Week 5 of the College Football season features the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers squaring off with the Mississippi schools with both the Crimson Tide and Tigers on their home turf. Both want to keep their momentum going as the season progresses. Some compelling conference and national matchups on the slate this week. Here’s a look at week 5 in College Football.

Last week: 15-9

Overall: 74-26, 74%

Ole Miss (2-2) @ No.2 Alabama (4-0)

2:30 PM CT

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jamie

Bama by 37 1/2

Tua Tagovailoa has completed 87-of-112 passes, 78%, for 1,300 yards 17 TDs and 0 interceptions. Those are remarkable numbers. Of course, they’ve come against not the toughest schedule, but Tua has proven he’s for real. Najee Harris rushed for 110 yards in the Tide’s 49-7 victory over Southern Miss last Saturday. The receivers, Jerry Jeudy (30-404, 6 TDs), DeVonta Smith (20-263, 3 TDs), Henry Ruggs III (16-350, 4 TDs) and Jaylen Waddle (11-197) are beyond spectacular. Apparently, it’s debatable as to who would win a 40 yard dash between Ruggs III and Waddle to determine the fastest guy on the team. There are conflicting opinions. Some think Ruggs would win, while Najee Harris and some others like Waddle to win. No matter, both are house calls waiting to happen every time they touch the ball and Jeudy could very well win the Biletnikoff Award for the second straight season as the best wide receiver in college football. Smith just keeps putting up the numbers. Jeudy looks like a top 5 pick and Ruggs and Smith could very well be first rounders, When Waddle goes out (he’s a sophomore) he can also very well be a first rounder. He could be a perfect Devin Hester player who can return kicks and punts for house calls and make explosive plays in the passing game. The defense is still youthful at least on the front 7, but the youthfulness is talented, and you can’t teach that. They just have to keep getting the experience, and staying injury free is of paramount importance for this defense. The back 4 or 5 look very solid led by potential All American Trevon Diggs at corner. Kicker Will Reichard is battling an injury to his leg, so Joseph Bulovas will kick. Reichard’s prognosis is unknown, but Bulovas has the opportunity to be a valuable player on this team for now.

Ole Miss just dropped a game to a pretty good Cal team which features a stout defense and lost on the last play of the game as quarterback Matt Corrall was unable to get in the end zone from a yard out on a sneak. The Rebels would have had to score and convert the 2 point conversion as they ended up losing 28-20. They don’t have their best team this season and this is a juggernaut they’re running into tomorrow. It’ll be a tough day for the Rebs and a big day for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama 55, Ole Miss 10

Mississippi State (3-1) @ No.7 Auburn (4-0)

6 PM CT

ESPN

Sean, Todd, Holly

AU by 10

Bo Nix has completed 56 of 104 passes, 54%, for 645 yards, 5 TDs and 0 interceptions. He’s been solid. Tua said something pretty prophetic after the Southern Miss game last week when asked how to evaluate him and his team’s performance. He said he’d know and say more after game 5. So we should know a lot more about Nix after this game. Ja’Tarvious Whitlow has rushed for 408 yards and 4 TDs. He is second in the SEC in rushing only behind Kylin Hill of Mississippi State, who’s rushed for 551 yards. Derrick Brown was a machine last Saturday at A&M picking up 2 sacks and dominating up front. Brown along with Tagovailoa and Jerry Jeudy are all potential top 5 picks in the 2020 draft. The Auburn defense was pretty spectacular last Saturday in the Tigers tremendous 28-20 road victory over Texas A&M. Excellent victory in a tough place to win. State has a pretty solid team and Joe Moorhead is doing a nice job there so far. This is an important game for Nix to prove he can lead this team to excellence this season. I like him and his talented wide receivers, Whitlow and the defense to make a statement tomorrow night that Auburn is in the mix for greatness this season.

Auburn 31, Mississippi State 17

Georgia, LSU, Missouri and Tennessee are off this week.

The No.3 Dawgs won a hard fought contest over No. 10 Notre Dame 23-17 between the Hedges last Saturday Night. I thought it was more about Notre Dame being a very good team rather than Georgia struggling. Both teams are in the hunt for the playoff. Notre Dame not out of it if more chaos ensues which it will.

The No.4 LSU Bengal Tigers went to Nashville last Saturday and blasted Vanderbilt, 66-38. Joe Burrow was 25-of-34 for 398 yards, with 6 TDs and 0 ints. Ja’Marr Chase caught 10 passes for 229 yards and 4 TDs against the clueless Vanderbilt defense. Burrow has now completed 100-of-124 passes, 81%, for 1,520 yards 17 TDs and 2 ints. He’s only thrown 7 more incompletions than touchdowns in 124 attempts. That’s astounding. Bringing in former New Orleans Saints offensive analyst, Joe Brady, who is 29, to coach Burrow and run the offense along with Steve Ensminger was a spectacular move by O. Defense could be a concern. Linebacker Michael Divinity, one of the best players and key leaders on that side of the ball, is banged up, and receiver Terrance Marshall, who had already caught 6 TDs, is lost for a while with a broken foot. LSU needs to improve on defense if it wants to be elite unless they’re just going to outscore everybody.

Missouri blasted South Carolina at home, 34-14. Kelly Bryant has completed 82-of-126 passes for 1,025 yards, 8 TDs and 3 ints. He’s been a major success and could help the Tigers have a very nice season.

Tennessee is in total disarray. Jeremy Pruitt needs to get it together quickly or there could be U Hauls in his driveway soon.

No. 23 Texas A&M (2-2) @ Arkansas (2-2)

11 AM CT

ESPN

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Olivia Dekker

A&M by 23 1/2

A&M has one of the toughest schedules in the country and struggled against Clemson and couldn’t get it together quickly enough against Auburn. Kellen Mond is a high quality athlete, who still has a chance to be very good quarterback for the Aggies. He just needs to get started tomorrow. Arkansas might be the exact antidote to get Mond and the Aggies cookin.

A&M 45, Arkansas 17

Kentucky (2-2) @ South Carolina (1-3)

6:30 PM CT

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

South Carolina by 3

Kentucky lost at State last Saturday 28-13 and can’t seem to get it going since quarterback Terry Wilson got hurt and Troy transfer Sawyer Smith took his spot. South Carolina quarterback Ryan Hilinski played pretty well against the Crimson Tide 2 weeks ago, but struggled at Mizzou last Saturday going 13 for 30 for 166 yards with a TD and an int. I like the Gamecocks to get better this week and outlast the Wildcats.

South Carolina 28, Kentucky 24

Towson (3-1) @ Florida (4-0)

3 PM CT

SEC Network

Taylor Zarzour, Stinch, Alyssa Lang

Florida by 37 1/2

If Alabama-Ole Miss wasn’t on, I might be taking a siesta during this game. Florida was extremely impressive in blasting the Vols last Saturday 34-3. Kyle Trask has filled in admirably at quarterback for the injured Feliepe Franks. Florida needs to keep gaining momentum as they host the No.7 Auburn Tigers next Saturday in a colossally important SEC matchup.

Florida 66, Towson 3

Northern Illinois (1-2) @ Vanderbilt (0-3)

11 AM CT

SEC Network

Dave Neal DJ Shockley, Dawn Davenport

Vandy by 6

Vanderbilt has been embarrassingly bad on defense the last 2 weeks of the season. Purdue’s quarterback threw for over 500 yards against them and Joe wasted them last week. Derek Mason better hope his team can prevail tomorrow. He’s treading on thinner and thinner ice now. He talks a big game, but rarely does he deliver. He’s supposed to be a defensive guru, but his defense is a disaster.

Vanderbilt 34, Northern Illinois 31

No.1 Clemson (4-0) at North Carolina (2-2)

2:30 PM CT

ABC

Dave, Gregory, Luges

Clemson by 27 1/2

Trevor Lawrence is not really lighting it up this season. He’s completed 66 of 106 passes for 925 yards 7 TDs and 5 ints. Too many interceptions for him through 4 games. Too many interceptions for any QB after 4 games. But he’s doing some good things, Travis Etienne has rushed for 305 yards, averages 7.5 yards per carry and 4 TDs. Lyn-J. Dixon is talented too as he’s rushed for 220 yards, 6.7 per carry and 3 TDs. The story for Clemson though is the defense. They are tied for third in the nation in scoring defense giving up just 10 points per game. Wisconsin is first at 4.7, Ohio State is next at 9 and Penn State, Clemson and Georgia are tied for third. Alabama is 8th at 10.5 ppg and Auburn is 21st at 15.8. The Tigers already have 12 1/2 sacks on the season. They’re lockdown. Lawrence should have a better day against the Tar Heels and the Clemson defense should be dominant again.

Clemson 49, North Carolina 17

No.5 Ohio State (4-0) @ Nebraska (3-1)

6:30 PM CT

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Maria

Ohio State by 17

Justin Fields is what the recruiting rankings thought he was as the 2nd best player in the 2018 class just behind Trevor Lawrence. He’s completed 66-of-95 attempts for 880 yards, 13 TDs and 0 ints. He’s also rushed for 6 TDs. Ohio State has played Florida Atlantic, Cincinnati, Indiana, and Miami of Ohio and have won handily in all 4 games. Not an impressive schedule but neither is Alabama’s, and they’re getting it done just like the Crimson Tide, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and Auburn are. Nebraska is getting better in Scott Frost’s 2nd year but they’re not an elite team in the Big Ten. I like the Buckeyes to take care of business impressively in Lincoln.

Ohio State 49, Nebraska 28

Texas Tech (2-1) @ No. 6 Oklahoma (3-0)

11 AM CT

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

OU by 27

Jalen Hurts has been terrific for the Sooners completing 49 of 61 passes, 80%, for 880 yards, 9 TDs and 0 ints. He’s also rushed for 373 yards and 4 TDs. I don’t really care to talk about the Heisman this early in the season, but there’s a lot of talk about it already as that’s become the norm now, so I’d say Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields, Tua, Joe Burrow and Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor would go to New York at this point. A lot of football left, but these guys aren’t slowing down.

Oklahoma 52, Texas Tech 24

No. 18 Virginia (4-0) @ No. 10 Notre Dame (2-1)

2:30 PM CT

NBC

Tirico, Flutie, Kathryn Tappen

Notre Dame by 11 1/2

Virginia is having and will have a good season but this is too tall an order for the Cavaliers. After last Saturday Night in Athens, I’m buying the Fighting Irish as a serious contender for the playoff.

Notre Dame 34, Virginia 21

Northwestern (1-2) @ No.8 Wisconsin (3-0)

11 AM CT

ABC

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovsky, Allison Williams

Wisconsin by 24 1/2

After the Badgers wasted Jim and the Wolverines last Saturday, I’m a believer in this team. Clemson transfer and Northwestern quarterback Hunter Johnson has not lived up to his 5 star billing out of high school. Not even close. Jonathan Taylor has rushed for 440 yards and 7 TDs. He’s superb.

Wisconsin 38, Northwestern 13

No. 21 USC (3-1) @ No.17 Washington (3-1)

2:30 PM CT

FOX

Joe Davis, Brock Huard, Burce Feldman

Washington by 10 1/2

Matt Fink will once again start for the Trojans as Kedon Slovis is still injured. Slovis took the place of JT Daniels who was hurt in the first game of the season. Against Utah last Friday Night, a 30-23 victory over what looks like an overrated Utah team, Fink completed 21 of 30 passes for 351 yards, 3 TDs and 1 int. I don’t like him to have as much success against the Huskies. I like the Huskies, who I think are the best team in the PAC 12, though Cal might argue with that so would Oregon, to have their way against the Trojans.

Washington 35, USC 17

UAB (3-0) @ Western Kentucky (1-2)

6 PM CT

ESPN+

UAB by 3

Tyler Johnston has been phenomenal for the Blazers completing 45 of 70 for 746 yards 8 TDs and 2 ints. The defense is lockdown led by 6’2”, 285 defensive end Garrett Marino who has 16 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks on the season. The only knock is the schedule. It’s been extremely weak. Alabama State, @Akron and South Alabama, not impressive. But they are playing well. All you can do is play the teams that are on your schedule. It’s not the players fault. They’re doing their jobs. Maybe Athletics Director Mark Ingram can start showing a little more courage and scheduling more Power 5 opponents for the Blazers.

UAB 34, Western Kentucky 17

Tonight

Duke 34, Virginia Tech 31

6 PM CT

ESPN

Va Tech by 2 1/2

The line started off at 7 for this game. I like David Cutcliffe’s team to pull off the slight upset in Blacksburg.

No. 12 Penn State 31, Maryland 24

Tonight 7 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Penn State by 6 1/2

I like the Nittany Lions to keep bursting Mike Locksley’s bubble at College Park.

No. 15 Cal 27, Arizona State 23

Tonight 9:30 PM CT

ESPN

Cal by 3 1/2

I’m pretty bullish on the PAC 12 this season and Cal is one of its best teams. Stud linebacker Evan Weaver leads the country in tackles with 63 averaging 15.8 per game. He posted 18 at Washington 2 weeks ago in a 20-19 Cal victory, and 22 last Saturday in a 28-20 victory at Ole Miss. The way this team plays defense and the way quarterback Chase Garbers stepped it up last Saturday against the Rebels, this team can compete for the PAC 12 championship. Defense still wins a lot of games and Cal’s got that.

No. 19 Utah 31, Washington State 30

9 PM CT

Fox Sports 1

Utah by 6

I was tempted to pick Washington State, and I like it to be a prolific game all the way till the end, but I’ll take Utah to hold serve in Salt Lake. The Cougars had a 32 point lead over UCLA last Saturday Night at home and lost 67-64 committing 6 turnovers. That’s horrendous. Utah couldn’t hack a top 10 ranking when they went to the Coliseum to play SC and lost 30-23.

UCLA 48, Arizona 45

9:30 PM CT

ESPN

Zona by 6 1/2

Like the Bruins to go into Tuscon and pull off the upset after last Saturday’s electric 32 point comeback victory over Washington State.

Kansas State 34, Oklahoma State 31

6 PM CT

ESPN+

OK State by 4 1/2

I like the Wildcats under first year coach Chris Klieman to go into Stillwater and pull off the upset. They did it in Starkville 2 weeks ago and I like them to do it again this Saturday.

Iowa State 31, Baylor 30

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Iowa State by 3

I like a really tight contest here.

TCU 34, Kansas 31

11 AM CT

Fox Sports 1

TCU by 15 1/2

I like Les and the Jayhawks to give Gary Patterson and the Horned Frogs everything they want, but I’ll take the Frogs to prevail.