Week 5 College Football Picks

The Professors have emerged from the Research Lab. The work is done, the picks are in. Remember faithful followers, you can get all the FREE advice and RESEARCH right here, instead of paying big dollars for it elsewhere. Week 5 has some intriguing matchups, and some games that are like forbidden fruit. Proceed with caution. For instance, the Alabama/Kentucky tilt. 'Bama and the Cats first met on the field 92 years ago. In those 92 years, the Tide has rolled in just about every meeting. Kentucky has only won twice, 1922 and 1997 (that's not a misprint). So you're thinking, 'What's the problem? I'm all over 'Bama -16.' However, Tide head coach Nick Saban has met Kentucky twice since 2002, once with LSU, and once with Alabama, both times his team prevailed, but by only 3 pts. each time. Again, proceed with caution.

South Florida at Syracuse
Instead, look at South Florida at Syracuse. Since USF joined the Big East Conference in '05, they have pl ayed the athletes formerly known as the Orangemen at the Carrier Dome twice, winning both meetings by no less than 27 pts. Most recently in '07, the Bulls trampled the Orange 41-10. The line in '09? USF -6. That's right, just six points. The Inside Pick...the Bulls.

Washington at Notre Dame
OK, all you Golden Domed, touchdown Jesus loyalists, put your fandom aside for just a moment. I understand you guys are some of the most loyal, well informed fans of any program, anywhere. But, do you want to be a fan, or do you want to dominate your pool at the office? This week the Irish play host to the Huskies from the great Northwest. The line? Irish -13. 'Well,' you might say, 'My Irish have looked pretty good in every game but that fluke of a win for Michigan!' Truth be told, the Domers are 1-3 vs. the spread in '09, with their only win against it coming vs. Nevada. Let's check out their opponent, the Huskies. As an underdog, which they are this weekend in South Bend, the Huskies are 2-0 vs. the spread, making a game of it vs. LSU, and beating USC outright. Enough said? Well, how about a little more. Washington head coach Steve Sarkisian was an assistant on Pete Carroll's staff at USC, returning there from the pro ranks in '05 as assistant Head Coach, then in 2007 and 2008 he was the offensive coordinator. What does this have to do with Notre Dame? Sarkisian's got their number. Since '05 the Trojans are 3-0 vs. the Irish. So what are we saying? Inside Pick...the Huskies.

Penn State at Illinois

Big Ten fans, listen up. The Penn St.-Illinois game is one you can't pass up. Illini coach Ron Zook arrived in Champaign in '05 and is 0-4 vs. the Nittany Lions. Aaand, the Illini have lost by an average of 22 pts. AAaand, this is probably the worst I llini team in Zook's tenure, and arguably the best Nittany Lion team he has faced. So what are we saying about Penn St. -7? Inside Pick...the Nittany Lions.

INSIDE HOOK LOCK OF THE WEEK: LSU at Georgia

Okay loyal followers, you've waited for it, now here it is. In case you haven't heard, for some inexplicable reason, Georgia is favored by 3 over LSU. You heard it right. The Inside Hook Professors think the handicappers just plain missed this one. LSU is flat out, a better team. So what are we saying? Inside Hook Lock of the Week...LSU +3.

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