Somehow or another, it’s already Week Five of the college football season. Each Friday afternoon, join the four writers from The Alabama Take as they make the best (and worst) predictions on college and NFL games. They’ll lose a lot, cry some, and make plenty of friends along the way. And in the meantime, be sure to check out Takin’ On Sports, a weekly sports show with a focus on the SEC.
2026 Results
Blaine Duncan: 6-9 (Week Four: 2-2)
TD Wood: 8-7 (Week Four: 2-2)
Mallory McCormack: 7-7-1 (Week Four: 2-2)
Greg Bosworth: 8-6-1 (Week Four: 3-1)
Blaine Duncan
College football betting is a lot like life itself: you lose some, you lose some more, and then you’re dead.
Pitt at Virginia Tech (-2.5) Friday Night Game – “Enter Sandman” will be blaring and the students will be roaring and the Hokies will be winning.
Florida (-5.5) at Missouri – The Gators are looking like early SEC Champions. They can beat this set of Tigers by a touchdown.
Texas Tech (-13) at Colorado – Like the rest of us, the Buffalos don’t have a lot of fight in them.
NFL Game of the Week
Chiefs (-4.5) at Raiders – The Chiefs are looking really good this year so far. The Raiders are undefeated against some weaker NFL teams. That’s my thinking.
TD Wood
Football season continues to deliver the goods, and now we start getting to the meaty part of the schedule, where games get a little more stressful. Speaking of stress, I’m watching my Braves in a winner-take-all game as I write (currently up 5-0 in the 5th as I start), so if I go 0-4 this week I’m blaming them.
Memphis (-20.5) at Charlotte – While the Tigers did lose their showdown with Boise State, they’re still in the hunt for the G6 CFP spot should the Broncos slip up. They’ve really only played one bad half of football so far this season, and this shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for them.
Maryland at Nebraska (-14.5) – Wouldn’t normally trust the Cornhuskers as a double-digit favorite, but they’re playing really well this season and Maryland…woof. The Terps look like a team with a coach on the way out, and Matt Rhule might actually have Nebraska on the rise. Feels like a good spot to go with Big Red.
Virginia at Florida State (+2.5) – I usually like to throw one underdog in my picks and this is one of those hunch games, where you see the line and give it a longer look than you thought you would. As dysfunctional as they’ve been, the Seminoles haven’t been playing awful ball this year. Virginia on the other hand has three blowout wins, but they’re over Delaware, Norfolk State, and a snake-bitten NC State squad. I like FSU to pull the upset here.
NFL Game of the Week
Titans at Ravens (-11.5) – I don’t normally like to pick my teams in this column, but this is Derrick Henry’s first game against the Titans since becoming a Raven, and it feels like a vintage 200-yard game from the King.
Mallory McCormack
Week Five. A needed off week for my Rebels but not for me! I’ll be in Oxford watching volleyball, doing a pet portrait painting workshop, seeing Nate Bargatze, and, of course, following all the action knowing that my Rebs are getting some much needed rest. Will my picks finally not be .500? If they do it’s probably going to be less than .500, but hey, if you actually take my advice, that’s on you.
Ohio State at Iowa (+14) – This feels really high to me. Being at Iowa with the coolest tradition in college sports (yes, my little childhood cancer survivor heart always makes me cry when I see everyone wave to the kids in the hospital), it just feels wrong. Not saying Iowa wins, but I think they keep it closer than two TDs.
Florida (-5.5) at Missouri – I’ve been high on Missouri this season and I think for good reason even if the numbers didn’t work in my favor. I also was more worried about the Florida game for my Rebs because they have the talent and finally have a coach who is capable of knowing what to do with it. I don’t know what game the bettors watched last weekend but I think Florida beats the hell out of Mizzou.
Kentucky (+3) at South Carolina – I saw this and had to close and restart the app to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Kentucky the underdog? I get it with the home field advantage but if anyone thinks that South Carolina is going to be ok with one of their best players suspended and the locker room not buying into Beamer Ball, I think you need to have your head checked along with your eyes.
NFL Game of the Week
Patriots at Bills (-6.5) – I know this is a division matchup and they’re usually pretty close but Josh Allen and the Bills look as solid as any 3-0 team.
Greg Bosworth
Week 5 is upon us and although the schedule isn’t as sexy as the last couple of weeks, this is when something shocking happens and except for the big game in Starkville I am here for it.
Michigan at Minnesota (+6)- Michigan is looking to right the ship after the “Iowa Miracle” while the Gophers are looking to build on their impressive road win last Saturday in Seattle. Expect a close physical low scoring and I expect the home team to keep it close and wouldn’t be surprised if PJ Fleck’s team wins the game.
Auburn at Tennessee Under (54.5)- In the I I Could Care Less Who Wins Bowl lol, I expect two great defenses to give us a low scoring three yards and a cloud of dust old school SEC game . A second SEC loss after the first weekend in October is going to be nearly impossible to overcome and I’m here for it no matter which team comes out on top though I’d be a little surprised if the home team loses for a second straight week.
Virginia (-2) at Florida State – This game a year ago was an instant classic and we might get another barn burner this year in Tallahassee. The Hoos will be looking for their second ACC win of the year, while the Noles will try to not start 0-2 in the ACC. I expect a high scoring game and for a second straight year the Cavaliers walk away with a dramatic win keeping them very much a part of the other team conversation that will be playing Miami in December.
NFL Game of the Week
Packers @ Bucs (+3.5)– In the game involving two terrible Bays I expect Baker Mayfield to play better this week and get the Bucs their first win of the year and put Matt LaFleur in an even more uncomfortable situation.
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