It’s another great week for college and NFL ball! 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: 7-12 (Week Five: 1-3)
TD Wood: 11-8 (Week Five: 3-1)
Mallory McCormack: 8-10-1 (Week Five: 1-3)
Greg Bosworth: 10-8-1 (Week Five: 2-2)
Blaine Duncan
I’ve become the perfect bettor of the bunch to go against. I’m like that episode of Seinfeld where George decides to do the opposite of everything he’d normally do, only that should be all of you when it comes to my picks.
Indiana (-7.5) at Nebraska – I’ve noticed all season that the Hoosiers have been undervalued unless they’re playing a smaller conference team. They still have it. They could be the team to beat – again – come January.
Tulsa (+2.5) at Navy – It’s hurricane season.
LSU at Kentucky (+8.5) – The Wildcats have fight in them, thanks to new coach Will Stein. Look out, Tigers.
NFL Game of the Week
Bears (-1) at Packers – Chicago let me down earlier this season in their only loss to date. I’ll give them another try in what’s essentially a pick ‘em.
TD Wood
We all know the headliner this weekend is Alabama/Georgia, and it’s a good example of the theme of this weekend and the next couple of weeks: we’re gonna learn something about these teams. A lot of teams are facing their first real challenges in the upcoming weeks, and by the end of the month we’ll have a clear picture of the hierarchy of this season.
Arizona at West Virginia (+3) – The Mountaineers defense is pretty porous, but Rich Rod has the offense humming like it’s the 2000s again. I think we’ll get a shootout here, and the ‘Neers keep it close, if not pull off the upset.
James Madison (-7.5) at Georgia Southern – This line seems low, so I’m jumping on the Dukes and their high-powered, high-scoring rushing attack against a pretty bad Eagles’ defense.
Maryland at Ohio State (-33.5) – This pretty much boils down to this: Maryland very bad, Ohio State very good.
NFL Game of the Week
Texans (-7) at Titans – Houston may be 0-4, but they’re not an 0-4 team, if you catch my drift. Lucky for them, their bad start is completely salvageable in the AFC South.
Mallory McCormack
It’s very clear that October mania is here. After last weekend does anyone know anything except what we always expected…the SEC is WiLd!!! And the NFL has undrafted QBs leading winningless teams to victory. So again, 2nd week in a row, if you take my picks that’s on you.
Tennessee (-13.5) at Arkansas – I mean why not?
Georgia (+1.5) at Alabama – The one good thing about Hurricane Isaias is it is keeping ugly orange out of Tuscaloosa this weekend.
North Dakota State (-2.5) at UNLV – I just like picking against Cousin Eddie the coach who used to coach at the school south of my school.
NFL Game of the Week
Browns (+2) at Jets – I mean in this wacky world of football of course the Browns at 3-1 would be a 2 point underdog at the 1-3 Jets.
Greg Bosworth
We have the blockbuster in Tuscaloosa, games with huge implications in the Big Ten, and get to see if the Bisons of North Dakota State are on the verge of taking over the G6 playoff talk. It should be an amazing Week Six, and hopefully this week, I get back to over .500 with my picks.
UCLA (+11.5) at Oregon – The Bruins seem far ahead of schedule in Bob Chesney’s first season. A win in Eugene would definitely set the world on fire in Westwood, but the Ducks seem to have figured out some things since losing to Okie State. That being said, I would be shocked if Oregon loses but would be even more shocked if UCLA doesn’t keep it pretty close.
USC(+1.5) at Penn State – Maybe I’m crazy for having faith in both teams from LA, but here I am taking the Trojans as well. The Trojans’ defense was clutch a week ago and hopefully will build on that momentum. The good thing for them is the Nittany Lions’ defense is far worse, even on the road, based on what I’ve seen from both teams. I’m yelling Fight On!
North Dakota State (-2.5) at UNLV- This is the biggest game for the Bison since moving up to the FBS level, and it has huge implications for not only the Mountain West but the G6 playoff spot as well. Even on the road and being a fan of what Dan Mullen has brought to Las Vegas, I not only have North Dakota State winning, but covering, the spread. I don’t expect Jackson Arnold to have a great day against this defense.
NFL Game of the Week
Ravens at Falcons (Over44) – After Thursday night it has to get better for me on Sunday. And though Week Five isn’t exactly easy to find a pick to feel good about, the Over in the Sunday Night Game seems as close to a lock as there is. As long as Lamar plays, the Ravens will be able to put up points; we’ve seen the Falcons figure things out since Michael Penix has returned. Anything less than a shootout would be shocking, and forty-four doesn’t seem that big of a number with the potential both offenses bring.
Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.
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