College Football Week 5 Preview – Conference Rivals and Top 25 Showdowns

College football betting has some huge games on this weekend’s schedule. Bettors can choose from Top 25 showdowns, classic conference rivals, and teams trying to stay in the bowl game chase. Here are three of the most intriguing games on Saturday’s slate . . .

#8 Oklahoma Sooners at #17 Miami Hurricanes

The eyes of the college football world are locked on Heisman winner Sam Bradford and his injured shoulder. Bradford, who has been out since a Week 1 loss to BYU, is trying to get the medical nod to make his return in this huge non-conference matchup. Sooners coach Bob Stoops may wait until gametime to announce whether his star player is returning. In Bradford’s absence, OU has gone 2-0 behind backup QB Landry Jones. The freshman has passed for more than 224 yards per game but has done so against weaker opponents. The Sooners’ defense has also feasted on cupcakes, shutting out Tulsa and Idaho State before last weekend’s bye.

The Hurricanes were sent plummeting to earth after getting dumped by Virginia Tech, 31-7, last Saturday night. Miami’s offense struggled to gain ground in the rain, and standout sophomore QB Jacory Harris managed to pass for just 150 yards and was picked off once. The Canes’ rushing game is facing the top run-stop unit in the land. Last Saturday, Miami managed just 56 yards on the ground, and they have mustered only 111 rushing yards per game this season. Oklahoma has budged for just over an average of 40 yards.

#4 LSU Tigers at #18 Georgia Bulldogs

These SEC foes are holding on to Top 25 rankings heading into this weekend. Louisiana State has been unimpressive for a team ranked fourth in the country. The Tigers are coming off a scare against Mississippi State in which they needed a goal-line stand to avoid the upset. Louisiana State’s defense, which is usually the heart of the program, has looked sluggish and is allowing more than 333 total yards of offense against – fourth worst in the SEC. The Tigers have lost the last three games against Georgia, giving up over 43 points per game in those defeats.

However, most of those numbers came while former QB Matthew Stafford was under center. Now that Stafford is picking up wins in the NFL, the Bulldogs’ offense has had to rely on senior playcaller Joe Cox. He followed an impressive performance in Week 3 with a poor showing in a near upset to Arkansas State last Saturday. Turnovers plagued Georgia in the early going. Cox has been picked off five times this year while the Bulldogs have lost seven of their eight fumbles.

#21 Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans

The Wolverines escaped an upset against Indiana thanks to some late-game magic from freshman QB Tate Forcier and questionable officiating that leaned in Michigan’s favor. The Wolverines’ defense did not look sharp against a much-weaker Hoosiers squad and has allowed almost 386 yards per game this year. Forcier, who added a touchdown on the ground to go along with his 184 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, is nursing a tender shoulder but is expected to play against Michigan State.

The Spartans have been one of the toughest teams to gauge this college football season. Michigan State lost to MAC rivals Central Michigan, put up a good fight against Notre Dame, and then coughed the ball up in a loss to Wisconsin last Saturday. Injuries have forced MSU to juggle their linemen, and heading into Saturday head coach Mark Dantonio may not be through making moves. The Spartans’ blend of explosive offense and lumbering defense has combined for a 3-0 over/under mark. Michigan State snapped a six-game losing streak against their state rivals last season with a 35-21 win. However, their big weapons from 2008 are now all playing their football on Sundays.