College Football Odds Week 5: Lines, Betting Trends on Biggest Games

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

10 minute read

College football odds for Week 5 include the Game of the Year so far. No surprise, it's in the SEC: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide.

It's a mega-matchup in odds for college football Week 5. The winner takes the inside track in the SEC championship chase and a bye in the College Football Playoff.

Here’s everything you need to know about the college football odds Week 5 market: opening lines, spreads and betting trends for the biggest games, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on college football Week 5 odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

College Football Odds for Week 5

Georgia vs. Alabama Odds

• Opening point spread: Georgia -3
• Opening moneyline: Georgia -135/Alabama +110
• Opening total: Over/Under 49.5 points scored
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Two-plus hours until kickoff, Georgia is laying 1 point at BetMGM. The Bulldogs opened -2.5 on Sunday, went to -1.5 Monday, and on Friday, the line briefly went to Alabama -1. But it's been stable at Georgia -1 the past day.

"Today, it's actually been one-way traffic on Georgia moneyline. I wouldn't say it's a need at all, but as it stands now, a 'Bama win would be the optimal result for the house," BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said.

Magee said the book prefers the Under, as well. The total opened at 49.5, fell to 48.5 Monday and returned to 49.5. It's now at 49.5 (Over -115).

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UPDATE 4 P.M. ET FRIDAY: With a day to go until the Game of the Year (so far), Georgia is 1-point chalk on Fanatics Sportsbook's college football Week 5 odds board. This line was pick 'em just a few minutes ago, after opening -2.5 last weekend.

"At the 2.5, it was 70/30 money in favor of Alabama. A lot of pro-Alabama action," Fanatics college football trader Ty Gour said, noting that trend has continued as the number slid down. "There's a lot of action for 'Bama to cover."

The total opened at 48.5 and made stop at 49 on the way to the current 49.5.

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET THURSDAY: A week ago, DraftKings Sportsbook opened Georgia -3 and moved to -2.5 in its college football odds Week 5 market. The line has been painted to Georgia -2 since Sunday night.

"The Tide are getting most of the action two days out. We expect that trend to hold as we get closer to kickoff," DraftKings director of sportsbook operations Johnny Avello said. "Bettors see Alabama as a home underdog with one of the best coaches and quarterbacks in the country, and [they] jump at the opportunity to take that plus sign."

Avello was speaking not just to the +2 on the spread, but Alabama's +105 moneyline price.

DraftKings' total opened at 49.5, peaked at 50 Monday, then quickly fell back to -48.5 and hasn't moved since. The Over is seeing 65% of early tickets, while 65% of early cash is on the Under.

UPDATE 6 P.M. ET MONDAY: No. 2 Georgia (3-0 SU/1-2 ATS) got perhaps a well-timed early bye in Week 4, after a struggle session in Week 3. The Bulldogs closed as 21.5-point favorites at Kentucky, but narrowly escaped with a 13-12 victory.

On the flip side, No. 4 Alabama has been nothing but impressive while going 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS. The Crimson Tide also had a Week 4 bye, after crushing Wisconsin 42-10 as 14.5-point road favorites in Week 3.

Georgia vs. Alabama is already on the move in the college football odds Week 5 market at TwinSpires Sportsbook. The Bulldogs opened -3 and made a stop at -2 on the way to -1.5. Georgia is seeing 59% of early spread tickets, while 64% of early spread money is on Alabama.

"Sharp play on Alabama +3 right as we opened," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

The total dipped from 49.5 to 48.5 in the early going, with 57% of tickets/66% of money on the Under.

Illinois vs. Penn State Odds

• Opening point spread: Penn State -17
• Opening moneyline: Penn State -955/+585
• Opening total: Over/Under 48 points scored
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (NBC)

UPDATE 5:15 P.M. ET SATURDAY: BetMGM moved Penn State from -17.5 to -17 Monday, then rebounded to -17.5/-18 Tuesday. The Nittany Lions have been at -17.5 (-115) since Wednesday afternoon.

"Plenty of backers on Illinois +17.5. We'll be rooting for James Franklin and Penn State. We would prefer a low-scoring affair, as well," BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said.

The total has been stable at 47.5 this week, with only a juice adjustment Wednesday to Over -115. It returned to 47.5 flat this morning.

UPDATE 4 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Penn State hit Fanatics Sportsbook's college football odds Week 5 market as a 17.5-point favorite and is up to -18. But that's proving to be a resistance point.

"Our bettors are pushing back on that. It's 85/15 money on the spread, and tickets are about the same as that, as well," Fanatics trader Ty Gour said. "A lot of people seem to be buying into this being a two-score game."

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET THURSDAY: DraftKings spent Sunday/Monday/Tuesday toggling between Penn State -17.5 and -18. The spread has been stable at Nittany Lions -18 since mid-Tuesday morning.

It's all Illinois action early, with 88% of spread tickets and 89% of dollars on the Fighting Illini.

The total went from 47.5 to 48 a couple times early in the week and has been at 47.5 since Wednesday night. The Over is getting 74% of tickets, while 65% of money is on the Under.

UPDATE 6 P.M. ET MONDAY: No. 10 Penn State (3-0 SU/2-1 ATS) had all sorts of trouble with Bowling Green in Week 2, escaping with a 34-27 victory as massive 34-point home chalk. The Nittany Lions then had a bye in Week 3, which seemed to right the ship.

In Week 4, Penn State drilled Kent State 56-0 laying 49 points at home.

No. 24 Illinois (4-0 SU/3-0-1 ATS) is perhaps one of the early-season surprises. The Fighting Illini traveled to Nebraska as 9.5-point underdogs in Week 4 and notched a 31-24 overtime victory.

Still, Penn State opened as a healthy 17-point favorite vs. Illinois in TwinSpires Sportsbook's college football Week 5 odds market. And the Nittany Lions are already up a notch to -17.5.

However, Illinois is attracting 75% of early spread tickets/65% of early spread money.

"It feels like everyone is lining up to grab the over-two-touchdown spread in this matchup and taking the 'dog," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said. "We saw some sharp play on Penn State -17. This could end up being Pros vs. Joes here."

The total nudged from 48 to 47.5 early, but it's now 48.5.

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Louisville vs. Notre Dame Odds

• Opening point spread: Notre Dame -5
• Opening moneyline: Notre Dame -210/Louisville +170
• Opening total: Over/Under 48 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (Peacock)

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: An hour before kickoff, Notre Dame is out to -7 in BetMGM's college football odds Week 5 market. The Fighting Irish opened -5.5 and initially backed up to -4.5 Sunday night.

But it's been a steady climb since, to Notre Dame -5.5/-6 Monday, -6.5 Wednesday and -7 Friday. The spread backed up to Irish -6.5 this morning before returning to -7.

"Sharps pushed us to Notre Dame -5.5. We're gonna need the Cardinals +6.5. And Louisville outright kills a ton of teasers and parlays," BetMGM trading manager Seamus Magee said.

The total is down to 45.5 from a 48.5 opener, with multiple stops along the way this week.

"Great two-way action there, though the sharps definitely like the Under," Magee said.

UPDATE 4 P.M. ET FRIDAY: The total got the attention of Fanatics Sportsbook college football trader Ty Gour. It opened at 48.5 and got down to 45.5, and it's now at 46.5.

"A lot of action on the Under when we were at 47.5," Gour said, noting sharp play was part of that action.

As for the spread, Notre Dame opened -5 and is out to -6.5. Gour said spread and moneyline dollars are running almost 2/1 in favor of the Fighting Irish.

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET THURSDAY: DraftKings Sportsbook pegged Notre Dame 5.5-point chalk to open and within a couple hours Sunday. But the line bounced up on Monday, spending much of the day toggling between Fighting Irish -6/-6.5.

Notre Dame has been steady at -6.5 since Wednesday afternoon. It's solid two-way action early on the spread, with 53% of tickets and money on the Irish.

The moneyline, currently at Notre Dame -245/Louisville +200, is seeing 56% of tickets on the Irish and 71% of money on the Cardinals.

DraftKings opened the total at 48 and made its way down to 45 by Wednesday morning. The total is now at 46 in DK's college football odds Week 5 market, with 70% of tickets on the Over/78% of cash on the Under.

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UPDATE 6 P.M. ET MONDAY: No. 17 Notre Dame (3-1 SU/2-2 ATS) rebounded from its stunning Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois by posting consecutive blowouts. The Fighting Irish trashed Purdue 66-7 laying 7 points on the road in Week 3, then beat Miami-Ohio 28-3 giving 27.5 points in Week 4.

No. 19 Louisville (3-0 SU and ATS) takes a big step up in class this week, as an underdog for the first time this season. In Week 4, the Cardinals were 8.5-point home favorites vs. Georgia Tech and won 31-19.

TwinSpires Sportsbook opened the Irish -5 and is already out to -6.5, with a stop at -6 along the way. But both sides are seeing action, with 64% of early spread tickets on Louisville/59% of early spread money on Notre Dame.

"With half our books being in Kentucky, we typically see bias toward Louisville. Sharp play came in and grabbed Notre Dame -5. We'll likely see this line go back down, as money will come in on the Cardinals later in the week," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

The total inched from 48 to 47.5 early in TwinSpires' college football week 5 odds. The Under is seeing 58% of tickets/52% of money.

Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State Odds

• Opening point spread: Kansas State -6
• Opening moneyline: Kansas State -230/Oklahoma State +185
• Opening total: Over/Under 54.5 points scored
• Time: Noon ET Saturday (ESPN)

UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Kansas State hit DraftKings Sportsbook's college football odds Week 5 market at -3 Sunday. The line quickly shot up to Wildcats -4.5 and by Sunday night was out to -5.5.

On Monday, K-State got to -6, but the line regressed to -4.5 by Tuesday. The Wildcats advanced to -5 Wednesday and -5.5/-6 this morning. Opinion is split on the spread, with 61% of tickets on Oklahoma State/61% of money on Kansas State.

On the moneyline, tickets and dollars are practically dead even.

DraftKings opened the total at 52.5, and it's been on the rise all week. The number got to 55.5 by Monday, 56.5 Thursday and is now at its peak of 58. However, action isn't ridiculous to the Over, at 59% of tickets/56% of money.

UPDATE 4 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Fanatics Sportsbook went from Kansas State -3 to as far as -6 this week, and the line has been at -5 since Thursday night.

"There are more tickets on Oklahoma State, about two-thirds of tickets. But the bigger money is on Kansas State," Fanatics trader Ty Gour said, noting the Wildcats are taking 65% of spread dollars.

Fanatics' total is all the way out to 57.5 from a 52 opener.

"Huge move there. A lot of Over action," Gour said, pointing to a 70/30 money split in favor of the Over.

UPDATE 1 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Kansas State opened -3 Sunday afternoon at DraftKings Sportsbook and stretched to -5.5 by Sunday night. The Wildcats touched -6 multiple times Monday, but slid down to -4.5 by Tuesday morning.

K-State went to -5 Wednesday morning, with no movement since. Oklahoma State is taking 58% of early spread tickets, while 69% of early spread cash is on Kansas State.

The total climbed from 52.5 to 55.5 by Monday morning in DK's college football Week 5 odds. It's been stable at 55 since Wednesday afternoon, with 66% of tickets/66% of dollars on the Over.

UPDATE 6 P.M. ET MONDAY: Both these teams lost in Week 4 and can ill afford another setback if they hope to stay in the CFP chase.

No. 20 Oklahoma State (3-1 SU/2-2 ATS) didn't have to face QB Cam Rising in its meeting with then-No. 12 Utah, but it didn't matter. The Cowboys dug themselves into a 22-3 hole with 6:21 remaining in the game, and a late rally fell short in a 22-19 loss as 1-point home favorites.

Meanwhile, No. 23 Kansas State (3-1 SU/1-3 ATS) went to BYU as 7.5-point chalk and got run out of Provo 38-9.

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TwinSpires Sportsbook opened Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State at Wildcats -6, and it's down to -5.5. It's two-way spread play, with 59% of tickets on the Wildcats/55% of money on the Cowboys.

"Sharp play on Oklahoma State +6," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said, before addressing the total. "The public loves the Over in this spot."

The total hasn't moved off 54.5 in TwinSpires' college football odds Week 5 market. But the Over is landing 67% of early tickets/74% of early money.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson