Week 5 in the 2016 college football season presents four games between ranked teams, including two conference matchups with both schools in the top 10: Number 8 Wisconsin visiting number 4 Michigan for a huge Big Ten showdown, and in the ACC it’s number 5 Clemson hosting the red hot number 3 Louisville with the leading Heisman candidate so far, Lamar Jackson.
Our Thoughts on the Games of Week 5:
- Connecticut @ #6 Houston: Hard to see Greg Ward finding this encounter any trouble, but it’s not a win that will move Houston up the charts, unless there’s a major upset
- #7 Stanford @ #10 Washington: This is usually the time of year Washington’s season begins to unravel. However, if they can slow down Christian McCaffrey without giving up too much for anyone else, they might be able to beat Stanford for the first time since 2012
- #23 Florida @ Vanderbilt: If Luke Del Rio is healthy, the Gators shouldn’t turn this into something too complicated. If he’s injured, this could really derail Florida’s season
- #13 Baylor @ Iowa State: Expected to be a blowout, although weird things happen once in a very long while at Ames
- Alcorn State @ #20 Arkansas: A chance for the Razorbacks to vent their frustration after their poor second half against Texas A&M
- #22 Texas @ Oklahoma State: Texas had a weekend off after losing at California. This has a shot to turn into another shootout, which really can go either way
- Rutgers @ #2 Ohio State: The big questions have more to do with stats, like how much yards the Buckeyes will have on the ground in this blowout win
- #14 Miami @ Georgia Tech: No longer just a trap game, but a real test to see what Miami are made of, on defense as well. This probably won’t be the game they lose in
- North Carolina @ #12 Florida State: No longer shellshocked from getting crushed by Lamar Jackson, FSU shouldn’t find the visiting Tar Heels too difficult to handle
- #8 Wisconsin @ #4 Michigan: The Badgers shook up East Lansing the week before. Now in Ann Arbor, it’s probably going to be close, but will go the Wolverines way
- Illinois @ #15 Nebraska: The Cornhuskers will probably stay undefeated for another week
- #11 Tennessee @ #25 Georgia: Tests, tests, tests for the Vols, who keep passing them. Georgia have revenge on their mind after getting destroyed by Ole Miss. This could be the final stamp of approval that Tennessee are the best in the SEC East
- #9 Texas A&M @ South Carolina: The Aggies have a terrific quarterback and probably the 2nd best team in the SEC West. They shouldn’t run into too much trouble in Columbia
- Oklahoma @ #21 TCU: A loss here could really start making things uncomfortable for Bob Stoops, and more serious questions will be asked about whether or not it’s time to move on
- #18 Utah @ California: Utah have the ability to put up points, and will probably have to against the Golden Bears, but they probably will overcome
- Memphis @ #16 Ole Miss: The Rebels might have turned a corner in their win over Georgia, which should mean they’ll avenge their upset loss against the Tigers from last season
- Kentucky @ #1 Alabama: The Crimson Tide will try and make it two shutouts in a row
- #19 San Diego State @ South Alabama: After resting for one weekend, the Aztecs should remain among the undefeated following their visit to Mobile
- #3 Louisville @ #5 Clemson: A de facto ACC championship game from the looks of things. From the way Clemson have looked this season, Lamar Jackson and co. might actually have a slight edge in this one
- #17 Michigan State @ Indiana: It won’t be pretty, but the Spartans should get back on the winning trail after a humbling home loss to Wisconsin
- Utah State @ #24 Boise State: The Aggies aren’t an easy team to face, but the Broncos seem to be en route to regain the conference title they missed out on last season