College football Week 5 preview

Is there a quarterback controversy brewing at Miami? Seems that way. After throwing for 224 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in last week's win over FIU, redshirt freshman N'Kosi Perry might get the starting nod ahead of Malik Rosier for this weeknight affair. The Tar Heels will have some momentum after beating Pitt on Saturday for their first win.
Prediction: Miami 31, North Carolina 14

Things couldn't be better for the Crimson Tide. The offense is rolling (53.8 points per game) under Heisman contender Tua Tagovailoa, and the defense allowed an opponent to break the 20-point mark last week for just the first time this season. Another rout seems in store against the Rajin' Cajuns, who have yielded an average of 50.4 points during an 18-game skid vs. ranked opponents.
Prediction: Alabama 50, Louisiana 9

Whoever had Week 5 in the Trevor Lawrence starting pool, congratulations. The freshman phenom will make his first start Saturday, which means former starter, Kelly Bryant, will leave "Death Valley." The Tigers, though, should at least be cautious of the Orange, who have opened with four straight wins for the first time since 1991. Syracuse stunned Clemson at home last year, but it would take an even bigger effort to do it on the road.
Prediction: Clemson 33, Syracuse 10

The Spartans are banged up but poised to trudge forward. A rather convincing victory at Indiana last weekend helped rebuild their confidence, and facing a struggling Mid-American Conference team from in state should keep the good times coming. The Chippewas last won at East Lansing in 2009 but have been outscored 116-24 in the three meetings since.
Prediction: Michigan State 30, Central Michigan 13

Texas Tech enters the Top 25 following an impressive 41-17 win at then-No. 15 Oklahoma State. The Red Raiders' 16 rushing touchdowns from five different players rank among the most in the FBS. We know West Virginia can score, but it's allowed just 37 points and two rushing TDs in three games. The Mountaineers have won the last four in the series.
Prediction: West Virginia 32, Texas Tech 27

Like Alabama, Georgia keeps rolling along. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns in all three phases of last week's 43-29 win at Missouri. Their defense was exploited at times, but that should not be the case in this one. Georgia blanked the Vols 41-0 last season in Knoxville.
Prediction: Georgia 44, Tennessee 9

The Longhorns have won three in a row since their loss to Maryland, with the last two decisively coming against previously ranked teams in USC and TCU. Those games were at home, and though Kansas State has already been battered by Mississippi State and West Virginia, Texas needs to be at its best to avoid a sixth consecutive loss in Manhattan.
Prediction: Kansas State 24, Texas 21

The Sooners might have the most worrisome fan base of any undefeated team in the nation. Yes, Oklahoma had all sorts of trouble with Army's option during last weekend's overtime victory. And the week before, Iowa State passed for 360 yards, mostly while trying to get back in the game. Baylor's one season as a Big 12 doormat has ended, but it doesn't seem to have improved enough to end a three-game slide to the Sooners.
Prediction: Oklahoma 42, Baylor 24

Central Florida beat Florida Atlantic by 20 last week but actually trailed at one point in the second quarter. With McKenzie Milton in charge, the Knights should be able to outscore anybody on their schedule if it gets into an up-and-down-the-field fast break of sorts. Pitt likely can't play that game and has already yielded 51 points to Penn State and 38 to North Carolina.
Prediction: UCF 45, Pitt 24

Auburn would like to see some improvement in a running game that posted 221 yards against LSU and Arkansas over the last two games. It could happen against the Golden Eagles, who have given up 296 yards on the ground in their last two contests. These schools are meeting for the first time since 2008.
Prediction: Auburn 24, Southern Miss 7

After three weeks of facing favorable competition at home, the Wolverines hit the road for what should be a challenge against Northwestern. Though the Wildcats dropped their last two vs. Duke and Akron at home and must overcome the sudden retirement of leading rusher, Jeremy Larkin, they've had two weeks to prepare for Jim Harbaugh's crew. Michigan, though, has won five straight and 13 of 15 in the series.
Prediction: Michigan 27, Northwestern 17

Dan Mullen will be back in Starkville, and the cow bells should be deafening. Mullen went 69-46 and took the Bulldogs to eight bowl games in nine seasons as their coach. Now he brings his Gators in to face a Mississippi State group eager to rebound from last weekend's 28-7 loss at Kentucky, which also beat Florida this year. These schools have split the last six meetings but have not played each other since 2010.
Prediction: Mississippi State 30, Florida 20

Duke is trying to win its first five games for the first time since 1994. Quarterback Quentin Harris has filled in nicely for the injured Daniel Jones, and the Blue Devils defense has yielded just 61 points thus far. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, is hoping its season is not lost after losing quarterback Josh Jackson to injury during last weekend's improbable loss at Old Dominion.
Prediction: Duke 23, Virginia Tech 13

It's been 11 years since Kentucky opened 5-0. Wins at Florida and last week over then-No. 14 Mississippi State have shown the Wildcats are for real. Running back Benny Snell might be a fringe Heisman candidate, and the Kentucky defense is yielding 13.3 points per contest. South Carolina is a worthy opponent but also has dropped four straight to Kentucky.
Prediction: Kentucky 27, South Carolina 17

The Cardinal have won three straight in the series and already have been tested by San Diego State, USC and Oregon. They've passed each one and showed real resiliency in rallying to beat the Ducks in overtime last week at Eugene. The Irish enjoyed their first easy romp at Wake Forest last weekend and may also have found their quarterback in Ian Book.
Prediction: Stanford 23, Notre Dame 21

This should be fun. The Big Ten's two best teams under the lights in Happy Valley. The Buckeyes had their four-game winning streak at Beaver Stadium end with 2016's wild loss. It's Urban Meyer's first road game back from suspension, but do Penn State fans really have the right to taunt him? Ohio State is without star defender Nick Bosa, and Nittany Lions' running back Miles Sanders is coming off a 200-yard, three-TD rushing game against Illinois.
Prediction: Ohio State 31, Penn State 27  

BYU has already stunned one top-15 team on the road, so can it do it again? There's always a chance, and the Cougars will certainly be confident after winning at Wisconsin two weeks ago. However, Washington will be waiting and expecting the best from BYU. The Huskies are on upset alert but should be able to handle it.
Prediction: Washington 27, BYU 14

The Tigers are due to slip up at some point, right? Is this the week? Maybe, but Ole Miss seems too inconsistent for that to happen after it took some time to shake Kent State at home last week. LSU has won four in a row and seven of the last eight meetings with the Rebels at Baton Rouge.
Prediction: LSU 33, Ole Miss 14

After earning a spot in the Top 25, Cal will try to open 4-0 for the second time in four seasons. The Golden Bears' hot start is due in part to a defense that's giving up 19.3 points per game and has forced seven turnovers. They also handed BYU its only defeat. Oregon, meanwhile, must regroup and not allow last weekend's loss to Stanford, in which it blew a 24-7 lead, to linger.
Prediction: Oregon 24, California 13

While Chip Kelly's rebuild — perhaps unintentional — continues in Westwood, Colorado is trying to start 4-0 for the first time since 1998. The Bruins have won six of the last seven meetings, but the Buffs took the most recent one at home in 2016.
Prediction: Colorado 28, UCLA 17

Don't sleep on the Bulls of Buffalo. They just might be the best team in the MAC and a potential contender in the Group of 5. Lance Leipold, who could be in line for a major college coaching gig, has Buffalo averaging 40.3 points. The Bulls lost at Army, which took Oklahoma to the limit last weekend, in 2017 after beating the Cadets at home a year earlier
Prediction: Buffalo 24, Army 21

In a matchup of rebuilding former powers, the Seminoles hushed their critics and concerned fan base for the time being with last weekend's victory over Northern Illinois — despite committing four turnovers. Deondre Francois threw for 352 yards and a pair of scores, but he's obviously far from polished. Louisville was thumped 27-3 at Virginia and has totaled just 37 points in three games vs. FBS opponents.
Prediction: Florida State 25, Louisville 23

The Cornhuskers' poor start has reached historic proportions, and there is no guarantee it will end Saturday against the rejuvenated Boilermakers. Last weekend's 56-10 loss at Michigan was downright embarrassing. In comes Purdue, which easily bounced then-No. 23 Boston College. This will be the Boilers first road game, so maybe that can play to Nebraska's advantage.
Prediction: Nebraska 23, Purdue 21

This is a chance to see if Arizona has truly made any real improvement. Following losses to BYU and Houston, the Wildcats beat Southern Utah and Oregon State, not exactly top-notch competition. USC arrives after edging Washington State to avoid a third consecutive defeat. The Trojans have won the last five meetings.
Prediction: USC 30, Arizona 27

Let's step out of the FBS for a moment. North Dakota State has won six of the last seven FCS national championships, and the reigning titleholders look poised to repeat this season after outscoring its first three opponents 125-20. The Bison lost just once in 2017, to South Dakota State, which also is among the best in the subdivision.
Prediction: North Dakota State 30, South Dakota State 17