ESPN College Football Pick’em
Justin Ford/USA Today Sports
Here are my Week 5 picks for ESPN’s College Football Pick’em contest:
TCU Horned Frogs at #9 Texas Longhorns
Saturday, October 3, 12:00 p.m.
My pick: Texas
TCU barely lost last week and Texas barely won, so this is not as much of a mismatch as some might think. It will be a high scoring affair, like most Big-12 games, but I expect Texas to get their 3rd win of the season.
#13 Texas A&M Aggies at #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, October 3, 3:30 p.m.
My pick: Alabama
How can you ever go against Alabama? It’s hard enough to pick against them if they are playing LSU or Georgia. Texas A&M is a notch behind those teams, so I’m definitely not picking against the Crimson Tide.
#25 Memphis Tigers at Southern Methodist Mustangs
Saturday, October 3, 3:30 p.m.
My pick: Southern Methodist
This one is a toss-up. Currently the line sits at 2.5 in Memphis’s favor and the slight majority of people are taking the Tigers to win in this challenge. They’ve only played one game on the year, however, and SMU have played three. I expect that to be the difference in this one, plus they are playing at home.
Ashley Landis/Dallas News
#17 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Kansas Jayhawks
Saturday, October 3, 3:30 p.m.
My pick: Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 2-0 and Kansas is 0-2. The Cowboys are usually good in football (including this year) and the Jayhawks never are. There’s not much discussion here. Go with the Cowboys.
#12 North Carolina Tar Heels at Boston College Eagles
Saturday, October 3, 3:30 p.m.
My pick: North Carolina
The Tar Heels have just played one game so far this season, so they might have a little dust to shake off, but Sam Howell is among the elite quarterbacks in college football. This game might get off to a slow start like their first game did, but I expect them to win by at least 8 or 9.
Grant Halverson
Ole Miss Rebels at Kentucky Wildcats
Saturday, October 3, 4:00 p.m.
My pick: Ole Miss
Both teams are 0-1 with losses to top-10 teams last week. ESPN’s power index is giving the Wildcats a 63% chance to win with more people picking them as well, but I’m going with Ole Miss. I think they are the better overall football team and Kiffin will get a win.
Navy Midshipmen at Air Force Falcons
Saturday, October 3, 6:00 p.m.
My pick: Air Force
This is Air Force’s first game of the season now that the Mountain West Conference decided to play football. Meanwhile Navy is 1-1, but hasn’t looked to good so far, especially in a 55-3 thrashing to BYU. I think Air Force will come out rolling in this one, possibly after a slow start to the game.
#7 Auburn Tigers at #4 Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, October 3, 7:30 p.m.
My pick: Georgia
This will be the game of the weekend and I expect it to be a great one. Either team can easily take this one, but I’m going with Georgia. I just have a feeling that this is Georgia’s year, not only to win the mighty SEC, but to win the championship. This will be a fun game to watch.
John Amis/AP
#18 Oklahoma Sooners at Iowa State Cyclones
Saturday, October 3, 7:30 p.m.
My pick: Oklahoma
We were all shocked last week when Oklahoma went down to Kansas State. The Sooners almost never lose and when they do it is usually against a better opponent, not to take anything away from a capable Kansas State program. With that being said, there’s absolutely no way they lose two in a row. Oklahoma by three touchdowns in a redemption game.
Arkansas Razorbacks at #16 Mississippi State Bulldogs
Saturday, October 3, 7:30 p.m.
My pick: Mississippi State
Just like we were all surprised when Oklahoma went down, many of us were surprised when Mississippi State took down LSU last week. Coach Mike Leach is great wherever he goes so I expect big things from him and the Bulldog program. And Arkansas, I mean, c’mon…
Garett