After some surprising results in Week 4, including 16th, ranked Arkansas’ upset of number seven Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas, the season gets heated up with compelling conference games and four more matchups of top twenty-five teams, including a pair of top ten clashes.
Arkansas, up to eighth in the polls, travels to second-ranked Georgia to challenge the stout defense of the Bulldogs while number seven Cincinnati tries to make a case for College Football Playoff (CFP) consideration at Notre Dame, just inside the top ten at ninth. Let’s take a look at some games where we think you can make a few dollars if you’re willing to risk a few by betting against the NCAAF odds.
Expert Predictions for Week 5 of the 2021 College Football Season
(12) Ole Miss Rebels (3-0 overall, 0-0 SEC) @ (1) Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) (1-0) (-14.5)
Former Alabama assistant coach Lane Kiffin is attempting to do what no other head coach who served Nick Saban’s staff has been able to do, and that is to defeat their ex-boss. Through three games in 2021, Kiffin has Ole Miss leading the nation in total offense, and by a big margin with 635.5 yards a game.
While not as dominating as they’ve been in the past, Alabama is still in the top 20 in total yards allowed at 289 yards a game, while Ole Miss is unexpectedly stingy on defense with opponents averaging 341 yards a contest against the Rebels.
In 2020, Ole Miss scored more points than any of the Tide’s other opponents, putting up 48 but giving up 63 in the loss.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38 Alabama 35
(8) Arkansas Razorbacks (4-0, 1-0) @ (2) Georgia Bulldogs (4-0, 2-0) (-18.5)
Despite an amazing turnaround under second-year head coach Sam Pittman and two wins over teams ranked in the top 15, Arkansas still faces a huge road test against the top-ranked defense in the country. Georgia is giving up just 182 yards and 5.8 points a game to their opponents while averaging 455 yards and 42 points a game on offense.
Against another stout SEC defense last week, the Razorbacks ran for over 200 yards and threw for another 246 in a workmanlike 20-10 win over the Aggies. Arkansas also boasts a tough defense which is ranked 12th in the nation in yards allowed and 11th in average points by their opponents.
Prediction: Georgia 24 Arkansas 14
(7) Cincinnati Bearcats (3-0) (-2.5) @ (9) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-0)
Cincinnati had a week off after a 38-24 win over Indiana from the Big Ten as the Bearcats continue their quest to crack the Power Five’s hold on the CFP spots, with no Group of Five teams yet to be included in the national championship tournament.
With Clemson out of the running and no other team from the ACC in consideration, a victory over one of last year’s participants could strengthen their case, as unlikely as it might be.
Notre Dame has struggled on offense for most of the year but were aided by a kickoff return and two interceptions that all resulted in scores to bail out an offense that rushed for three yards in a 41-13 win that was much closer than the final score would indicate.
Cincinnati is holding opponents to less than 300 yards a game, and their offense and special teams are less likely to give the Irish free scores.
Prediction: Cincinnati 30 Notre Dame 20
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