College football upset picks: Alabama and 5 teams on upset alert in Week 5

College football upset pick No. 1: Alabama Crimson Tide

Rank: 1 | Opponent: 12 Ole Miss Rebels | Time: Saturday, Oct. 2, 3:30 p.m. ET

This game has been circled since schedules were released and it’s not difficult to see why. Amid Alabama’s dominant run to another National Championship Game rout last year, one of the only teams to truly test the Crimson Tide in the regular season was the Ole Miss Rebels as they got them into an absolute barn-burner that ended 63-48 in favor of Bama.

Now entering this season, Ole Miss hasn’t been truly battle-tested yet but has looked the part of a team that is every bit as explosive as they were last season with Matt Corral leading Lane Kiffin’s offense but that has also improved in the trenches and overall defensively. The Rebels are not a fluke as the No. 12 team in the country.

For their part, the Crimson Tide have passed their early tests as well. They beat Miami handily in Week 1 and then outlasted Florida as the Gators controlled the second half in trying to mount a comeback. But that game may have provided the blueprint for why Ole Miss, a team that is a two-touchdown underdog coming into Tuscaloosa, can upset Alabama.

Alabama jumped out to an early lead against Florida but Dan Mullen’s offensive adjustments and the defense shoring up holes allowed the Gators to climb back. Moreover, Bill O’Brien didn’t make the same tweaks and Bama’s offense somewhat stalled. Lane Kiffin is more than capable of making those similar adjustments and keep the heat on the Crimson Tide and demand they answer. And whether or not Alabama can do that might determine the outcome.

Yes, Nick Saban is 23-0 against former assistants. But there is a very real chance that streak ends on Saturday.

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