Scully’s Week 5 College Football Free Picks

James Scully returns to get your ready for the Week 5 College Football schedule on Saturday with four of his favorite free picks!

*ATS (Against the Spread) / SU (Straight Up) * PK indicates pick *home team in caps

---

Syracuse Orange +25.5 vs CLEMSON TIGERS (Saturday 12:00 ET)

Clemson lacks strong play at QB. Trevor Lawrence takes over as starter but has no safety net for when he struggles with Kelly Bryant quitting the team. Tigers’ defense played sluggish last week against Georgia Tech offense that fumbled eight times. Clemson capable of feasting upon one-dimensional signal callers but a running QB with a big arm can move the ball on Clemson. Texas A&M’s Mond posted 430 passing yards and several huge runs earlier on them earlier this season and a much bigger threat looms this week in Eric Dungey. Syracuse (+23.5) QB is crushing the opposition: Orange averaging 49.5 points per game and it would be 50+ if Dungey didn’t have to sit out the 2^nd half of a 30-7 romp over Florida St. with blurred offense earlier this season. It was another typical performance last week as Syracuse recorded more than 600 yards of offense and this is the most dynamic attack Clemson will face all season. Tigers have given up 54 points in the second half versus suspect competition the last three weeks and they’re giving away too many versus the ACC’s second-best team on Saturday. Syracuse is 3-1 ATS in last four meetings against Clemson. And the Orange is 4-1 ATS in the first of back-to-back road games. Give us the points!

Week 5 College Football Free Picks – Bet Syracuse +25.5 over Clemson!

Kent St. Golden Flashes +7.5 vs BALL ST. CARDINALS (Saturday 3:00 ET)

After surrendering 105 points the past two weeks, Kent St. will be out of gas in the third straight road game. Golden Flashes were delayed more than seven hours at airports traveling to Ole Miss last week and scored only 17 points despite gaining massive yardage against a terrible defensive unit. Kent St. is 2-6 ATS last eight games after giving up 35+ points and 2-8 ATS in last 10 games versus opponents off a SU favorite loss. Ball St. (-8) is the superior team and won’t be complacent after blowing late lead versus Western Kentucky. Loved how Cardinals played Notre Dame tough in week 2, losing by only one score (24-16) as 34.5-point underdogs, and QB Riley Neal is putting up big numbers in the second year of coach Mike Neu’s offense after being sidelined most of last year by injury (Cardinals back at full-strength after being one of the most injury-ravaged teams last year). Look for Ball St. to take care of business in a double-digit win!

Week 5 College Football Free Picks – Bet Ball St. -7.5 over Kent St.!

Ohio St. Buckeyes -3.5 vs PENN ST. NITTANY LIONS (Saturday 7:30 ET)

Ohio St. has played only one decent opponent and trailed TCU 21-19 in 2^nd half before getting a turnover TD and a blocked punt. But the biggest takeaway from Week 2 game was the loss of their biggest star, Nick Bosa, the top defensive player in the nation. That loss will hurt them versus high-scoring Penn St. (+3.5) that is still smarting after blowing 15-point 4^th-quarter lead in Columbus last year. Nittany Lions brought back all five starters and feature one of the best offensive lines in the nation. And behind Heisman Trophy contender QB Trace McSorley, Penn St. is focused upon finishing games strong, scoring 91 points in the 4^th quarter this season. Penn St. is 3-1 ATS in last four match-ups versus Buckeyes and deadly in recent years when a home underdog with revenge, posting a 6-0 ATS mark. Penn St. has shown nice improvement each week as they build toward an optimal performance; Ohio St. scored only 7 points in the 2^nd half last week and are still smarting from the loss of Bosa. We’ll take the points and look for a straight-up victory from Penn St. at home!

Week 5 College Football Free Picks – Bet Penn St. +3.5 over Ohio St.!

Stanford Cardinal +5.5 vs NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (Saturday 7:30 ET)

Notre Dame got off to an 8-1 SU start last year before QB issues submarined their season and Irish had to make another QB switch last week. That’s bad news in our book. The defense is good but we’re expecting to see inexperienced QB Ian Book struggle against well-coached and undefeated Stanford (+5.5) that remains in the playoff conversation after improbable comeback against Oregon. Cardinal has balanced attack that Notre Dame fans can only dream about. Stanford held the nation’s top NFL QB prospect, Oregon’s Hebert, to only 7 points in 2^nd-half last week and features the country’s 10-ranked scoring defense. And the Cardinal offense, which brought back 9 starters including the entire offensive line, has really taken off under QB Costello, who threw 327 yards with 3 TDs and no interceptions last week. Stanford has the 47^th-ranked passing offense and All American RB candidate in Bryce Love, who will be looking to getting on track after surprisingly failing to gain 100 yards last week (89 yards on 19 carries). Stanford is 6-1 ATS in their last seven games and 3-1 ATS in last four trips to South Bend. And Notre Dame is 1-4 ATS in their last five home games. We’re smelling an upset and thrilled to receive more than a FG in what has all the makings of a close game!

Week 5 College Football Free Picks – Bet Stanford +5.5 over Notre Dame!