The 2026-27 college football season rolls on with a loaded Saturday slate of games on tap! It’s time to lock in our CFB best bets today before the action gets underway. Check out these CFB picks for Saturday’s college football Week 5 slate. Without further ado, let’s jump into this week’s top CFB predictions.

CFB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: Friday, 10/3

Our CFB best bets today start with Liberty taking on Delaware in a Conference USA matchup. Plus,  Northwestern hosts Penn State in a Friday night Big Ten clash. Check out more CFB picks below for the rest of today’s action. Good luck!  

 

 

 

Ohio State vs. Iowa Prediction: Saturday, October 3rd

One of this weekend’s marquee games features a top-15 matchup between Ohio State and Iowa. The Hawkeyes are off to a 4-0 start this season following last week’s improbable comeback road win at Michigan. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are 3-1 with their only blemish being that blown lead against Texas. 

The vibes are high in Iowa with College Gameday in town this week. The victory over Michigan was certainly impressive, but the Hawkeyes might be in for a rude awakening with Ohio State coming to town. Let’s back the Buckeyes to get a convincing statement win as they cover the spread for our CFB best bets today. 

Ohio State has responded well after losing to Texas two weeks ago. The Buckeyes blew out Kent State, 59-3, and then easily handled Illinois with a 23-point victory. This is now a prime opportunity for Ryan Day’s squad to keep its foot on the gas before an upcoming tough stretch of games against Indiana, USC, and Oregon. 

The OSU offense is rolling after putting up 518 total yards vs. Illinois last game. The Buckeyes rank 6th nationally in offensive EPA/play and 11th in offensive success rate. Their potent passing attack, led by stud Jeremiah Smith, will be especially tough for Iowa to stop. The Hawkeyes allowed Michigan QB Bryce Underwood to throw for 276 yards last week, which doesn’t bode well against this OSU passing game. 

Meanwhile, Ohio State's defense can stifle Iowa’s average offense. The Hawkeyes rank 77th in the country in offensive EPA/Play and 80th in offensive success rate. They’ve especially struggled to run the ball, ranking 120th in rushing success rate. OSU, conversely, brings in a loaded defensive front that forces opponents to the air. That’s a recipe for disaster if Iowa gets behind and needs to rely on its passing. 

There’s a real letdown potential for Iowa after that come-from-behind win at Michigan. The Hawkeyes seem a bit overrated right now, especially since their only other notable win was a squeaker against a subpar Iowa State squad. It’s also worth noting that Ohio State has won the past two meetings against Iowa by final margins of 44 and 28 points. 

 

Kentucky vs. South Carolina Prediction: Saturday, October 3rd

Let’s head to the SEC for more CFB best bets today. Kentucky is 3-1 and ranked 24th in the latest AP poll. However, South Carolina is the team to back in this week’s matchup. The Gamecocks have value as slight home favorites. 

South Carolina is coming off back-to-back losses to Mississippi State and Alabama. This is now almost a must-win scenario for the 2-2 Gamecocks to keep their bowl hopes alive. They have a tough stretch over the next three games at Florida, home vs. Tennessee, and at Oklahoma. They also have to face Texas A&M, Georgia, and Clemson later in the year. 

Meanwhile, it’s worth selling high on Kentucky. The road win at A&M was impressive, but the Aggies also lost by 29 points the next week against LSU. Plus, the Wildcats’ victory over South Alabama last weekend was closer than the final scoreline suggests. This is also a potential lookahead spot for UK with a marquee home matchup against LSU up next. 

In this game, South Carolina’s offense can set the tone and make it tough for Kentucky to keep up. The Gamecocks rank 18th nationally in adjusted offensive EPA/Play and 23rd in offensive success rate. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers looks comfortable in this third year as the starter, and the rushing attack is reliable with workhorse Matt Fuller averaging 6.7 yards per carry. 

If South Carolina can get a lead and ride the run game to control the clock, Kentucky will have a tough time coming back. The Wildcats’ offense ranks 90th in adjusted EPA/Play, with a passing attack that rates 94th in the country in EPA/Pass. We saw this team have issues needing its pass game to keep up against Alabama. 

 

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