NCAA Football Week 5 Over/Under Picks

College football games often start to resemble video games with their scores, as spread formations and defensive players that don’t have the speed of their NFL counterparts simply can’t keep up. There are some defensive slugfests, to be sure, but for the most part scoring in college football is higher than in the pros, and that is reflected in the higher point totals that the sports books provide for online betting. We’ve made some college football betting predictions for you to consider as you look at over/under totals for this week’s NCAA action.

NCAA Football Week 5 Over/Under Picks

Look for these 50 college football players to make an impact on future Sundays. #NFL https://t.co/vZFL3KB0xw

— FanSided NFL (@FanSidedNFL) September 21, 2018

Thursday, September 27

North Carolina at Miami (FL)

• NCAA Football Week 5: 55.5

North Carolina and Pitt combined for 73 points a week ago, but Thursday nights don’t generally produce quite as much offense. Teams are more tired with the short preparation week, execution suffers, and point totals dwindle downward. Miami hasn’t put up a whole lot of points in any game except its shellacking of FCS opponent Savannah State, so I’m leaning toward the under here.

Friday, September 28

UCLA at Colorado 

• NCAA Football Week 5: 60.5

UCLA has scored 52 combined points in three losses to Cincinnati, Oklahoma and Fresno State. They visit a Colorado team that has a better defense than Cincinnati or Fresno State, so seeing the Bruins get to 20 points isn’t likely. Then there’s Colorado, who put up 45 points each in games against Colorado State and New Hampshire and 33 points on the road against Nebraska. However, even if they get to 35 here, I’m not sure UCLA holds up their end. Give me the under.

Saturday, September 29

Arkansas at Texas A&M 

• NCAA Football Week 5: 61

Arkansas hasn’t scored much against anyone, but Texas A&M has gotten on the board against some of the nation’s best. They scored 28 points against Clemson, at home, and then 23 points at Alabama — and those points didn’t come in garbage time. The Arkansas offense only put up 17 points at home against North Texas and got held to single digits at Auburn last week. So I don’t see the Razorbacks scoring much, but I’m not sure the Aggies make up the difference. I’m taking the under.

West Virginia at Texas Tech 

• NCAA Football Week 5: 75.5

Two crazy-fast offenses with quarterbacks who can nail receivers in stride in their schemes. Two defenses that have some speed but aren’t the priority for their organizations. Lubbock is often the site of some games that approach 85 or 95 in point totals, and I see the Red Raiders and the Mountaineers running crazy on Saturday. I’m going over here — pending the weather report. Rain is possible in West Texas, so check the latest forecast before you lock in your wager.

Tennessee at Georgia 

• NCAA Football Week 5: 51.5

The Bulldogs are averaging 44.5 points per game through four contests, most recently coming off a 43-29 win at Missouri. However, Tennessee doesn’t have the same offensive prowess that Missouri does, or even South Carolina, who managed 17 against Georgia. The Volunteers were able to put up 21 points against Florida last week, but that was at home, and Florida’s defense isn’t as good as Georgia’s. I see Georgia getting at least 40 here, and Tennessee should be able to scrape together the other dozen, so give me the over.

South Carolina at Kentucky

• NCAA Football Week 5: 50.5

Kentucky has scored 55 points in their two SEC games so far, while giving up 23, for an average of 39 combined points per contest. Their defense shut down Florida, Murray State and Mississippi State in their last three games, but their offense is more methodical — their point totals in the SEC wins were 43 and 35, respectively. Can they get eight more points in total against South Carolina? I’m not convinced, given the Gamecocks’ defensive prowess. I’ll take the under.