College football Week 5 picks: Two underdogs and three totals - ESPN

As the 2024 college football season rolls into Week 5, the landscape continues to evolve, with surprising upsets, standout performances and shifting power dynamics. This week's slate is sure to deliver more thrilling action and potentially reshape conference standings as we approach the midpoint of the regular season.

While powerhouse programs continue to dominate headlines, savvy fans and bettors can often find value in identifying promising underdogs and high-scoring affairs.

This week, we'll spotlight two underdogs poised to surprise, along with three games that could turn into offensive shootouts.

All lines current as of publication time, courtesy of ESPN BET.

Northern Illinois Huskies (+7) at NC State Wolfpack

Northern Illinois boasts one of the best offensive lines in the country. With five experienced seniors, this veteran presence has significantly contributed to the Huskies' strong run-game performance.

Antario Brown, a returning first-team All-MAC honoree, leads the Huskies backfield with 241 rushing yards, including 172 over the last two games. The running game can allow NIU to control the clock, potentially wearing down NC State's defense as the game progresses. NIU ranks seventh nationally in time of possession, and as 7-point underdogs, that could be a game-changing factor.

The Huskies' defense has also shown promise. They forced two interceptions against Notre Dame and held Buffalo to just 184 yards of total offense, their best defensive performance since October 2019. For NIU to cover the spread or potentially upset NC State, the Huskies will need to disrupt the Wolfpack's passing game through creative blitz packages or by winning individual matchups on the line.

While NC State's offense appeared