaning towards Notre Dame winning given how these ACC matchups tend to go, especially because the Fighting Irish are just as strong in the trenches as they have been during their current 29-game winning streak against ACC opponents. But the spread is a bit too wide for a game that I think will have a low score, which is why I prefer the total. Selection: Under 54 – Chip Patterson
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 5 and which underdogs will clearly win? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all using a proven computer model that has returned nearly $2,500 in profit over the last seven-plus seasons – and find out.