The Heisman race has taken an early-season turn. After an excellent start, Oklahoma QB John Mateer was an early leader for the award. Now, Mateer will miss up to a month after having hand surgery. This changes the landscape of college football — including the Heisman race.
Two quarterbacks who have a chance to emerge as frontrunners for the Heisman this week; both are highlighted in our Week 5 CFB DFS picks for Saturday, September 27, including our PrizePicks CFB picks this week.
Oregon QB Dante Moore has a tough challenge as No. 6 Oregon takes on No. 3 Penn State at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
What will Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed do after throwing for 364 yards and 2 TDs against Notre Dame, as No. 9 Texas A&M hosts Auburn?
Both QBs are worth a look in CFB DFS this week, along with plenty of other projections to target on PrizePicks.
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Saturday CFB DFS Picks for Week 5
Here are the top CFB DFS picks for Saturday in Week 5 of college football including Oregon vs. Penn State and Alabama vs. Georgia tonight.
Use this analysis to build your PrizePicks CFB Lineups for Saturday's Week 5 games.
Oregon QB Dante Moore Projection: 224.5 Passing Yards
No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 3 Penn State Pick – 3:30 p.m. ET
- Oregon QB Dante Moore has thrown for more than 260 yards in two of the three games.
- Moore is one of two quarterbacks — with USC QB Jayden Maiava) — who are averaging at least 10 yards per pass with a minimum of 95 attempts.
- Penn State is 1-8 at home against top 10 teams under head coach James Franklin. Oregon is currently ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll.
- Penn State is eighth in passing yards allowed per game (137.0), but they have yet to face an FBS opponent that is inside the top 100 in passing yards per game.
- According to PFF, Moore has the ninth-highest passing grade in the FBS (87.6).
- Oregon played Penn State in the 2024 Big Ten Championship, and former Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel threw for 283 yards in a 45-37 win.
Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed Projection: 307.5 Pass+Rush Yards
Auburn vs. No. 9 Texas A&M Pick – 3:30 p.m. ET
- Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed had his first 300+ passing yard game since 2023 when he threw for 361 in Week 3 against Notre Dame.
- Reed has thrown for more than 260 yards in six of his last eight games dating back to last season.
- Reed has rushed for more than 35 yards in nine straight games, including three for over 60.
- Texas A&M is one of nine teams in the FBS that are averaging over 300 passing yards and 150 rushing yards per game.
- Auburn has allowed the eighth-most 20+ yard completions this season (14).
- Auburn is 81st in rush rate over expected (2.2%).
NC State QB CJ Bailey Projection: 220.5 Passing Yards
Virginia Tech vs. NC State Pick – 7 p.m. ET
- CJ Bailey has two games with more than 300 passing yards this season.
- Of the 25 FBS quarterbacks with over 1,000 passing yards, Bailey’s 71.9% completion rate is the second-highest.
- Only seven other FBS quarterbacks have at least 1,000 passing yards with fewer than Bailey’s 128 passing attempts.
- Virginia Tech is 118th in completion percentage allowed (68.5%).
- Virginia Tech is allowing the second-most passing yards per completion in the FBS (17.0).
- Virginia Tech is 134th in EPA per pass (0.034).
USC RB Waymond Jordan Projection: 89.5 Rushing Yards
No. 21 USC vs. No. 23 Illinois Pick – 12 p.m. ET
- USC RB Waymond Jordan’s 443 rushing yards are seventh in the FBS.
- Among the 11 running backs in the FBS that have 400+ rushing yards, he’s the only one who has under 60 carries.
- Jordan is third in the FBS in yards after contact (367).
- According to PFF, Jordan’s 20 forced missed tackles are the 10th most in the FBS.
- Of the 17 Illinois defensive players who have played the most snaps against the run, 12 have recorded a missed tackle, and 7 have at least two.
- Illinois is coming off a 63-10 loss to Indiana, where they allowed 312 rushing yards.
Notre Dame RB Jadarian Price Projection: 56.5 Rushing Yards
No. 22 Notre Dame vs. Arkansas Pick – 12 p.m. ET
- Jadarian Price has more than 58 rushing yards in back-to-back games.
- While Price has fewer total yards than Notre Dame RB Jeremiah Love, he’s averaging more than a yard higher than him per carry — 6.9 to 5.5.
- In the Week 4 loss to Memphis, Arkansas allowed two players to rush for over 100 yards.
- Arkansas is 92nd in yards allowed per rush (4.7).
- Price has averaged over 5 yards per carry in 11 of his 16 games, where he has had a minimum of 6 carries.
Alabama WR Germie Bernard Projection: 64.5 Receiving Yards
No. 17 Alabama vs. No. 5 Georgia Pick – 7:30 p.m. ET
- Germie Bernard leads the team in receptions (15), receiving yards (275), and receiving TDs (3).
- Bernard has more than 58 receiving yards in 11 of his 12 games dating back to last season.
- Georgia allowed three receivers to catch for over 58 yards in the Week 4 win against Tennessee.
- Bernard has the eighth-most receiving first downs this season (12).
- Georgia allowed 23 first downs in their Week 4 game against Tennessee, the tenth-most that week.
- Georgia allowed 374 passing yards in their matchup with Alabama in 2024.
Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell Projection: 31.5 Longest Reception
No. 15 Tennessee vs. Mississippi State Pick - 4:15 p.m. ET
- Chris Brazzell has a 30+ yard reception in two of three games this season.
- Brazzell has the third-most 30+ yard receptions this season (3).
- Mississippi State has allowed only one reception over 30 yards, but two of the three FBS teams they've faced rank in the bottom 30 in 30-yard receptions.
- Mississippi State allowed two 30+ yard touchdown passes in its game against Tennessee last season.
- According to PFF, Mississippi State is 95th in strength of schedule so far this season — this poses a huge step up in class.
Make Week 5 CFB DFS Picks on PrizePicks
With two top-15 matchups, Week 5 in college football has the potential to deliver some classics as we roll into conference play with some huge games.
Whether you're watching an SEC matchup of Alabama vs. Georgia or a Big Ten battle between Oregon vs. Penn State, PrizePicks is the best way to cash in on your college football takes.
Just pick your players — including Dante Moore and Marcel Reed — predict More or Less on their stat projections, and get paid when your picks are correct in the PrizePicks CFB DFS game.
Stay locked in on the Playbook for more CFB DFS picks and college football predictions throughout the 2025 season.
