College football Week 5 picks from ESPN’s College GameDay

As the Week 5 college football schedule prepares to kick off today, ESPN College GameDay analysts reveal their final picks for the biggest games across the country.

Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Nick Saban and the entire GameDay gang are on hand from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where college football’s biggest game of the early 2024 season begins under the lights.

Georgia and Alabama, two top-five SEC contenders and national championship contenders, face off in a high-octane matchup filled with talented players and dominant defenses on both sides, with the winner taking a big step toward College Football Playoff contention The selection committee will keep a close eye on the process.

Elsewhere in the country, Notre Dame hosts Louisville in a battle of ranked teams hoping to avoid a costly second home loss, while Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State in a huge Big 12 matchup with both teams already a game behind in conference Penn State and Illinois meet in a huge Big Ten matchup under the lights of Happy Valley.

Let’s take a tour of the nation and, with a little help from the guys at ESPN College GameDay, decide on our final picks for college football’s biggest games.

Oklahoma at Auburn: Desmond Howard and Kirk Herbstreit were the only votes in Auburn dropping the Sooners to 0-2 in SEC play.

North Carolina at Duke: Nick Saban and Pat McAfee sided with Duke over the Tar Heels.

Louisville at Notre Dame: Saban was the Cardinals’ only supporter, upsetting the Irish on the road.

Kentucky at Ole Miss: A unanimous decision for the Rebels to win their SEC opener.

Illinois at Penn State: Likewise for the Nittany Lions in their Big Ten opener against the undefeated Illini.

BYU at Baylor: Lee Corso was the only one who predicted Baylor would beat the Cougars.

Colorado at UCF: Saban, Kirk and Corso are on the side of the Knights and their strong ground game to put away the Buffaloes.

Oklahoma State at Kansas State: Everyone on GameDay believes the Wildcats will hand the Cowboys their second Big 12 loss.

Georgia in Alabama: Likewise for the Crimson Tide, who beat the Bulldogs in prime time.

Lee Corso’s headwear selection: Alabama over Georgia.

Week 5 picks against the spread

The direct picks from college football headquarters

The best games of week 5 today

Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State

Arkansas vs. Texas A&M

USC vs. Wisconsin

Louisville vs. Notre Dame

Michigan vs. Minnesota

Ole Miss vs. Kentucky

Penn State vs. Illinois

Oklahoma vs. Auburn

Georgia vs. Alabama

First place votes in parentheses

1. Texas (44)
2. Georgia (13)
3. Ohio State (5)
4. Alabama
5. Tennessee
6. Ole Miss
7. Miami
8. Oregon
9. Penn State
10. Utah
11. Missouri
12. Michigan
13. USC
14. LSU
15. Louisville
16. Notre Dame
17. Clemson
18. Iowa State
19. Illinois
20. Oklahoma State
21. Oklahoma
22. BYU
23. Kansas State
24. Texas A&M
25. Boise State

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