College football picks, schedule: predictions against the spread, odds for NCAA top 25 games in week 5

Week 5 of 2024 college football season means conference play is in full swing. While the list is highlighted by four matchups with ranked teams, it doesn't get any bigger than the trip from No. 2 Georgia to No. 4 Alabama. Not only are the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide serious SEC contenders, but they are both early favorites in the national championship race. It's also a huge opportunity for first-year Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer to get a signature win early in his tenure.

However, there are plenty of big matches before that evening clash. No. No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 23 Kansas State will kick off at noon ET in a showdown that will go a long way in determining the final Big 12 standings. A surging No. 15 seed Louisville squad makes the trip to No. 16 seed Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m. in a game that looks crucial to both teams' playoff hopes, while No. 9 Penn State hosts No. 9 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. number 19 Illinois. game could change the entire Big Ten landscape depending on the outcome.

Be sure to stick with CBS Sports all day Saturday for college football coverage from the opening kickoff. Let's take a look at our expert picks for the best games in Week 5.

Odds via SportsLine Consensus| Always Oriental

No. 20 Oklahoma State at No. 23 Kansas State

Afternoon| ABC,fubo(Try for free) —The battle between these two Big 12 prospects will come down to the ground game. Ollie Gordon II was positioned as the nation's best rusher, but Kansas State's three-headed monster of Giddens, Johnson and Edwards has quickly overshadowed the talented Cowboys. OSU proved against Utah that it needs a consistent running game to compete against the best in the Big 12. The Wildcats will prove to be too fast and too good.Choice: Kansas State -5 — Shehan Jeyarajah

3:30 PM | CBS,Paramount+ with ShowtimeCBSSports.com,CBS Sports App—Wisconsin is off to a shaky start to the 2024 season, highlighted by two lackluster performances in the first two weeks against Western Michigan and South Dakota. Braedyn Locke is 1-2 in his career as a starter, and this is a great opportunity for the USC defense to get a rebounding performance after a lackluster performance on that side of the ball against Michigan. Moss has looked like a Heisman dark horse through the first month of the season, and a strong performance would put him right back in the conversation.Choice: USC -15.5 –Cameron Salerno

No. No. 15 Louisville at No. 16 Notre Dame

3:30 PM | Peacock —Notre Dame has turned the page since losing at home to Northern Illinois in Week 2. The Fighting Irish showed what they are capable of in a 66-7 win over Purdue on September 28 and will be motivated to reward their fans with a win over a top player. -15 Louisville team. This is by far the toughest defense Louisville has faced, and the Cardinals may struggle to create the explosive plays that fueled their win over Georgia Tech last week. Look for Notre Dame's defense to frustrate Louisville and ultimately break through using Leonard's dual-threat ability.Choice: Notre Dame -7 –David Cobb

7:30 PM | Peacock —Michigan State will be the best team Ohio State has played yet, but I don't think we've seen a real glimpse of what Ohio State is capable of. We've only seen a facade of what the new Buckeyes offense will look like under Chip Kelly, and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles hasn't been forced to delve deep into his playbook either. The latter concerns me when it comes to Aidan Chiles and his tendency to turn the ball over.Choice: Ohio State -24 –Tom Fornelli

No. 19 Illinois at No. 9 Penn State

7:30 PM | NBC,fubo(Try for free) —The Fighting Illini have been underestimated time and time again by the oddsmakers, sporting a 3-0-1 record against the spread and covering the spread by an average of 10.9 points per game. This is another spot where Illinois' chances of hanging around and finding success are discounted through the air, and while Penn State is a legitimate favorite to win, Illinois has a good chance of keeping this closer than the experts think .Pick: Illinois +17.5 –Chip Patterson

No. 2 Georgia at No. 4 Alabama

7:30 PM | ABC,fubo(Try for free) —There are a lot of storylines in this game, but perhaps the most interesting is seeing how real both teams are. Georgia looked very wobbly against Kentucky, while Alabama hasn't played anyone yet. Both should be SEC Championship and CFP contenders, but we'll know a lot more after Saturday night. Bryant-Denny Stadium should be rocking, but the Bulldogs still have the slightest edge here. A narrow win against Kentucky plus a bye week gave Kirby Smart plenty of time to get the message across to his team – and put together a successful game plan – which proves the difference here.Choice: Georgia -2 –John Talty

SportsLine's proven computer model produces 10 outright upsets in Week 5 of college football.Visit SportsLine now to see them allplus staggered choices from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times.