The Big E College Football Picks: Week 5

We've got a handful of very strong games and a few more intriguing matchups this week.

LEAGUE STANDINGS

The top picker for week four was idocd who went 17-5. We now have co-leaders overall as Broke Rotary Cups and tjv stand at 58-35. CW and I are just 4 games back in a tie for fourth place at 54-39, well within striking distance.

Now for this week's games...

Utah State (-9.5) at San Jose State

Pick: San Jose State

This hasn't been the type of senior year SJSU QB David Fales envisioned so far with a losses to Stanford and Minnesota in recent weeks. I think he'll play really well and make sure the Spartans cover at home.

Middle Tennessee State (+23) at BYU

Pick: Middle Tennessee State

This feels like a few too many points against a MTSU team that's been decent this season. The Texas game was an offensive explosion for BYU but I'm not sure their offense is really that potent on a regular basis.

BYU QB Taysom Hill is 40 for 114 (35.1%) this season. That is really bad.

— Eric Murtaugh (@EMurtaughOFD) September 22, 2013

Oklahoma State (-19) at West Virginia

Pick: Oklahoma State

This is a bit tricky and I wouldn't fault anyone for picking the 'Neers in this game. The Cowboys have been off for a couple weeks, it's an early noon start for a team traveling back east, and the Holgo is playing his former team. That's a lot of flags signalling this might be closer than we think. I'm still taking the potent Okie State offense, though.

Northern Illinois (-3.5) at Purdue

Pick: Northern Illinois

I'm not as confident of this pick because NIU has given up 33 points per game and that's against two terrible teams. That scares me and makes me wonder if Purdue could spring an outright upset.

Miami (-18.5) at South Florida

Pick: Miami

There's a possibility that USF really gets up for this game and lays it all on the line to try and beat an in-state rival. Then I think about the Canes winning this game 40-9 last year, how these teams are heading in different directions, and I feel comfortable about Miami covering.

East Carolina (+12.5) at North Carolina

Pick: East Carolina

The Pirates always seem to be the non-major program to hang around in games like these against bigger competition. I don't have the stats in front of me but I would assume I always take East Carolina in these type of situations.

Virginia (+5.5) at Pittsburgh

Pick: Virginia

You take the points when Doing Good Things™ is an underdog against Pitt.

Navy (-3) at Western Kentucky

Pick: Navy

This only Navy's third game this season and they've looked very good so far in those games. It's looking like another CiC Trophy winning season for the Middies.

Florida State (-23) at Boston College

Pick: Florida State

Do they know USC covered a spread like this against BC? Will Jameis Winston all of a sudden start sucking this weekend? Absent some nasty weather I think the Seminoles get a blowout victory.

Iowa (-1.5) at Minnesota

Pick: Iowa

Just strictly going on the basis that if Minnesota wins they'd move to 5-0 and I'm pretty sure there is a law preventing such a thing from happening.

LSU (+3) at Georgia

Pick: Georgia

Speaking of law the SEC likes to keep its national title contenders in good position but in this game who gets favored? LSU is undefeated but probably isn't getting past Alabama or A&M. Georgia has already lost but their unbeaten in the SEC and are a favorite to make the conference title game. That makes me think the Dawgs take this one at home.

Oklahoma (-3.5) at Notre Dame

Pick: Oklahoma

I wrote a little bit about this game HERE.

UConn (PK) at Buffalo

Pick: Buffalo

The Bulls are supposed to be one of the better teams in the MAC this year, and although it hasn't been apparent so far this year with losses to Ohio State & Baylor, I think UConn is going to have a major let down after nearly toppling Michigan last weekend.

Army (PK) at Louisiana Tech

Pick: Louisiana Tech

As pointed out by Burgs, this is a collision of two teams really struggling this year. I guess I'll take the home team.

Temple (-8) at Idaho

Pick: Temple

Remember when we thought Temple would be pretty decent this year? These teams are a combined 0-7, ugh. The Owls have to pick up that first win on Saturday.

Ole Miss (OFF) at Alabama

Pick: Alabama

Due to injury concerns Yahoo! doesn't give us a spread for this one. Straight pick 'em! Anyone taking the Rebels in an upset?

Arizona (+9.5) at Washington

Pick: Arizona

I was listening to the Solid Verbal on the way to work on Thursday morning and both Ty and Dan were shockingly confident in the Huskies covering this spread. I do not share that confidence.

Texas A&M (-14.5) at Arkansas

Pick: Texas A&M

The line comes in late. Still sticking with the Aggies.

Wisconsin (+7) at Ohio State

Pick: Ohio State

Will Braxton Miller be rusty in his return? Will he feel too much pressure because his replacement played so well? Is the Badgers offense a huge threat to the Ohio State defense? I don't know these answers but I'm taking Urban Meyer, that guy wins big games.

San Diego State (-17) at New Mexico State

Pick: New Mexico State

Newsflash: San Diego State kind of sucks this year.

UNLV (-2.5) at New Mexico

Pick: New Mexico

How dare they make Bob Davie a home dog!

Air Force (+10.5) at Nevada

Pick: Nevada

Air Force suspended their starting quarterback and this line has been moving on up ever since. I really think Nevada wins this game by 20+ points.

Stanford (-9.5) at Washington State

Pick: Stanford

Wow, the Cougars are getting THIS much respect? Something is very fishy about this line. It's been dropping all week.

USC (+5) at Arizona State

Pick: USC

Arizona State is in the third game of their brutal four game stretch that is going to break them. Hopefully it ends with Notre Dame cleaning up inside Cowboys Stadium, and no I'm not calling it AT&T Stadium.

Fresno State (-18.5) at Hawaii

Pick: Fresno State

Hawaii always stinks but they used to be good for an offensive explosion once in a while. That doesn't appear to be the case anymore. Fresno's offense is going to blow this one wide open.