The Six Pack: Notre Dame vs. Duke, Texas vs. Kansas among top Week 5 college football picks

In a video clip that went viral, Oregon trainer Dan Lanning Lanning was once observed telling his crew, “[Colorado] is playing for clicks. We’re playing for wins,” in his pregame speech sooner than the Ducks confronted the Buffaloes on Saturday.  It was once nice as it performed now not best to the instant but in addition to the opponent, and the most productive speeches do each.

Then his crew subsidized up the debate, blowing the doorways off Colorado. The Ducks led 35-0 at halftime, and as he was once being interviewed going off the sector, Lanning made it transparent that they were not accomplished. He talked like a trainer who supposed to make it as emphatic a victory as conceivable.

There’s been numerous discourse concerning the sport within the media this week, as there’s with the whole thing Deion Sanders and the Buffs. I do not care about any of it. It’s all noise designed to kill time and stay your consideration sooner than the following spherical of video games starts. What I care about is that Dan Lanning lied at once to my face.

Oregon did not play like a crew looking to ship a message in the second one part. The Ducks best scored one landing in the second one part, profitable 42-6. Well, this column had the Oregon crew overall over 45.5 for the sport, and I can’t imagine it did not win.

When a crew rankings 35 issues within the first part, it reasons you to really feel lovely just right about your over 45.5. I believed the win was once within the bag, however Lanning referred to as off the canines (or the Ducks, on this case). Oregon moved at a slower pace on offense and got rid of key starters. All of that is inside of his proper, however I will’t assist however really feel like Lanning owes me, and all of you who took my recommendation, an apology.

It proved to be the adaptation between a profitable week and a 3-3 efficiency for The Process.

Odds by the use of SportsLine consensus

Games of the Week

No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 17 Duke: The Irish misplaced a heartbreaker at house to Ohio State closing week however performed rather well in defeat in spite of an lack of ability to rely. In truth, I might say Notre Dame was once the simpler of the 2 groups for lots of the night time, however Ohio State made performs in spite of everything and stole the win out from below the Irish. But the loss has no have an effect on on how I believe concerning the Irish going ahead, and I really like them so much on this spot at the highway in opposition to a just right Duke crew.

As unusual as it’s to mention it, taking into account that is Duke football we are speaking about, the Blue Devils are quite overvalued. I believe again to the win in opposition to Clemson to begin the season, and whilst Duke deserved its win, I noticed the end result being extra about Clemson giving the sport away than Duke taking it. As they get ready to stand Notre Dame, I wonder whether the Irish will do the similar. I don’t believe they’ll. Notre Dame did some of the perfect jobs I’ve ever observed a protection do of restricting Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison (no person can forestall them; you’ll be able to best hope to mitigate the wear and tear). This secondary will have to stay the Duke passing sport in test. On the opposite facet, my idea is that Notre Dame can use its offensive line to lean on Duke’s protection and put on them down over the process 60 mins. If Duke wins this sport — and it will probably — it’s going to be as a result of Riley Leonard balls out. That is definitely inside the realm of risk, however I don’t believe it is the much more likely end result. The Pick: Notre Dame -5.5 (-110)

No. 24 Kansas at No. 3 Texas: Let’s all forestall to take this second in. The Kansas Jayhawks are being featured in a Game of the Week (to not point out Duke). Imagine anyone telling you this may occur two years in the past. You’d by no means imagine it, however right here we’re, and right here they’re. Will they win this sport? I’m now not certain, however that isn’t the attitude I’m enjoying. Whoever wins, there is a sturdy likelihood we will see numerous issues on this one.

Kansas has progressed up entrance defensively, nevertheless it hasn’t confronted an offensive line as sturdy as Texas’ but, and we are going to see the Jayhawks secondary examined as a result of it. Conversely, Kansas’ offense is complicated and designed to get defenders out in their spots to create giant performs. Based on what I’ve observed from Texas’ secondary this yr, I really like Kansas’ probabilities of breaking giant performs. Plus, whilst Jalon Daniels is observed as a more practical rusher than a passer on the QB place, he is progressed as a passer this yr. The winner of this sport would possibly want no less than 40 to really feel comfy. The Pick: Over 61.5 (-110)

Lock of the Week

San Diego State at Air Force: Over the years, there is been something about San Diego State that you have to at all times depend on. The Aztecs would forestall the run and be salty as hell on protection. This has now not been the case in 2023. San Diego State’s rush protection ranks a hundred and thirtieth nationally in luck charge in opposition to the run and one hundred and twenty fifth in EPA in step with rush. The 2.62 yards it permits sooner than touch ranks 116th. None of San Diego State’s first 4 FBS fighters have completed with fewer than 111 yards speeding, and that was once Ohio within the opener. The Bobcats misplaced their beginning QB all through the sport and have been an absolute mess. UCLA, Oregon State and Boise State have rushed for 686 yards and 7 touchdowns in contrast protection the closing 3 weeks.

And now right here comes Air Force! A crew that runs the ball 94% of the time, ranks 5th in speeding luck charge and 11 in EPA in step with rush. I will’t see how that may be an issue for San Diego State, are you able to? Air Force is not a juggernaut defensively, however the Aztecs pair their horrible run protection with an anemic offense. This is an absolute nightmare matchup for the Aztecs. The Pick: Air Force -10.5 (-107)

Under of the Week

No. 2 Michigan at Nebraska: The overall is low, however I’m driving the Michigan Under Train till it is derailed. This crew continues to transport at a snail’s tempo and does now not appear fascinated about scoring numerous issues. As I informed you closing week, once we took the below in Michigan’s sport in opposition to Rutgers, no person was once averaging fewer snaps in step with sport than Michigan at 112. After enjoying 105 snaps (61 on offense) in that sport, the typical at the season has dropped to 110.25. It stays the bottom quantity within the nation, six fewer than anyone else (Bowling Green, which performed Michigan, is at 116.25).

Nebraska hasn’t been transferring at a lightning tempo, because it ranks forty sixth in snaps in step with sport, however what is extra essential than the quantity is what number of were on offense. The Huskers were on offense for 48.75% in their snaps, which ranks a hundredth total. This leads me to imagine that, even at the highway, Michigan will dictate the tempo of this sport. It’s the simpler crew, and it is looking to. Plus, what number of issues are we able to realistically be expecting Nebraska to attain right here? It’s an offense that ranks ninetieth or worse in just about each class I care about. All Michigan cares about is getting the win and saving itself for Penn State and Ohio State, so it’s going to be more than pleased to squeeze the lifestyles out of this sport in the second one part. The Pick: Under 39 (-110)

Get Right Game of the Week

Clemson at Syracuse: Clemson is a distressed asset. The Tigers are off to an 0-2 get started within the ACC and simply blew a large likelihood at house closing week in opposition to Florida State. It’s a crew being written off, and now it is in a place the place it is at the highway in opposition to an undefeated Syracuse crew, however what? The data do not topic. Clemson is the simpler crew on this matchup and will have to be appreciated round 10 issues, now not not up to a landing.

Clemson’s offense has barriers, however its protection stays extraordinary. Syracuse’s total passing numbers were inflated via enjoying unhealthy cross defenses, and the Orange have misplaced considered one of their maximum dependable pass-catchers in Oronde Gadsden. We’ve observed them flip to the usage of Garrett Schrader as a battering ram QB in fresh weeks (35 carries in opposition to Purdue and Army). That is probably not a possible technique in opposition to Clemson. Schrader and the Orange offense must transfer the ball successfully in the course of the air, and I’m having a bet they will be unable to take action. The Pick: Clemson -6.5 (-110)

Friday Night Game of the Week

No. 10 Utah at No. 19 Oregon State: Kyle Whittingham loves the place Utah is presently. The Utes have not had their beginning QB all season, however they are 4-0 anyway. Meanwhile, each phrase uttered concerning the Pac-12 has been about Colorado, Oregon, Washington or USC. Nobody is paying any consideration to the two-time convention champions who’re ranked within the top 10. This is lucky for the Utes in that it permits them to fly below the radar, and it assists in keeping folks from knowing that, presently, Utah is Mountain Iowa.

The offense has been terrible, and the Utah protection is profitable video games. Meanwhile, once you have off to a super get started, D.J. Uiagalelei seems like the Clemson model (31-of-64 passing, 2 TD, 3 INT within the closing two video games). With each groups enjoying on a brief week, I be expecting this one to be a little of a rock combat. Utah will do the whole thing it will probably to make it that manner, and I do not agree with Oregon State’s skill to open issues up and make the Utes uncomfortable. The Pick: Under 44.5 (-105)

Which college football picks are you able to make with self assurance in Week 5, and which underdogs will win outright? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a confirmed pc style that has returned nearly $2,500 in benefit over the last seven-plus seasons — and in finding out.