TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM 2016: College football picks and previews for Week 5

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 41NBC’s Tucker Sargent makes his picks for Week 5.

Record last week: 8-4

Record this season: 33-13

All Times Eastern/All rankings reflect latest Amway Coaches Poll

 

No. 6 Stanford (3-0, 2-0 Pac-12) @ No. 9 Washington (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12)
Friday, September 30 at 9 p.m. ESPN
There are so many Top 10 games this week!

We start with this one on Friday, the first Top 10 battle at Husky Stadium in 19 years:

Washington 24, Stanford 20

Actual Score: Washington 43, Stanford 6 (WIN)

 

 

No. 23 Florida (3-1, 1-1 SEC) @ Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 1 at 12 p.m. SEC NETWORK
Florida travels back to the Volunteer State after blowing that 21-point lead last week at Tennessee.

Remember this game last year?

The Gators trailed the Commodores 7-6 before kicking a game-winning field goal with less than three minutes to go:

Florida 21, Vanderbilt 7

Actual Score: Florida 13, Vanderbilt 6 (WIN)

 

 

No. 14 Miami (3-0) @ Georgia Tech (3-1, 1-1 ACC)
Saturday, October 1 at 12 p.m. ESPN2
Mark Richt went 13-2 against Georgia Tech while at the University of Georgia.

The Hurricanes have owned Tech lately, beating the Jackets in six of their last seven meetings.

Too easy:

Miami 31, Georgia Tech 20

Actual Score: Miami 35, Georgia Tech 21 (WIN)

 

 

Georgia St. (0-3) @ Appalachian St. (2-2)
Saturday, October 1 at 12 p.m. ESPN3
Georgia State has never scored a touchdown against Appalachian State.

In the only meetings between the two, the Mountaineers won 44-0 in 2014 and 37-3 last season.

The Panthers will do a lot better this time:

Appalachian State 34, Georgia State 20

Actual Score: Appalachian State 17, Georgia State 3 (WIN)

 

 

Mercer (1-2, 0-1 Southern Conference) @ VMI (2-1)
Saturday, October 1 at 1:30 p.m. ESPN3
Mercer returns to the site of its first SoCon win two years ago, hoping to pull to .500 in the conference standings.

The Bears are coming off a bye week:

Mercer 31, VMI 23

Actual Score: Mercer 33, VMI 30 – OT (WIN)

 

 

Fort Valley State (1-3, 1-2 SIAC) @ Alderson Broaddus (2-2)
Saturday, October 1 at 2 p.m.
Kevin Porter’s debut season isn’t going like he’d hoped.

The Wildcats’ only win came in triple overtime against Clark Atlanta:

Alderson Broaddus 28, Fort Valley State 17

Actual Score: Alderson Broaddus 33, Fort Valley State 9 (WIN)

 

 

No. 11 Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) @ No. 20 Georgia (3-1, 1-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 1 at 3:30 p.m. CBS
Tennessee can virtually eliminate Georgia from the SEC East race with a win in Athens.

The last four meetings between the Dawgs and Vols have been decided by eight points or less.

Are we in for another comeback or just UT domination?

Tennessee 26, Georgia 21

Actual Score: Tennessee 34, Georgia 31 (WIN)

 

 

No. 8 Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) @ No. 5 Michigan (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, October 1 at 3:30 p.m. ABC
The Badgers and Wolverines meet for the first time since 2010 in this Top 10 battle.

Is it just me or is no one giving Wisconsin a chance?

Michigan 23, Wisconsin 20

Actual Score: Michigan 14, Wisconsin 7 (WIN)

 

 

No. 10 Texas A&M (4-0, 2-0 SEC) @ South Carolina (2-2, 1-2 SEC)
Saturday, October 1 at 4 p.m. SEC NETWORK
Texas A&M showed us last week against Arkansas that it is the best team in the SEC West….

…after Alabama.

Ha! Got ya.

The Aggies will roll over the Gamecocks:

Texas A&M 30, South Carolina 10

Actual Score: Texas A&M 24, South Carolina 13 (WIN)

 

 

Kentucky (2-2, 1-1 SEC) @ No. 1 Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
Saturday, October 1 at 7 p.m. ESPN
You know the night slate is slim when Alabama plays Kentucky at 7 on ESPN.

Bama cruises past another easy opponent before visiting Arkansas next week, a team that’s given the Tide some trouble in recent years:

Alabama 41, Kentucky 10

Actual Score: Alabama 34, Kentucky 6 (WIN)

 

 

Missouri (2-2, 0-1 SEC) @ LSU (2-2, 1-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
LSU will play its first game without Les Miles on the sideline since January 1, 2005.

Nick Saban coached his final game with the Tigers that day, a 30-25 loss to Iowa in the Capital One Bowl:

LSU 17, Missouri 13

Actual Score: LSU 42, Missouri 7 (WIN)

 

 

No. 4 Louisville (4-0, 2-0 ACC) @ No. 5 Clemson (4-0, 1-0 ACC)
Saturday, October 1 at 8 p.m. ABC
I mentioned the small night slate above, but it’s OK because we get this matchup.

It’s Lamar Jackson vs. Deshaun Watson and the Cardinals’ defense vs. the Tigers’ defense.

Louisville is averaging 64 points a game (not exaggerating). If the Cardinals reach that mark again, just give them the championship trophy:

Clemson 27, Louisville 24

Actual Score: Clemson 42, Louisville 36 (WIN)