Georgia or Alabama? Expert picks for the SEC showdown and every Top 25 game

With conference play now in full swing as we reach Week 5 on the college football calendar, we’re beginning to get more ranked-on-ranked matchups among the US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25. That means more opportunities to challenge the acumen of our staff prognosticators.

There are four such contests on the docket, including the much-anticipated SEC showdown between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. There’s another perhaps less expected battle of unbeatens in the Big Ten as No. 21 Illinois visits No. 8 Penn State.

In Big 12 action, No. 20 Oklahoma State heads to No. 25 Kansas State in what could be an early eliminator with one team guaranteed to pick up a second consecutive league loss.

Finally, a couple of teams in need of a resume booster square off as No. 14 Notre Dame hosts No. 17 Louisville that is especially critical for the Fighting Irish, who cannot afford another home loss.

Here’s how our pickers think those games and the rest of the contests involving the top 25 squads will go down.