We are almost fully engulfed in conference play, and the matchups around college football are electric this week! From a huge Big 10 showdown between No. 3 Penn State and No. 6 Oregon in Happy Valley, to a crucial Big 12 matchup between undefeated teams Arizona and No. 14 Iowa State, to the classic SEC showdown between No. 17 Alabama and No. 5 Georgia, week 5 is set to be one of the best yet.

We have the Rio Grande Rivalry down in New Mexico, No. 1 Ohio State traveling to Seattle to take on Demond Williams Jr, Jonah Coleman, Denzel Boston and a Washington Huskies that should be receiving top 25 consideration. #MACtion is in full force too with the 103rd all-time matchup between Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan along with a pivotal matchup between Bowling Green and Ohio, who are each looking to ascend beyond .500 with a win.

I can’t believe we are already a third of the way through the college football season. It takes forever to get here and then goes away so fast, enjoy it while you can!

The SuperContest Picks & Why:(Florida State -7 at Virginia) The Cavaliers are just 4-15 all time against the Seminoles, and I think it will be tough for them to get a win even at home. Florida State has looked like one of the best teams in the country all season on the back of QB Tommy Castellanos, opening the year with a dominant win at Alabama. Virginia’s strength is a two-headed RB tandem in J’Mari Taylor and Harrison Waylee who have combined for 10 rushing touchdowns. The Seminoles rank 15th in opponent rushing offense and have yet to give up a rushing TD this season. They stay unbeaten here, win big and set up a huge matchup next weekend with No. 2 Miami. (Georgia Southern +17.5 at James Madison)The home team has won the last three matchups in this rivalry, so this is less about JMU winning and more about the points. The Eagles beat the Dukes last year 28-14, and they have won two in a row after an 0-2 start. Led by RB OJ Arnold who is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and WR Camden Brown, who is averaging 18.7 yards per reception and ranks 2nd in college football with 5 touchdowns, the Eagles will look to soar. (Indiana -7.5 at Iowa)The emergence of QB Fernando Mendoza is no surprise to those of us who summer scouted. The Cal transfer is a very very good passer. He leads the entire country in QBR (95.5) right now and is coming off a top-10 blowout win over Illinois. Mendoza went 21-for-23 passing for 267 yards and 5 touchdowns. It was a statement performance by a player tracking to be QB1 in the class. Not to mention his WRs Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., both of which should play on Sundays. I like the Hoosiers comfortably. (Vanderbilt -22.5 vs Utah State)The duo of QB Diego Pavia and TE Eli Stowers is one of the least talked about in all of college football, but it provides most of the offense for the 18th-ranked Commodores. Pavia leads the team in rushing with 215 yards while throwing for 890 yards with 8 touchdowns and just 2 total turnovers. Stowers leads the team in receiving with 16 receptions for 233 yards. (Kansas -4.5 vs Cincinnati)I had the Hawks as two touchdown favorites last week, and I’m riding with HC Lance Leipold and QB Jalon Daniels as far as I can. Another home game at THE BOOTH, I could see back-to-back blowouts. Daniels is tied for 3rd in the country right now with 12 passing touchdowns. The Bearcats are led by QB Brendan Sorsby who has thrown for 655 yards and 8 touchdowns while leading the team with 175 rushing yards. (USC -6.5 at Illinois)I had the Illini keeping it close against Indiana. They showed me the team that they are and, even with USC’s soft schedule so far, the Trojans look poised to make a run in the Big 10. HC Lincoln Riley and USC are led by QB Jayden Maiava and two stud WRs Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane. With star CB Xavier Scott out for Illinois, the Trojan offense has a clear advantage. Second year DC D’Anton Lynn has the defense playing well led by DE Anthony Lucas and S Kamari Ramsey. (Oregon +3.5 at Penn State)For me, this one just comes down to QB play. I really believe Oregon’s Dante Moore is more talented than Penn State’s Drew Allar. The game is going to be tough in Happy Valley, but the Ducks have been a wagon so far this year with a balanced rushing attack. Moore and true freshman WR Dakorien Moore (no relation) have connected 12 times. Penn State CB AJ Harris will be a tough corner for the freshman to face, but Oregon has the better QB. Simple as that, quack quack.

All Picks – The SuperContest games will have a *East Carolina -4 vs ArmyFlorida State -7 at Virginia*TCU +3 at Arizona StateHouston -13.5 at Oregon StateOhio -9 vs Bowling GreenGeorgia Southern +17.5 at James Madison*Toledo -21 vs AkronWest Virginia +12.5 vs UtahOld Dominion -16 vs LibertyMemphis -13.5 at Florida AtlanticSan Diego State -2 at Northern IllinoisNotre Dame -4 at ArkansasBoston College -6.5 vs CaliforniaBuffalo +4 vs UCONNNC State -10 vs Virginia TechIndiana -7.5 at Iowa*Pittsburgh +4.5 vs LouisvilleSyracuse +5.5 vs DukeWake Forest +14 vs Georgia TechCentral Michigan -6 vs Eastern MichiganUCLA +6 at NorthwesternRutgers +5 at MinnesotaVanderbilt -22.5 vs Utah State*Hawaii +6.5 at Air ForceBoise State -16.5 vs Appalachian StateNew Mexico State +14 at New MexicoStanford -3 vs San Jose StateSouthern Miss -4 vs Jacksonville StateKansas -4.5 vs Cincinnati*Iowa State -6.5 vs ArizonaRice +14.5 at NavyMississippi State +7.5 vs TennesseeBaylor -20.5 at Oklahoma StateSouth Carolina -6 vs KentuckyNorth Texas -13 vs South AlabamaUCF +6 at Kansas StateLSU +1.5 at Ole MissTulsa +15.5 vs TulaneMarshall -1 at LouisianaUSC -6.5 at Illinois*Arkansas State +1.5 at UL MonroeMissouri -44.5 vs UMASSAuburn +6 at Texas A&MMiddle Tennessee State +7.5 at Kennesaw StateMissouri State +4.5 vs Western KentuckyColorado State -5 vs Washington StateOregon +3.5 at Penn State*Georgia -3 vs AlabamaLouisiana Tech -4 at UTEPOhio State -8 at WashingtonBYU -6.5 at ColoradoI’ll use this blog to keep track of my 2025 picks except for week 1 since I did not know this existed at the time.

For the college SuperContest, you pick any 7 games you want. Extremely simple. Purely for my own entertainment, I’m going to pick every single game on the card with a heavy emphasis on tracking my Big 12 picks since I’ve established myself as a Big 12 guy.

I will be posting my NFL picks prior to the TNF game each week, and the college picks will come out on Fridays unless there’s a Thursday game on the card.

Another reminder, these are not bets I will be placing myself. I do this purely for fun.