Bold Predictions for Week 5 College Football - 2024 CFB Outlook

Brant Henson makes three bold predictions for Week 5 of the 2024 college football season. Read more about the upcoming slate and predictions here.

It’s been a good last two weeks in the bold predictions column. After sweeping the board in Week 3, one-and-a-half of my three predictions for Week 4 hit. 

Tennessee did not run the score up in Norman as I had predicted, but it still won comfortably through stifling Oklahoma’s offensive efforts. We’ll count that as half of a win. Northwestern did not have enough defensively to hang around with Washington as I had predicted. However, I was right on Michigan getting the job done at home against Lincoln Riley’s USC team in an instant classic.

This week shapes up to be another fun one in the college football landscape. Let’s dive into bold predictions for Week 5.

Notre Dame Beats Down Louisville

The Fighting Irish have been very hit-or-miss this season. One week after losing 16-14 to Northern Illinois on its home turf, Notre Dame took down Purdue 66-7. The Irish struggled early again this past week against Miami (OH) but pulled it together for a 28-3 win.

Notre Dame will be playing with urgency on Saturday. Louisville realistically could be the only ranked team they get at home all year, and with a loss already, the margin for error to make the CFP is slim. I asked Jeff Brohm what he expects out of the Irish. To him, it's simple:… pic.twitter.com/OdhGYe7pzj

— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) September 23, 2024

Louisville beat both Notre Dame and quarterback Riley Leonard (while at Duke) last season in convincing styles. Jeff Brohm’s team can play ball, but I think the Irish come into this one ready.

This is one of the best defensive units in college football and if Leonard can refrain from turning the ball over, the Irish can run the score up. Give me Notre Dame to win this one by double digits.

Michael Hawkins Jr. Gets Sooners Rolling

Oklahoma made the tough but wise decision to bench Jackson Arnold for true freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. heading into this week’s road game against Auburn. After last week’s performance, the decision makes a lot of sense. Arnold struggled to get anything going against Tennessee, while Hawkins played with confidence once inserted into the game.

Brent Venables says on his coach’s show that Michael Hawkins will start Saturday at Auburn. #Sooners

— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) September 24, 2024

The true freshman completed 11-of-18 passes for 132 yards and a score, adding 22 yards on the ground. The Sooners need a win this week, and a reeling Auburn team presents the perfect opportunity to get right. If Hawkins remains comfortable under center, the Sooners will turn it around this week.

Illinois Secures Second Straight Road Underdog Win

The Fighting Illini are currently 19-point underdogs heading into Happy Valley on Saturday night. I’m not only predicting that Illinois covers that spread, but I’m predicting one of the upsets of the season. Going into Penn State and coming out with a win is no easy task, but this might be the perfect spot to do so.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer played the perfect game last Friday night, picking apart the Nebraska defense en route to a 21-of-27, 215-yard, four-touchdown performance. Altmyer has thrown 10 touchdowns and no interceptions this season. The Illini defense is a force to be reckoned with, and Bret Bielema is a fantastic football coach.

Penn State rolled over West Virginia and Kent State but it struggled significantly with Bowling Green at home and won by just a touchdown. Drew Allar has put up great stat lines against not-so-great defenses, but he struggled in that Bowling Green game.

Allar was not good under pressure last season, and this will by far be the hardest defense he has gone up against this year. If Illinois can get good pressure, look for Allar to make costly mistakes.

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