Top College Football Week 5 Expert Picks

Here’s hoping you weren’t like me and had predicted LSU as your SEC champion this season and to reach the College Football Playoff. After a disappointing loss at Auburn on Saturday, the school fired ultra-successful head coach Les Miles on Sunday. The Tigers begin life under interim coach Ed Orgeron on Saturday vs. Missouri. Here are three game picks on college football odds for Week 5.

Here Are the Top College Football Week 5 Expert Picks

LSU and ND are out, but the top of the AP Poll is mostly unchanged. Let’s analyze the results. https://t.co/uV9zDrMYdG pic.twitter.com/bs79mBB4GS

— NCAA Football (@NCAAFootball) September 26, 2016

Missouri at LSU (-13)

Miles, who led the Tigers to three SEC West titles, two SEC championships and one national title, was in his 12th season with the program. What likely did Miles in is that 1-1 SEC record, which means he’s dropped four of his last six conference games dating back to 2015. LSU also dumped offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Orgeron has been named interim coach for the remainder of the season. It’s a role Orgeron has served in previously at USC, where he led the Trojans to a 6-2 finish after replacing Lane Kiffin. Orgeron also spent three seasons coaching at Ole Miss from 2005-07; he went 10-25. LSU fell out of the polls following Saturday’s 18-13 loss at unranked Auburn. Danny Etling’s 15-yard game-winning touchdown pass to D.J. Chark was overturned by video review citing no time remaining on the clock. On the previous play, LSU was flagged for an illegal shift after picking up a first down at the Auburn 2-yard line with 0:01 to play. I like LSU to roll here as Missouri isn’t great. The Tigers come off a 79-0 win over little Delaware State.

Notre Dame vs. Syracuse (+12.5)

This game is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Notre Dame was stunned by Duke over the weekend and the loss forced Coach Brian Kelly to fire defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. Kelly also warned that everyone’s spot on the team — including his own — was in jeopardy after the Irish, favored by 21 points, lost 38-35 to Duke on Saturday. It was the program’s biggest upset defeat against the point spread in two decades. Defensive analyst Greg Hudson, a Notre Dame alumnus, will take over VanGorder’s responsibilities. Notre Dame, 1-3 for the first time since Kelly’s first season in 2010, ranks 103rd in total defense after Saturday’s loss, the team’s fourth in five games and fifth in a row against team from a Power Five conference. Syracuse on 31 24 at UConn on Saturday. Orange transfer Amba Etta-Tawo caught 12 passes for a school-record 270 yards and two touchdowns. Etta-Tawo scored twice in the game’s first five minutes on touchdown receptions of 57 and 30 yards. His 59-yard catch from the shadow of his team’s goal line highlighted a 2-play 99-yard fourth-quarter drive that put the game away for the Orange (2-2). Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey completed 26 of 40 passes for 407 yards and those two scores. Take the Irish here.

Baylor at Iowa State (+17)

Could be a trap game for the unbeaten Bears? Baylor (4-0) is off a 35-24 win over Oklahoma State. With leading receiver KD Cannon watching the second half in street clothes after suffering a pulled groin, the Bears got big nights from both Chris Platt and Ishmael Zamora, who came back from his three-game suspension to set career highs for catches (eight), yards (175) and touchdowns (two). The Cyclones picked up their first win under new coach Matt Campbell, blasting San Jose State, 44-10. Kamari Cotton-Moya, Jomal Wiltz, Jarnor Jones, and Brian Peavy had picks in Iowa State’s most lopsided win since beating Kansas 34-0 in 2013. As for the quarterbacks, Joel Lanning had a big impact in his limited work, going 5-of- 8 for 136 yards and a pair of scores. Jacob Park went 15-of- 19 with 165 yards and three touchdown passes, while also adding a career-best 35-yard run in the second quarter. ISU won’t win but I’ll take the points here on NCAA Football lines.