College Football Picks Week 5: Best Teaser Play for anticipated matchups 2024

One of the best anticipated matchups of the 2024 college football regular season, second-ranked Georgia at fourth-ranked Alabama, will take place Saturday, and we will include the big game in our Week 5 college football teaser play. We will tease each game for six points, playing a five-team teaser for +400. Lines are courtesy of BetMGM, with all times listed Eastern.

Bet $100 for $500 payout on five-team teaser (with adjusted lines): Indiana -1/BYU +9/Auburn +8.5/Alabama +7.5/Penn St. -11.5

View all official college football game odds here.

Maryland at Indiana (12 p.m.): INDIANA -1

This one may be closer than the spread indicates, but well-coached Indiana ultimately will prove too much for Maryland. A rising star in the coaching ranks, Curt Cignetti took the Indiana job after leading James Madison to an 11-1 record last year. A bunch of James Madison’s top players followed him to Bloomington, and new quarterback Kurtis Rourke has thrived since transferring from Ohio, completing 76% of his passes for 833 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Rourke has played four quarters only twice, leading Indiana’s offense to at least 30 points in four blowout wins, and this matchup plays to Indiana’s advantage, as Maryland’s defense has been stellar against the run and suspect against the pass. The Terrapins remain dangerous, playing well in a 27-13 road win over Virginia in Week 3, but we like Indiana in a teaser play.

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BYU at Baylor (12 p.m.): BYU +9

Oddsmakers/bettors can have a difficult time catching up with teams that far surpass expectations, and all their numbers on BYU were wrong given the Cougars had a 4.5-game win total entering the 2024 season. We will take advantage of the 4-0 and 22nd-ranked Cougars being undervalued at Baylor. They should be favored in this spot. BYU’s upset win at SMU as a 12.5-point underdog in Week 1 could be viewed as a possible one-off performance, but it proved its legitimacy by throttling 13th-ranked Kansas St. last week, shutting out their heavily favored opponent over the last 20+ minutes and forcing three turnovers in a 38-9 rout. Even though Baylor was forecasted to be the better team, the Bears lack an effective offense, being outgained 432-314 in total yards during an emotional loss to arguably the worst defense in the Big 12 (Colorado) last week, and BYU is averaging nearly 33 points per game. Perhaps BYU will start receiving the respect it deserves next week. 

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Oklahoma at Auburn (3:30 p.m.): AUBURN +8.5

Correction time for Auburn, which easily outgained California and Arkansas (last week) but five turnovers cost them each game. Oklahoma played well defensively versus Tennessee last week, but their offensive woes proved too much in a 10-point home loss. The Sooners are a mess offensively, benching prized quarterback Jackson Arnold for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr., an unheralded three-star recruit who will have his struggles, and their inability to run the ball effectively (36 rushing yards last week; 75 rushing yards in a 16-12 home win over lowly Houston in Week 2) will doom them in the first road test. Auburn has had its issues at quarterback, but the Tigers still possess too much firepower for Oklahoma.

Georgia at Alabama (7:30 p.m.): ALABAMA +7.5

Both teams feature terrific quarterbacks, but Georgia’s offense has not reloaded like previous seasons after losing a star tight end, a wide receiver, and multiple linemen to the NFL. The Bulldogs were sluggish in the first half of the opener and outgained 284-262 in total yards by Kentucky in their last appearance. The Crimson Tide are more dynamic, leading Wisconsin 35-3 in their last outing before putting on the brakes  in the third quarter. With most of its starters returning, Alabama’s offense was expected to be electric, and the defense looks poised to surpass expectations following a strong showing in Week 3. Georgia figures to deliver an improved performance after a close call, but we will side with Alabama’s offense in a projected close game.

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Illinois at Penn St. (7:30 p.m.): PENN ST. -11.5

Penn St. has had its ups and downs this year, winning big at West Virginia in the opener and showing up flat for a one-score win over Bowling Green at home a week later. The Nittany Lions got back on track with a blowout win last week and appear much improved offensively with new coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, averaging 41.3 points per game. Penn St. features one of college football’s best defenses, ranking ninth by allowing 229.3 yards per game, and it will look to make a statement against a top-25 opponent. Illinois enters unbeaten and ripe for a letdown, playing a second consecutive difficult road test after an emotional come-from-behind overtime win at Nebraska. After allowing 297 passing yards and three touchdowns to Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, the Illini defense is eligible to be torched by Drew Allar, who is completing 70.7% of his passes for eight touchdowns and only one interception over three games. We like Penn St. by more than two touchdowns.