Usachi
The college football season has been a bit quiet over the past two weeks, with teams ranked higher in the polls rarely losing to teams ranked lower. Will this weekend be one filled with surprising upsets?
There are four more games scheduled between top-ranked teams in Week 5, headlined by a top-five showdown between No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa in a rematch of last year's SEC Championship, as well as battles between the top-ranked teams in the Big Ten and Big 12 as the battle for conference titles and College Football Playoff berths begins to heat up.
Plus, if that wasn't enough, five ranked teams are heading on the road this week. Strange things don't happen on the road!
Odds based on Sportsline consensus
Big Game
#2 Georgia (-2.5) vs #4 Alabama: This is the biggest matchup of the season and one we've seen many times over the years. However, most of these matches have been in SEC championship or national title games. It's rare for two SEC powerhouses from different divisions to meet in the regular season. This game will have a big impact on both the SEC title race and the College Football Playoff.
No. 15 Louisville at No. 16 Notre Dame (-4.5): The Cardinals are off to a 3-0 start this season, but some are wondering if they really are strong given the competition. They said as much last season when 5-0 Louisville hosted top-10 Notre Dame and defeated the Irish 33-20. Will history repeat itself, or will Notre Dame get revenge and pull further away from their loss to Northern Illinois?
No. 19 Illinois at No. 9 Penn State (-17.5): Only one team in the country has two wins against top-ranked opponents this season: the Illinois Fighting Illini. Can they win a third? After beating Kansas and Nebraska, the Illini found themselves far outmatched against a Penn State that was explosive on offense. There are few better atmospheres than a top-ranked matchup at night in Beaver Stadium.
No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 23 Kansas State (-4.5): This is a must-play game for both teams. Oklahoma State lost at home to Utah without starting quarterback Cam Rising, and Kansas State lost badly on the road to BYU. The Big 12 is a crowded field, but an 0-2 start pretty much closes the door.
