Two Friday College Football Friday Betting Picks to Start Week 5

After an incredible week of college football, we have a slightly lighter game plan here in week five. Fortunately, the college football gods have blessed us with some fun Friday games to hold us over for the weekend.

Here are my picks for the two biggest games of the day.

Pitt vs. Virginia Tech (-3) Total: 54.5

At no point in the history of the AP Poll have two teams from power conferences 4-0 or better faced each other without being ranked. While neither team is seeded, it will still be a huge test for two teams that look incredibly similar. Both Tech and Pitt dominated their weaker non-conference opponents, but looked shaky against their power conference opponents.

Both Mason Heintschel and Ethan Grunkemeyer looked incredible against power non-conference opponents, but Grunkemeyer was the only one to shine against a tougher opponent with an impressive 31/39, 314-yard performance against a solid Maryland team. After an impressive 2025 campaign, I still believe in Heintschel, but he has to prove it this weekend in Blacksburg.

This game for me comes down to Virginia Tech’s Jeffrey Overton. The Hokies were able to lean on Overton in their first conference win of the season last week and will need him again in the biggest game yet in the James Franklin era. I like Virginia Tech to cover it and think it will be an underdog as well.

Pick: Virginia Tech -3 and u54.5

Penn State (-2.5) vs. Northwestern Total: 45.5

In this conference clash, both teams enter this game on the backs of losses, but the feelings from each loss couldn’t be more different. Northwestern knocked off the reigning national champions in Bloomington, while Penn State beat a Wisconsin team in Happy Valley by 17 points in 2025, the same number of wins that Indiana had in the previous three years.

This game is one of those that don’t think too much. Northwestern opens their new stadium on Friday night and I believe they chose to do it now because they feel they can pull off an upset against a bad Penn State team. The Nittany Lions had no business being ranked earlier this year, and I feel like Vegas is still trying to figure out that Penn State is pretty bad.

Matt Campbell brought over half of Iowa State’s roster, but I think he’s starting to learn that Big 12 talent isn’t Big Ten talent. I love Northwestern’s play in this game and I think Aidan Chiles allows Northwestern to score this one as well.

Option: Northwest +2.5 and o45.5