TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM: Week 5 college football picks and previews

Record last week 12-4

Record this season: 49-15

All times Eastern

Associated Press rankings

 

North Carolina (1-2, 1-0 ACC) @ No. 6 Miami (3-1, 0-0 ACC)
Thursday, September 27 at 8 p.m. ESPN
North Carolina actually surprised me with its performance against Pitt last week, turning a 28-21 halftime deficit into a 38-35 win after scoring 17 unanswered points in the third quarter.

Things might not be so bad in Chapel Hill after all.

We’ll see how the Tar Heels do in Miami Gardens:

Miami 33, North Carolina 20

 

 

Louisiana (1-2, 0-1 Sun Belt) @ No. 1 Alabama (4-0, 2-0 SEC)
Saturday, September 29 at 12 p.m. SEC NETWORK
There’s really no reason to pick this game. I know it’s an automatic win for me.

That said, if it wasn’t on here, someone would ask, “Where’s Bama?”

Alabama 63, Louisiana 6

 

 

Mercer (2-2, 1-1 SoCon) @ VMI (0-4, 0-3 SoCon)
Saturday, September 29 at 1:30 p.m. ESPN3
The Bears are 2-0 at VMI all-time, but those two wins came by a combined six points.

Something tells me they’ll do better this time, especially with the way last week’s game ended:

Mercer 37, VMI 17

 

 

No. 12 West Virginia (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) @ No. 25 Texas Tech (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)
Saturday, September 29 at 12 p.m. ESPN2
Texas Tech shocked a lot of people (including me) last week by not only beating the Oklahoma State Cowboys but demolishing them.

The Red Raiders haven’t beaten Top 15 teams in back-to-back weeks since 2008:

Texas Tech 41, West Virginia 38

 

 

Arkansas (1-3, 0-1 SEC) vs. Texas A&M (2-2, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, September 29 at 12 p.m. ESPN
Arkansas had more yards than Auburn last week and still lost by 31 points.

That’s not good:

Texas A&M 40, Arkansas 14

 

 

Bowling Green (1-3, 0-1 MAC) @ Georgia Tech (1-3, 0-2 ACC)
Saturday, September 29 at 12 p.m. ACC NETWORK
This game couldn’t come at a better time for coach Paul Johnson and Georgia Tech.

The Falcons are dead last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards allowed (333.5 per game):

Georgia Tech 45, Bowling Green 19

 

 

Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC) @ No. 2 Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC)
Saturday, September 29 at 3:30 p.m. CBS
Georgia coach Kirby Smart isn’t buying all the “Tennessee stinks” talk.

He spent a lot of time during his weekly news conference talking about how well-coached and physical the Volunteers are and how this is always a tough, physical game.

The 31+ point spread is the highest in series history:

Georgia 42, Tennessee 12

 

 

Southern Mississippi (2-1, 1-0 C-USA) @ No. 10 Auburn (3-1, 1-1 SEC)
Saturday, September 29 at 4 p.m. SEC NETWORK
If it weren’t for Auburn’s defense and special teams, the Tigers might be 1-3.

Gus Malzahn gets one more week to figure out his offense before the SEC slate really begins:

Auburn 41, Southern Miss 14

 

 

Florida (3-1, 1-1 SEC) @ No. 23 Mississippi State (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, September 29 at 6 p.m. ESPN
It’s the game Mississippi State fans have been waiting for since Dan Mullen did what Dan Mullen should have done years ago.

I mean, really.

Anyone who says Florida is a lateral move has lost their mind:

Florida 26, Mississippi State 23

 

 

Virginia University at Lynchburg (2-2) @ Fort Valley State (1-3, 1-1 SIAC)
Saturday, September 29 at 6 p.m.
Fort Valley State plays its first home game against Virginia University at Lynchburg, a team from the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Teams called Dragons usually aren’t very good:

Fort Valley State 49, Virginia University at Lynchburg 21

 

 

Arkansas State (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) @ Georgia Southern (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Saturday, September 29 at 6 p.m. ESPN+
The Eagles get to open conference play at home after using their off week to rest and heal.

Unfortunately, they’re playing one of the preseason favorites to win the Sun Belt:

Arkansas State 35, Georgia Southern 24

 

 

No. 4 Ohio State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) @ No. 9 Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. ABC
It’s one of two Top 10 matchups on the weekend’s schedule, and ESPN’s College GameDay will be there.

Ohio State is now tied with Alabama for GameDay appearances since the show started in 1993:

Ohio State 38, Penn State 35

 

 

No. 7 Stanford (4-0, 2-0 Pac-12) @ No. 8 Notre Dame (4-0)
Saturday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. NBC
Notre Dame bounced back from its lackluster performance against Vanderbilt with a 56-27 win at Wake Forest.

The difference? Quarterback Ian Book. He replaced Brandon Wimbush and completed 25 of his 34 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns.

He also had three rushing scores:

Notre Dame 31, Stanford 26

 

 

South Carolina (2-1, 1-1 SEC) @ No. 17 Kentucky (4-0, 2-0 SEC)
Saturday, September 29 at 7:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
Look at Kentucky!

Dan Mullen is the man, and so is Mark Stoops.

C-A-T-S! CATS CATS CATS!

Kentucky 27, South Carolina 22

 

 

No. 20 BYU (3-1) @ No. 11 Washington (3-1, 2-0 Pac-12)
Saturday, September 29 at 8:30 p.m. FOX
The Cougars and Huskies meet for the first time since the 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl.

Washington won that one 31-16:

Washington 28, BYU 17

 

 

Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1 SEC) @ No. 5 LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC)
Saturday, September 29 at 9 p.m. ESPN
LSU is a perfect 14-0 under coach Ed Orgeron when the Tigers have a player rush for more than 100 yards.

Enough said:

LSU 31, Ole Miss 23

 

 

No. 19 Oregon (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) @ No. 24 California (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12)
Saturday, September 29 at 10:30 p.m. FS1
I was so glad I wasn’t an Oregon fan last Saturday night.

The Ducks led Stanford and got a first down that would have allowed them to run out the clock and win the game, but then CJ Verdell fumbled.

Stanford recovered, kicked a field goal, forced overtime and won a game it trailed 24-7 at halftime:

California 31, Oregon 30