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AP Top 10: Picking against the spread week 5

By Charlie Lockhart

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during warm ups prior to the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on during warm ups prior to the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Washington Huskies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Week 5 picks against the spread of games involving AP Top 10 teams.

Well, I didn’t exactly set the world on fire with my picks of games involving AP Top 10 teams in week 4 but I did okay going 5-4. Two OSU teams let me down last week but there was a bright spot, I actually picked a Clemson game correctly for the second week in a row. That never happened in 2016.

Now about the OSU teams. If Ohio State doesn’t fumble twice inside the one yard line they probably score two more touchdowns and cover the spread. And how in the world did TCU slow down the high-powered Oklahoma State offense?

Oh well, it’s another week and I’ll try to do better. At least I am over .500 at 10-9.

Here are my picks involving teams ranked in the AP Top 10, week 5. There are 7 this week.

(1) Alabama by 28 over Ole Miss

This is easy, Tide rolls so give the points.

(2) Clemson by 7.5 over (12) Virginia Tech

Remember when legendary defensive coordinator Bud Foster dismantled the Ohio State offense in 2014 led by a young quarterback named J.T. Barrett? I wonder what he has up his sleeve for the young Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant. Virginia Tech and the points.

(4) Penn State by 18 over Indiana

On paper Penn State should smoke Indiana, but I think the Hoosiers are underrated and could keep the game relatively close. I’ll take Indiana and the points.

(5) USC by 4 over (16) Washington State

There is no doubt the Trojans are talented and could possibly cover the spread easily. However, the Cougars aren’t pushovers and they are playing at home. I see a close game and I’ll take Washington State and the points.

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(6) Washington by 27 over Oregon State

Still a fan of the Huskies but I don’t like the spread. Take the Beavers and the points.

(8) Georgia by 8 over Tennessee

If Georgia can’t defeat Tennessee by more than 8 points, drop the Bulldogs out of the Top 25. Give the points.

(10) Wisconsin by 15 over Northwestern

The easy choice in this game would be to pick Wisconsin to win big at home. After all, Northwestern was smoked by Duke in week 2.

But the Wildcats bounced back with a big 49-7 win versus Bowling Green and I expect them to battle the Badgers. Northwestern and the points.

Next: Couldn’t agree more with Jim Harbaugh

Those are my picks for week 5. Is it possible I could pick a Clemson game correctly for the third week in a row?

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