College Football Picks: Tom Collins' best bets for week five

Are you looking for a tasty Saturday night accumulator for the American football? College expert Tom Collins has three perfect accumulator picks for week five that includes the Utah Utes.

Oklahoma Sooners (-6.5) @ TCU Horned Frogs (+6.5)

Kick-off: 5pm BST Saturday

Oklahoma tumbled from sixth to 18th in the AP Polls this week after a shocking 41-34 home defeat to Kansas State last Saturday. The Wildcats recorded 509 total yards on offence, a healthy 5.6 yards per carry on the ground, and dominated time of possession (35 minutes to 25). The Sooners never led in the game and eventually succumbed to the superior team on the day.

Kansas State has become something of a bogey team for Oklahoma with six wins from their last 11 trips to Norman, so perhaps they have the Sooners’ number? Prior to that game, Oklahoma impressed in victories over Nebraska, Kent State and UTEP, albeit they boast a significantly better roster than those schools. 

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has made a fine start to his season with 1,089 yards, 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions, and his success has been replicated by running backs Eric Gray and Marcus Major, who have combined for six rushing touchdowns while averaging almost seven yards per carry. The team’s issues lie with an easily penetrable defence, which will need to tighten up this week as TCU comes to town. 

I was against the Horned Frogs in this column last week but they proved me wrong by defeating SMU 42-34, courtesy of an impressive offensive display. But they still allowed Mustangs quarterback Tanner Mordecai to complete 27 passes for 372 yards and two touchdowns, as well as three rushing scores for Tre Siggers - so they are more than susceptible to a potent offence. I like the Sooners to bounce back with a victory of seven points or more. 

Selection: Oklahoma -6.5 @ 1.88

Oregon State Beavers (+10.5) @ Utah Utes (-10.5)

Kick-off: 7pm BST Saturday

The Utah Utes had won five straight match-ups in this series before going down 42-34 to the Oregon State Beavers in October last year. That defeat sparked life into a struggling Utah side and six consecutive victories followed, including home and away wins against the ranked Oregon Ducks, that helped them to the Pac-12 South title.

Aside from star linebacker Devin Lloyd, who is now plying his trade in the NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Utah has retained the majority of its starters on both sides of the ball. And, since a heartbreaking final-minute defeat against Florida to open this season, the Utes have really impressed - as proven by an aggregate score of 142-27 over their last three games.

Oregon State also boast a 3-1 record heading into this game, but quarterback Chance Nolen’s confidence might be shattered after throwing four interceptions in a tight 17-14 loss to USC last Saturday. He now faces the Utah defence that ranks among the top ten in the country and is especially proficient at stopping the run, which will impose even more pressure on the junior signal caller.

Take Utah -10.5 here. They should continue their winning streak with a comfortable victory over their conference rivals.

Selection: Utah -10.5 @ 1.86

Iowa State Cylones (-3) @ Kansas Jayhawks (+3)

Kick-off: 8.30pm BST Saturday

Kansas plays football? Apparently so. The Jayhawks won just 11 of their 81 games between 2014 and 2021 - for years they were downright terrible - but have surprisingly begun this season 4-0 with wins against Tennessee Tech, West Virginia, Houston and Duke. 

Their upturn in fortune can be put down to better coaching and inspired play from quarterback Jalon Daniels, who has thrown 11 touchdowns and run in four more. A run-pass-option offence can be difficult to contain when the QB makes all the right calls. 

The pressure on Daniels will ramp up on Saturday as Iowa State makes the six-hour journey to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The Cyclones have won 11 of the last 12 games between these two teams, including the last seven, and will look to enhance that record as they seek their first Big 12 win of the year.

Matt Campbell’s side fell to the 17th-ranked Baylor Bears last week in a close 31-24 game - two second-half interceptions thrown by Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers made the difference. But, much like the aforementioned Utah Utes, the Cyclones possess one of the best defences in the country (currently ranked 14th in yards per game and 17th in points per game) and I expect that group to dominate once again.

Iowa State -3 is my favourite play of the week, and I certainly wouldn’t put you off taking a bigger handicap if you want more juice in the price. Kansas might be better than usual, but they are not good enough to contest with the Cyclones just yet.

Selection: Iowa State -3 @ 1.88

Recommended college football picks

Oklahoma -6.5 @ 1.88
Utah -10.5 @ 1.86
Iowa State -3 @ 1.88

Accumulator odds: 5.57 decimal, 6.57-1 fractional, +557 American