Best Week 5 CFB Picks for DFS, PrizePicks – Saturday, October 3

Week 5 of the college football season is here with conference play in full swing. With 10 teams ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll, the SEC has more must-see matchups ahead, including #7 Alabama vs. #16 Mississippi State. In the Big Ten, #5 Ohio State visits #14 Iowa at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.

For today’s college football schedule that features three top-25 matchups, star players will have their chance to make a statement. But which players have favorable matchups to shine in Week 5? 

Let’s jump into our best Week 5 CFB DFS picks for PrizePicks, where you can predict More or Less on college football player stats to earn real money if you’re right.

Make your college football predictions and picks on PrizePicks now! 

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Week 5 CFB DFS Picks for PrizePicks – Saturday, October 3

We’ll navigate the best college football DFS picks for two top-25 games, including #5 Ohio State vs. #14 Iowa and #8 Florida vs. #25 Missouri. Then, we’ll highlight #24 Kentucky vs. South Carolina and Rutgers playing host to #6 Indiana.

Here are the top Week 5 CFB DFS picks to target on PrizePicks on Saturday, October 3. Today’s college football picks for PrizePicks include WR Jeremiah Smith, QB Kenny Minchey, and more.

Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith vs. Iowa: 123.5 Receiving Yards

• I made the mistake of fading Jeremiah Smith’s receptions last week, and that led to the superstar wideout racking up career highs with 12 catches for 217 receiving yards and 4 TDs in a 42-19 win vs. Illinois. 
• After surpassing 150 receiving yards in three of his first four games, Smith has the shortest payout to win the Heisman Trophy (3.57x) on PrizePicks.
• In a thrilling last-second 20-19 win over Michigan, Iowa allowed 276 passing yards and 9.9 yards per passing attempt against a Wolverine attack that’s sputtered for most of the season.
• According to Game on Paper, Iowa has yielded 0.00 EPA per passing attempt (60th percentile) and 7.1 yards per passing attempt (55th percentile). 
• Furthermore, Fourth and Short credit the Hawkeyes with giving up a 1.79 explosiveness rating against the pass (13th percentile) — which measures predicted points added per successful passing attempt.
• Ohio State has struggled on the ground at times, producing 4.3 yards per carry (69th percentile) compared to 11.0 yards per passing attempt (98th percentile). 
• Smith is the engine of the offense, racking up a ridiculous 18.7 yards per catch on a healthy volume of 11.8 targets per game. 
• Among Big Ten receivers with at least 20 targets (28-player sample size), Smith’s 15.9 average depth of target (aDOT) ranks third, per Pro Football Focus. His 5.51 yards per route run leads the conference by a wide margin, with the next-best mark held by Indiana WR Charlie Becker (4.25).

Pick Jeremiah Smith + Ohio State to win on PrizePicks.

Missouri QB Austin Simmons vs. Florida: 246.5 Pass Yards

• Florida’s offense with 54.0 PPG (first nationally) and 7.3 yards per play (fifth nationally) is rightfully generating buzz. However, the Gators defense can be had considering they allow 29.3 PPG (41st percentile) and 0.06 EPA per play (32nd percentile).
• Austin Simmons comes off a solid performance in a 31-24 loss vs. Mississippi State, totaling 295 passing yards, 7.6 yards per passing attempt, and 3 passing TDs.
• While his 7.7% big-time throw rate was his best mark of the season, Simmons was fortunate to log no turnovers with 4 turnover-worthy plays. Meanwhile, Florida forces 2.0 takeaways per contest (90th percentile).
• The #25 Missouri Tigers enter Saturday as 5.5-point underdogs with a high 57.5 over/under on PrizePicks. A negative game script in a fast-paced game could be ahead, and Simmons logged a season-high 39 passing attempts in Week 4.
• The Gators concede 6.9 yards per passing attempt (59th percentile) and gave up 8.8 in last week’s 52-28 win over Ole Miss. Considering Florida’s 50.8% pass success rate allowed (20th percentile), Simmons could put up gaudy stats with enough volume.
• Simmons has surpassed this projection in three of four games this season. 

Add Austin Simmons to your PrizePicks lineup.

Kentucky QB Kenny Minchey vs. South Carolina: 210.5 Pass Yards

• After allowing 41 points and 393 total yards vs. Mississippi State two weeks ago, South Carolina surrendered 49 points and 489 yards vs. Alabama in Week 4.
• The Gamecocks’ pass defense is a major concern at this point, giving up 9.6 and 13.5 yards per passing attempt in their last two games. USC is allowing 9.1 yards per passing attempt (12th percentile) and a 47.0% pass success rate (35th percentile) on the season.
• Adding insult to injury, South Carolina superstar EDGE Dylan Stewart is suspended indefinitely following altercations in last week’s 49-18 loss.
• The Gamecocks’ 7.23% sack rate (70th percentile) and 19.1% havoc rate (80th percentile) have been clear strengths, perhaps preventing this pass defense from completely unraveling. But without Stewart’s 6 pressures over two games, USC’s havoc rating could decline.
• That’s likely music to Kenny Minchey’s ears, as Kentucky has given up a 19.5% havoc rate (13th percentile) on offense.
• When Minchey has time to throw, he’s efficient with 8.6 yards per passing attempt. Further, his low 7.4 aDOT helps get the ball out fast to avoid pass rushes. 
• The Wildcats lean on a 56.70% rush-play rate (72nd percentile), but South Carolina has a solid 24.3% stuff rate (83rd percentile) on defense that could pose problems.
• Following season-best adjusted completion percentages of 94.1% and 83.3% over his last two games. Minchey could thrive with 219.0 passing yards per game this season.

Pick More or Less for Kenny Minchey’s pass yards on PrizePicks.

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Rutgers WR KJ Duff vs. Indiana: 75.5 Receiving Yards 

• Rutgers is likely bound to finish as one of the Big Ten’s worst teams, carrying a 1-3 record, but KJ Duff has done everything in his power to contribute with 137.5 receiving yards and 1.8 receiving TDs per game.
• Duff posted 7 catches for 86 receiving yards and 1 TD vs. USC, followed by 5 catches for 131 receiving yards and 1 TD in last week’s win vs. Howard.
• Week 5 presents Duff’s most difficult challenge yet vs. #6 Indiana, which ranks eighth nationally in adjusted EPA per play (+0.31).
• Duff, who currently ranks 37th on NFL Mock Draft Database’s 2027 consensus big board, carries 4.14 yards per route run and a 15.3 aDOT, ranking third and fifth among Big Ten WRs with at least 20 targets this season.
• Indiana’s pass defense looked vulnerable last week, conceding 293 passing yards and 9.8 yards per passing attempt. The Hoosiers allow 6.9 yards per passing attempt (60th percentile) and a 42.7% pass success rate (59th percentile) on the season. 
• According to PrizePicks, Rutgers is a 24.5-point underdog, meaning a negative game script is likely ahead. That should further add to the Scarlet Knights’ 53.11% pass-play rate (75th percentile).

Add KJ Duff to your PrizePicks lineup.

Make Week 5 College Football Picks on PrizePicks

Jeremiah Smith and KJ Duff could be headed for more standout games in Big Ten play, while Kenny Minchey and Austin Simmons look to keep up their solid play in SEC matchups.

Don’t wait until kickoff — make college football picks on PrizePicks now. Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in on your predictions if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders — now available in 36 states!

Keep it here with the Playbook for continued CFB picks, predictions, futures, and more all the way through the 2026 College Football Playoff.