Week 5 is in the books and it was a TERRIBLE week for all of us. We all three went 1-4. Ant is now 16-10 while Pough sits at 14-12. Let's see if this week is any better as we both picked different in 4 of the 5 matchups.

Syracuse @ 25 UNLV

After a week of drama, UNLV put all the noise behind them and throttled Fresno State 59-14. New QB, Hajj-Malik Williams arguably looked better than the previous guy. If the Rebels are going to knock off their 3rd Power 4 team this season, they’re going to need another big game from their QB. His counter part in this game, Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord has been one of the best QBs in the country this season. He ranks in the top 10 in both passing yards and touchdowns this season. UNLVs defense ranks 11 in the country in scoring defense at 13.7 points per game. On the other side, Syracuse’s offense is averaging 34 points a game. The Syracuse defense has been porous in run defense at times, which could bode well for Brennan Marion’s go-go offense, who ranks 6th in the nation in rushing yards. There should be plenty of fireworks in this one. 

Syracuse 34 - UNLV 31, Ant

No Sluka? No problem! Hajj-Malik Williams went 13/16 for 182 and 3 TDs in the air while adding 119 yards and another TD on the ground. This team may be better offensively with Williams and the defense is everything you would think a Barry Odum led squad would be. BUT, Syracuse comes in hungry and looking to Get their second Top 25 win of the season. Kyle McCord has looked the part after a subpar season at Ohio State. The Orange come in averaging 33.8 ppg and 475.3 ypg with most of that yardage coming through the air. They have also been able to control the ball with a 53.2% 3rd Down Conversion Rate, but if they cannot pick up those rushing yards, it may be a long day. The Rebels average 45.3 ppg and 430 ypg. UNLV has been pretty bad on 3rd downs, but has used the running game to control TOP. The biggest stat in this matchup is opponents ppg. Syracuse gives up 22.5 while UNLV only gives up 13.8. Will Syracuse get Top 25 win #2 or will UNLV get their 3rd win over a P4 school? Gimme the Rebs!

UNLV 28 - Syracuse 27, Pough

9 Mizzou @ 25 Texas A&M

Mizzou leaves home for the first team and heads to a hostile environment. The Tigers are undefeated after escaping vs Vanderbilt in their last outing. Coming off a bye week Mizzou is the more rested team, but there are still concerns about this team. Brady Cook and Luther Burden haven’t quite put up the production as expected. The run game has been better than expected averaging 206 yards per game. Texas A&M rush game has been even better, averaging 231 yards per game. The pass game for the Aggies has been abysmal, ranking 116 in the country. Missouri ranks 3rd in total defense, but their strength of schedule definitely inflates those numbers. The Aggies are 34th in the nation in scoring defense while the Tigers are 8th. This should be an ugly, dogfight type of game. 

Texas A&M 24 - Mizzou 20, Ant

This is the only Top 25 matchup of the week, and I am still UNIMPRESSED! The bye week could not have come at a better time for the Tigers. Mizzou has escaped their last two games although they were big favorites in both. They travel to College Station to take on a Texas A&M squad that has been tested the last two weeks by Bowling Green and Arkansas. I am going to keep this one simple. Mizzou is holding their opponents to 12 ppg while the Aggies give up 18 ppg. Mizzou is playing their first road game of the season. Mizzou's veteran experience on offense may be the difference.

Mizzou 24 - Texas A&M 17, Pough

12 Ole Miss @ South Carolina

Ole Miss got upset in their first real test of the season against Kentucky. Now they head to South Carolina to face a rested South Carolina team that should be getting their starting QB back from injury. This game is a battle of strengths. South Carolina rushes for nearly 200 yards a game, while Ole Miss has the best run defense in the nation. South Carolina’s defense ranks 23rd in the nation in passing yards allowed, and Ole Miss is second in the nation in passing yards per game. The Rebel’s Tre Harris leads the nation in receiving yards, and transfer receiver Juice Wells will go against his former team. The Gamecocks struggle on third downs, converting 30% of their attempts, while Ole Miss defense only allows 22% of their downs. The South Carolina defensive front is one of the best in the nation, averaging 3.5 sacks a game, and Ole Miss gives up 2 sacks a game. Could Ole Miss be looking ahead to their showdown in Tiger Stadium next week? The Rebels better not take South Carolina lightly or they may be upset for the second week in a row. 

Ole Miss 31 - South Carolina 21, Ant

Was last week the norm for Ole Miss? Is South Carolina actually a good team? I think we find out this week. Until then, I only have the numbers. South Carolina is a tough place to play, but Ole Miss has an offense that is capable of silencing the crowd in a few plays. Dart is one of the most productive QBs in the SEC and Kiffin is a guru on the offensive side of the ball. LaNorris Sellers and Rocket Sanders both look to be back for this game. That's news that will make Gamecock fans happy and at least give them a fighting chance. Either way look for SC fans to blame the refs.

Ole Miss 38 - South Carolina 27, Pough

10 Michigan @ Washington 

It’s a rematch of last year’s national championship, but both programs look vastly different this season. With new coaching staffs and tons of new players for both teams, this should be more intriguing of a matchup than the championship game was. The Michigan offense has been one dimensional, ranking 129th in passing offense. Kalel Mullings has been the bell cow for the Michigan offense, as he has almost as rushing yards as the team has passing yards. Mullings averaging 108 per game on the season while The Washington defense ranks just  outside the top 50 in rushing yards allowed at 121 yards per game and is 10th in total defense. Transfer QB Will Rogers leads the 21st ranked offense. He ranks inside the top 15 in passing yards and passing efficiency, tossing 10 TDs to 0 int so far this year. On the other side, Michigan’s pass defense is 103rd in passing yards allowed. Michigan ranks lower than Washington in total defense and total offense, which is why they’re underdogs in this game. 

Washington 20 - Michigan 17, Ant

Nebraska @ Rutgers  

Something about Greg Schiano being at Rutgers makes the Scarlet Knights a legitimate football team, and Matt Rhule looks to be right at home in Lincoln. While these teams have different identities on offense, they’re very similar. The Scarlet Knights rank inside the top 50 in total offense at 428 yards a game and in scoring offense at 35 points a game. The Scarlet Knights are 12th in the country averaging 237 rushing yards per game. Nebraska averages 405 yards and 31 points a game. Freshman QB Dylan Raiola has the Huskers offense ranked 44th in pass offense at 260 yards a game. Both defenses are ranked inside the top 30 in scoring defenses, Rutgers giving up 16.3 points a game, while Nebraska gives up 12.2 points a game. Rutgers has never beaten Nebraska in their history, while Nebraska has lost 5 of their last 6 conference games. Something has to give this weekend. 

Nebraska 20 - Rutgers 18, Ant

This game should be hyped more, but locale and declining brand name have hurt this matchups visibility. Rutgers comes in fresh with their last two wins over Virginia Tech and Washington. Nebraska has been impressive with Freshman QB Raiola. Rutgers has been on fire. They haven't been this good since 2011 when they were coached by...Greg Schiano. Nebraska is averaging 30.8 ppg and 405.4 total ypg offensively. Defensively, they allow 12.2 ppg and 274.2 ypg. On the other side, Rutgers is scoring 35 ppg with 428 ypg while allowing 16.3 ppg and 352.3 ypg. If you are a football purist, both teams are fun to watch. Rutgers will look to run the ball, while Nebraska will look to pass. One question, why is Rutgers not ranked???

Rutgers 31 - Nebraska 27, Pough

Last but definitely not least, Dyll's picks of the week!