“Picks With Nick” CFB selections ATS Week 5
Selections (for entertainment purposes only) for Florida State-Wake Forest, Iowa-Michigan State and Oklahoma State-Texas Tech included
By: Nick Camino
Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
CLEVELAND – Fresh off our hottest week of the 2017 football season “Picks With Nick” returns for Week 5 of the college football season, featuring six selections against the spread (for entertainment purposes only, of course). This weekend we will feature both college football and NFL picks where we have gone 18-13-1 (58%) ATS overall this season.
Last week in college football, “Picks With Nick” went 4-1 in CFB ATS and 4-1 in NFL ATS, totaling an 8-2 (80%) weekend overall. Yes, 80 percent!
Our picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Similar to last football season, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results weekly with full transparency seeing how we stack up against the Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off a winning first season in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and NFL combined in 2016.
“Picks With Nick” will also feature a radio segment weekly on Newsradio WTAM 1100 discussing our selections.
Below is our full slate of college football featuring six selections ATS for Week 5:
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Game: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini
Where: Champagne, Illinois – Memoiral Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: FS1
Spread: Nebraska -6.5
Nick’s Pick: This Friday evening match up in Champagne features two teams that appear to be headed in opposite directions. Mike Riley’s time at Nebraska already seems to be coming to an end with a new athletic director in charge and did we mention a recent loss at home to Northern Illinois and barely sneaking by Rutgers last week? Meanwhile, Lovie Smith is making progress with Illinois, featuring a young athletic defense. Nick’s Pick will ride Illinois +6.5.
Game: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Where: Knoxville, Tennessee – Neyland Stadium
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: CBS
Spread: Georgia -7.5
Nick’s Pick: Yes, Butch Jones is firmly on the hot season. Yes, Tennessee barely got past UMASS last week. And yes, Georgia is off to an impressive 4-0 start and ranked No. 7 in the country. The Bulldogs should win this game. But giving Tennessee over a touchdown in front of their 105,000 fans seems to provide an opportunity for a surprise cover. Nick’s Pick is Tennessee +7.5.
Game: Florida State Seminoles vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Where: Winston-Salem, North Carolina – BB&T Field
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Florida State -7.5
Nick’s Pick: Florida State is more talented on both sides of the football, but Dave Clawson’s undefeated Wake Forest team can seemingly play with anybody. Three weeks ago, it would appear the Seminoles win this game in a landslide. Now, the Demon Deacons not only have a chance to keep things close, but win this game to start the season 5-0. Nick’s Pick is Wake Forest +7.5.
Game: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Michigan State Spartans
Where: East Lansing, Michigan – Spartan Stadium
Kickoff: 4:00 pm ET
TV: FOX
Spread: Michigan State -3.5
Nick’s Pick: Both the Hawkeyes and Spartans will be looking to bounce back after tough losses a week ago, Iowa in the last-second to Penn State and Michigan State in a drubbing at the hands of Notre Dame. The difference last week is, we saw Iowa may very well be a Big Ten West contender, while the Spartans may have taken a step back from where they have been in recent years. Nick’s Pick is Iowa +3.5.
Game: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Where: Lubbock, Texas – Jones AT&T Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: FOX
Spread: Oklahoma State -10
Nick’s Pick: We learned two things about these teams last week, the Cowboys are not as good as people thought, while the Red Raiders just may be the surprise team out of the Big 12 Conference this season. Kliff Kingsbury’s team has gotten better on the defensive side of the football and with quarterback Nic Shimonek at the controls of their high-octane offense, Texas Tech is ready to hop in the spotlight. Nick’s Pick will ride the Red Raiders +10 in Lubbock Saturday night.
Game: Colorado Buffaloes vs. UCLA Bruins
Where: Pasadena, California – Rose Bowl
Kickoff: 10:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN2
Spread: UCLA -7
Nick’s Pick: Even we’ll admit this week, we’ve gotten a little underdog happy, but the better overall team is being spotted seven points in this game. Nick’s Pick is Colorado +7.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 10-9-1 (53%)
Record in NFL ATS to date: 8-4 (67%)
Total record ATS to date: 18-13-1 (58%)
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.