The NCAA football season is rolling on and there are two spectacular matchups on tap this week, one in the ACC and the other occurring in the Pac-12. In the first matchup spotlight from SBS, the Louisville Cardinals travel to North Carolina for a showdown with NC State. Louisville is fresh off a thrashing of Boston College, 56-28, while the Wolfpack just downed Virginia on the road, 24-21. Meanwhile, Oregon State is coming off a nail-biting loss to Washington State, 38-35 in a battle of the future Pac-2 brethren and matches up this week with the undefeated Utes of Utah. The Utes are a perfect 4-0 and have been winning games thanks to their staunch defense and consistent offense.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each team along with a predicted winner for both matchups and some more notes about NCAAF wagering.
| NCAA Football Week Five Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville at NC State | Louisville -3 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Utah at Oregon State | OSU -1.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Team Spotlight: Louisville Cardinals
Spearheaded by a balanced offense, the Cardinals average over 300 yards a game through the air while also dishing out over 230 yards rushing (237.3) per contest. Quarterback Jack Plummer has been fantastic through the air, accounting for 10 scores while also throwing for 1104 yards on the season. Running back Jawhar Jordan has been very effective on the ground this year too, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry (50 carries for 478 yards on the season) and scoring six times so far. The Cardinals have also been solid as a rushing defense, allowing just under 115 yards per game.
Team Spotlight: NC State Wolfpack
Coming off a close-call victory on the road against Virginia, NC State returns home for a battle against the Cardinals. In that game, the Wolfpack were able to use a 21-13 advantage through three quarters to stave off a Cavalier rally. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong was the key to the NC State offense as he accounted for 244 total yards, two passing scores, and also picked up some necessary first downs when needed. Wide receiver Kevin Concepcion passed the century mark with 116 yards along with two touchdown catches. While Armstrong was solid in the win on the road, he will need to be more efficient passing as he only completed 50 percent of his throws along with one pick.
Prediction: If Louisville can make Armstrong beat them through the air, then the Cardinals should be able to take this game in North Carolina.
Team Spotlight: Utah Utes
Entering this week’s contest against Oregon State, the Utes are one of the few undefeated football teams in the country at 4-0. Utah is coming off a 14-0 win over UCLA at home and has won slugfest games against the Bruins, at Baylor (20-13) and also Florida at home (24-11). Thanks to a suffocating defense (Utah allows 51 yards rushing per game), the Utes have one of the best defenses in the Pac-12. Quarterback Nate Johnson has been the main offensive threat for the Utes, scoring twice through the air, but Utah mainly relies on its defense to win football games in 2023.
Team Spotlight: Oregon State Beavers
Conversely, Oregon State has been spectacular so far this year on offense, led by former Clemson signal-caller, D.J. Uiagalelei at quarterback. Uiagalelei has thrown for over 800 yards this season while also scoring seven times through the air. In the loss at Washington State, he was limited to just 198 yards passing and one score on a 50 percent completion percentage. However, running back Deshaun Fenwick was great on the ground in the loss, accumulating 101 yards rushing, and three scores, on just 11 carries. The Beavers will need all of their offensive firepower in this game against the stout Utah defense.
Prediction: This should be an excellent contest as both squads are vying for the top of the Pac-12. Take Oregon State to win here given their slight home-field advantage.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the latest gaming news and notes coming from the world of college football, make sure to also tap into the wide variety of resources at SBS. Of course, an excellent page to keep bookmarked this season and beyond is the best college football betting sites page which goes over all of the latest betting markets and notes in NCAA football. Moreover, if you are trying to get the most out of your bets (and who isn’t), then a useful page to always check in with is our best bonus betting sites rundown which goes over all the latest welcome bonus offers available to you. Finally, another useful page is the payment methods guide which goes over all kinds of different payment options you can use for deposits and withdrawals.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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