2024 CFB Best Bets of the Week: Week 5

2024 CFB Best Bets of the Week: Week 5

The College Football season is off and rolling as we head into week 5. There is a fantastic weekend slate of CFB games filled with a solid amount of ranked matchups. Overall, there are some good conference games with important implications as the college football playoffs draw near. Now, this is the first week I will be giving out my best bets. I am following James Herrick’s model on his UFC best bets series, which all fight fans should check out. I will give out three picks a week which will consist of money line bets, spread bets, over/under, and maybe some player prop bets. Finally, here are my three 2024 CFB best bets for week five.

*All lines are taken from Draft Kings and are accurate as of 4 p.m. ET on September 27

Honorable Mentions: Alabama ML, -105, Illinois +18 Spread, -112

USC -15 Spread, -110, Wisconsin @ No.13 USC (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

I like USC to cover the spread in what should be a get-right game after a brutal last-second loss to Michigan last week. I think Lincoln Riley and QB Miller Moss will put up a lot of points against a Wisconsin defense that just gave up 42 in a loss to Alabama. Also, USC’s defense has looked serviceable this year compared to past years. Furthermore, sophomore QB Braedyn Locke will be starting this week after Wisconsin starter Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL last game against Alabama. 

Ultimately, I think the Trojans are a better team and could easily be undefeated with two huge ranked wins under their belt. I expect USC to get back on track in week five and blow this game open against the Badgers at some point on Saturday.

Notre Dame ML, -238, No. 15 Louisville @ No 16 Notre Dame(3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock) 

This next game is a bit riskier for me as I just do not trust this Notre Dame team to cover the points. However, I do think they are the better team so I’m trusting them to at least win the game and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. Notre Dame’s defense has looked great so far this season and I believe they can slow down this high-powered Cardinals offense. Louisville got blessed last week with a defensive touchdown and a blocked field goal return touchdown. Otherwise, it was a close game against a solid Georgia Tech team. 

I think the Fighting Irish will be able to cause some issues for the Cardinals’ offense and keep this game close. Hopefully, QB Riley Leonard can finally figure things out and move the ball through the air. However, I still think that Notre Dame can rely on RB Jeremiyah Love and the run game to get the job done in front of the home crowd. 

Oklahoma/Auburn Under 44.5, -112, No. 21 Oklahoma @ Auburn (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+)

I went with the under in the Oklahoma/Auburn game for my final 2024 CFB best bets week five picks. I wanted to take Oklahoma outright but instead settled with what I believe to be a safer under-pick. Auburn’s defense has looked good but QB Payton Thorne and the offense have left much to be desired. On the other hand, Oklahoma’s defense has looked great even slowing down an elite Tennessee offense last week. 

This will be freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr.’s first start for Oklahoma as they have moved on from QB Jackson Arnold. I think the Sooners can have success against Auburn but this being Hawkins’ first start on the road I am hoping it will not be some offensive explosion for Oklahoma. Ultimately, I can see a lower-scoring affair with a late score to decide the game. I’ll take both strong defenses to hold these struggling offenses to a score under 44.5.

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