Week 5 previews split on picks for three ranked matchups

College football Week 5 coverage published ahead of Saturday’s games focused on three ranked matchups, with writers offering differing predictions against the spread and betting platforms advertising promotions for new users. The previews did not report game results, so the recommended picks remain forecasts rather than outcomes. The featured games were No. 7 Alabama at No. 16 Mississippi State, No. 5 Ohio State at No. 14 Iowa, and No. 8 Florida at No. 25 Missouri. They were part of a Saturday schedule that also included other ranked teams, including Notre Dame, Miami and BYU. The articles described the slate as containing three ranked-versus-ranked contests. Predictions split on how the point spreads would play out. For Alabama-Mississippi State, recommendations ranged from Alabama -5.5 to Mississippi State +5.5. One writer backed Alabama but said the pick depended on the line remaining at 7 points or less. The differing views reflected competing assessments of Alabama’s defense and Mississippi State’s offense after the Bulldogs’ win over Missouri, rather than any established result. Ohio State-Iowa also drew opposing spread picks.