College Football Week 5: In-Depth Looks at This Week's Top 25 Matchups

Week 5 of the college football season is directly on our doorstep. Let's take the time to check out a few inter-top 25 matchups on the schedule.

In all, there are four. Alabama visits Florida in an SEC battle, while Arkansas and Texas A&M face-off in a game with future SEC implications. In the ACC, upstart Clemson travels to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech and then, in what looks to be the game-of-the-week, Nebraska makes its B1G debut against Wisconsin.

Here's a deeper look as to what we'll be seeing from each team in all four games come Saturday.

No. 14 Texas A&M vs. No. 18 Arkansas

What Texas A&M will bring to the table:

Texas A&M is a very good team coming out of the Big 12. At this point in the season they rank 17th in the nation in total offense—balanced nicely between quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Cyrus Gray.

The Aggies have a very physical defense. Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson has got to be shaking in his boots at the thought of facing these Aggies. They are the nation's most sack-hungry team, dropping opposing quarterbacks an average of 4.7 times per game.

Texas A&M is going to get pressure on Wilson early, making it difficult for him to find a rhythm, while on offense, trying to exploit a weak Arkansas run defense that gave up nearly 200 yards on the ground to Alabama.

What Arkansas will bring to the table:

The most important point here might be what exactly Arkansas isn't bringing to the table. Arkansas injury report isn't encouraging. Defensive end Tanarius Wright is out with a broken arm, and it's likely that all-SEC defensive end Jake Bequette will be unable to play, as well.

With out both bookends, Arkansas is going to need other players to step up and put pressure on Ryan Tannehill.

On offense, Arkansas has the ability to put up major points. They're ranked 17th in passing offense in the nation—an encouraging number considering they're going up against an Aggies defense that got torched for 438 yards in Week 4.

Tyler Wilson and the Arkansas offense are going to gun it early and try and get ahead because a slow start against Alabama is what plagued them in Tuscaloosa.

The common ground:

Both teams are coming off of deflating losses against ranked opponents a week ago—Texas A&M to Oklahoma State, Arkansas to Alabama.

The game is being played in Cowboys Stadium so no team has a real home field advantage. Despite being played in the Aggies home state, there is expected to be a very strong SEC contingent at the game.

Both teams being strong, physical wide receivers that will test the opposing cornerbacks throughout the game, what's going to matter is which quarterback brought his A-game.

Finally, the BCS implications are about as relevant as it gets for Week 5 of the season. Simply put, the loser can kiss their BCS at-large hopes goodbye.

Prediction: Texas A&M 24 Arkansas 20

No. 11 Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 Clemson

What Clemson will bring to the table:

Clemson has opened everyone's eyes with their performances in their last two games. The numbers are gaudy with almost 1,110 yards of total offense against Auburn and Florida State.

Quarterback Tajh Boyd has been the center-point of the Tigers offense. He currently leads the ACC in touchdowns with 13, and yards with 1,255. There's no ignoring his presence on the field, yet he's still making defenses pay.

Clemson has been incredible on third-down this year, extending drives at a 53 percent (35-of-66) clip so far.

Boyd and the Tigers may be the hottest team in the entire country, one can just wonder if they're fatigued or not.

What Virginia Tech will bring to the table:

This is Virginia Tech's first true test of the season. After opening up their schedule with four cupcakes (all of the FCS variety), the Hokies take on the Tigers in this ACC showdown.

The offense has done it's job, really getting behind the pads of running back David Wilson. It's the defense, however, that head coach Frank Beamer really hangs his hat on.

The Hokies are a stingy D. Beamer's unit has only allowed opponents to gain five-plus yards on 26.1 percent of total plays—good for second best in the FBS.

Form tackling will be the key for Virginia Tech. Clemson WR Sammy Watkins has been a killer after the catch, racking up 82 percent of his yards in the last two games in RAC.

The common ground:

This game marks Frank Beamer's 300th game as Hokies' head coach, as if the atmosphere in Blacksburg won't already be electric enough.

There's no question that Clemson brings in a considerable momentum advantage, the key will be capitalizing on it early.

The lead storyline here is clear. As both teams are the clear royalty of the ACC, who ever wins this game has the sizeable advantage in the race for the automatic BCS berth.

I'm guaranteeing this will be one of the better games that we'll see all year. 

Prediction: Virginia Tech 17 Clemson 16

No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 12 Florida

What Alabama will bring to the table:

Alabama, ground and pound. Nick Saban's Crimson Tide has one of the scariest backfield duos in the country with Trent Richardson and Eddy Lacy—Thunder and Thunder is what their called. The Tide are averaging 230.8 yards on the ground thus far in the early season.

To beat Florida, however, they're going to need A.J. McCarron to play pristine football. Against Arkansas he played well—throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over.

On defense, Alabama is stout. In fact, they're practically an NFL defense. The Tide defense has forced the most 3-and-outs than any other unit in the country with 27 on 56 drives.

Not to mention, they're the third-best run defense in the entire country. They only give up 45.8 yards per game.

What Florida will bring to the table:

The Florida Gators aren't too shabby on defense themselves. They rank fifth overall in run defense, only allowing 56.5 yards on the ground per game.

On offense, they're fast. Primarily, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. The key for them, and for the Gators, will be their ability to attack the edges of the 'Bama defense. It's important, no one's been able to do it this year.

Like Alabama, their offense is centered around the run game. The Gators lead the SEC in rushing offense with 259 yards per game. However, the play of quarterback John Brantley is what's going to be key Saturday night against Alabama.

The common ground:

The Crimson Tide are as good as advertised, and the Gators are definitely better than advertised.

The game is played in Gainesville, so don't overlook Florida's home field advantage.

The struggle is which run game is going to move the ball more efficiently against the other's stingy defense, with the x-factor coming in the turnover game. 

Here's a quick interesting stat going along with that: Florida's Jeff Demps has eight rushed of 20-plus yards this season. Alabama's defense has only given up four total plays of 20 yards or more.

Which unit breaks on Saturday night?

Prediction: Alabama 20 Florida 17

No. 8 Nebraska vs. No. 7 Wisconsin

What Nebraska will bring to the table:

Nebraska is your classic big-play offense. They just love to bust out huge plays on the ground with running back Rex Burkhead and quarterback Taylor Martinez.

Against Wisconsin, I expect them to try and slow the game down early and establish their footing in the hostile environment.

Currently, Nebraska is second in the FBS with 11 plays of 40 yards or more—just a stat to touch on my previous point.

However, on defense, the Huskers have really struggled. They sometimes just look out-of-sync with frequent missed assignments and poor technique in the run game. They'll need that to be on point against Wisconsin's lethal offense.

For Nebraska to be successful in this game, everything is going to rely on Taylor Martinez. Will he answer the call?

What Wisconsin will bring to the table:

What doesn't Wisconsin bring to the table. To me their the most complete team in the country.

Their offense ranks sixth in points (48.5) and eight in total yards (532.3), while their running game is more than respectable at 13th-best in the nation.

Just behind Nebraska's 11, Wisconsin's offense has 10 such plays of 40 yards or more themselves.

On defense, their unit ranks top 10 in three of four major categories.

Those are all just numbers—I haven't even touched on Russell Wilson yet.

The N.C. State transfer has been a rockstar for the Badgers in the early season—throwing for 11 touchdowns against one interception with over 1,110 yards.

They dominate you on the ground with running backs Montee Ball and James White, as well as Wilson's ability to move the ball with his feet.

That's what they're going to do to Nebraska. Pound the ball early, then kill them with the pass. Attack, attack, attack with their balanced game plan.

The common ground:

Both team's are ranked in the top 10 in the nation, putting the game in the national spotlight. It has drawn ESPN's College Gameday.

Home field advantage is going to be everything in this game. Despite reports of nearly 20,000 Nebraska fans expected to be in attendance, Camp Randall stadium is going to be electrifying. Just like it always is.

Like I briefly touched on before, this is Nebraska's B1G debut. Will they rise to the occasion?

This is without a doubt the premier game in Week 5 of the college football season.

Prediction: Wisconsin 34 Nebraska 20