Griffin Neal
The boys are back in town. They’re back like a lateral and serious as an accounting exam. Josh took a few hits in week four, and Griffin took a week off to recuperate from three seriously bad beats in week three. They’re back, and they’re confident. Follow them along for this magical journey through week five because literally no one, not a soul, knows more about college football than them.
Washington State vs. No. 19 Utah (-5.5) O/U 57
Joshua: Wazzu quarterback Anthony Gordon used 61 passes to get nine touchdowns last week. The Cougars still lost to UCLA by four (That’s tough). Mr. Leach, if you’re reading this, please pass the ball 75 times because you’re probably going to lose, and it’s more fun that way. Utah covers in a barn burner.
Griffin: Imagine throwing for 570 yards and nine touchdowns in a loss. If that were me, I’m fading every defensive starter and the coordinator on sight. However, Gordon told reporters this week that he’s moved on and ready to face a supposedly-vaunted Utah defense that gave up 350 yards to USC’s third-string quarterback last week. Utah hasn’t beat WSU since 2012, but that changes Saturday. Give me Utah and the under.
No. 18 Virginia at No. 10 Notre Dame (-12.5) O/U 48.5
Joshua: If you sat watched all of that Notre Dame-Georgia game last weekend, you might be a bigger football fan than me. If you’ve watched any Virginia football at all in 2019, shame on you. If you’re invested in this particular game, I don’t know what to tell you. My prediction: who cares? Both teams will end up losing some pointless bowl game. You do what you wish with your money. I won’t be part of it.
Griffin: Has there been a less-appealing top-20 match up so far this season? Neither teams feature dynamic-offenses, and the Virginia defense (ranked 14 in the country) has fared well against lackluster competition. I think Ian Book does just enough to cover, and I’d again lay the under in this game.
No. 21 USC at No. 17 Washington (-10.0) O/U 59.5
Joshua: West Coast football? Not a fan to be honest, but I’m rolling with Jacob Eason and the boys. Give me the over and give me Washington. I’ve literally never been less motivated to predict a game in my life.
Griffin: Despite USC rolling out its third string signal caller, this is sneakily the best game of the week. USC and their carousel of quarterbacks imposed their will on the Utah defense last week, and Washington picked up a 26-point road win over BYU — who beat USC just two weeks ago. I think Matt Fink keeps it close in the first half, but Jacob Eason and that tenacious Huskie defense takes control in the second. Washington covers, easily.
Mississippi State at No. 7 Auburn (-10.5) O/U 46
Joshua: Maybe the stench of the Garret Shrader’s beard is enough to deter would-be tacklers? I’m going to go out on a limb and say Mississippi State keeps it close on this one. Is that crazy? I don’t know how or why, but the Bulldogs love to find a way under your skin and disrupt the mojo on your own turf. Kylin Hill has 150 yards and two touchdowns against that mean Auburn front.
Griffin: While the Bo Nix hype might be a tad overstated, I’m taking Auburn -10.5 as my lock of the week. The Tigers dismantled Texas A&M on the road last Saturday and looked like a team that could seriously throw a wrench in the SEC West playoff hunt. State’s run game looked potent against Kentucky, rushing for nearly 250 yards, but Shrader’s inability to move the ball through the air when Auburn stacks the box will tilt this one. Auburn wins by two touchdowns, and the over hits easily.
Ole Miss at Alabama (-37.5) O/U 60
Joshua: And now for the primetime CBS Game of the Week! ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Ole Miss a 1.9% chance to win the game. I believe they’re being generous. The Rebels could have a perfect game, and it still might need a hand from the football gods to get a win over the boys in crimson. Tua will sit on the bench making dinner reservations before the third quarter while the villain Nick Saban exacts his revenge on the Rebels. Please don’t watch this game, Rebel fans.
Griffin: Here’s two important stats: 37.5 is the largest spread Ole Miss has faced since Oddsshark began tracking gambling data in 1995, and if Ole Miss were to upset the Tide on Saturday, it would be the third biggest point-spread upset in college football history. The latter isn’t important, because Alabama has the best quarterback in the nation and three receivers who play rock-paper-scissors before deciding who gets to run the touchdown route. There’s a chance that Saban hangs 70 on the Rebels, however, I think Ole Miss will score enough to cover that spread. Hammer that over, too.
