2025 Record
Blaine Duncan: 7-8 (Week Four: 3-1)
TD Wood: 7-8 (Week Four: 2-2)
Mallory McCormack: 8-7 (Week Four: 3-1)
Greg Bosworth: 3-12 (Week Four: 1-3)
It's Week Five of the college football season, and it's time to start seeing who is in contention and who are blowing it. Plus, shouldn't our bettors have some of this figured out by now? When it comes to the NFL, there sure are a lot of teams who need a win after starting 0-3.
Blaine Duncan host of Taking It Down
Notre Dame (-4.5) at Arkansas - A tale of two teams: one destined for the championship, the other struggling to get by. Yet both started on opposite trajectories: the Irish lost two playoff-type games to Miami and Texas A&M to begin the season, but they trounced the Boilermakers; the Razorbacks started with inferior opponents only to find defeat in Ole Miss and an emotional one in Memphis. Sam Pittman and the boys won’t have the juice this weekend. Something like that Memphis game takes it out of you.
UCF at Kansas State (-5.5) - For this time of year, the Wildcats’ record is an abysmal 1-3 with their only win in beating South Dakota. Yet they can hang: they were close with Iowa State and last week they were right there with Arizona. They’re back at home, they’re ready, and UCF’s 3-0 record is nothing, even with a win over North Carolina.
Ohio State (-8) at Washington - The Huskies of late cannot hang with ranked opponents, and the Buckeyes are the rankest of the ranked. The last time Washington beat a ranked AP team was when Johnson was in office. There’s no reason to bet Washington to suddenly change that narrative.
NFL Game of the Week
Saints at Bills (UNDER: 48) - The Bills have Super Bowl in their sights, and the Saints cannot get it together under their first year coach. I can’t see the Saints scoring much, and since the Bills-15.5 sounds entirely too high, I’ll take the under.
TD Wood host of Takin' On Sports
OK, so it’s been one of those months where I just can’t seem to get in a groove with my picks. That said, I feel like I’ve been making good picks, and just barely missing out on wins. Take last week, for example: USC gives up a garbage time 75-yard touchdown and lets Michigan State sneak in the back door, and the 49ers gave up a safety before going on their game winning drive and only winning by one. Thems the breaks.
Georgia Tech (-14.5) at Wake Forest – Man, I am a big believer in what Brent Key is doing in Atlanta. Poor Haynes King might be a cripple by the time the season is over, but the Ramblin’ Wreck is gonna smash their way to a lot of wins in the meantime. I don’t see the Demon Deacons and Robby Ashford (that’s right, he’s still playing!) keeping up with Tech.
Auburn at Texas A&M (-6.5) – Normally, I’d stay away from this one. However, the fact that the Tigers can’t let go of last week’s loss to Oklahoma (the athletic director released a statement on Thursday regarding the game) rubs me wrong. Yes, the refs had a bad day, but that doesn’t change the fact Auburn gave up 10 sacks, committed 13 penalties, only rushed for 67 yards, and only converted 20% of their third downs. That is not winning football. Meanwhile, the Aggies had a week off to recover from their battle with Notre Dame and prep for the Tigers. I like A&M by a couple of scores.
Tennessee at Mississippi State (+8.5) – How about the job Jeff Lebby is doing this season? The upset of Arizona State is the highlight, but the Bulldogs have taken care of business in their other games, as well. The Vols are the better team, for sure, but the defense has been surprisingly mediocre, and Clanga can exploit that to keep this one close.
NFL Game of the Week
Browns at Lions (-10) – Detroit straight up kicked the Ravens’ asses on Monday Night Football, and there’s no reason to think they won’t do the same at home against the Browns. Cleveland’s upset of the Packers last Sunday will have the unfortunate side effect of making sure the Lions take them seriously – perhaps more than they would have otherwise.
Mallory McCormack
Alright last week was better but hey, ChAoS!!!! So let’s have a little more shall we?!?
Auburn at Texas A&M (-6.5) - I know Auburn got screwed last week due to some bad calls, but the Aggies will be ready after a midnight yell practice. Freezus and weird cheerleaders? Sounds like a perfect SEC Saturday!
Oregon at Penn State (-3.5) - It’s the annual White Out game in Happy Valley. ‘Nuff said.
Alabama at Georgia (-2.5) - I just feel like Georgia at home at night is a more than field goal win.
NFL Game of the Week
Cincinnati at Denver (-6.5) - An extra week of practice with no Joey B doesn’t help the Bengals. Plus that Mile High air is magic.
Greg Bosworth host of Takin' On Sports
At this point I feel like I’d be better off throwing darts at a board blindfolded. But, nonetheless, here we go again
Ohio St at Washington (+9.5) - This is the first road game for Ohio State and Husky Stadium can get super loud especially for a true freshman QB. Washington, though undefeated, is getting no love; this is the game to put them on the national radar -- as well as the name Demond Williams. Not sure they win but I expect a game people are tuning into late in the fourth.
Auburn (+6.5) at Texas A&M - Maybe I’m crazy for believing Auburn can cover again this week but I was very impressed with the Tigers defense. They contained Mateer for the most part and I feel like they can do a solid job against Marcel Reed. The biggest concern is their offensive line and playing in a tough environment two weeks in a row. I’m pretty sure the home team has won the last four in this series so I expect A&M to win as well as some late game theatrics.
Indiana at Iowa (OVER: 48.5) - This might sound crazy to talk about any overs when the game involves Iowa, but they did put up a 38 spot last week at Rutgers. We know Indiana can score in bunches so simply I expect a higher scoring game than most are looking for.
NFL Game of the Week
Commanders (+ 2.5) at Falcons - I get Jayden Daniels isn’t playing but last week’s blanking of the Falcons by the Panthers is still in my head. Also, I’m sure Marcus Marriota would love to show up his former team. Obviously it’s a lot more wrong in Atlanta than who the kicker is and we see more of that Sunday afternoon.
Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.
