Does the most talented team always win in college football? Absolutely not. There are many factors that contribute to which team wins and which loses in a game, including coaching, home-field advantage, injuries, disciplinary issues, and much more.
Nevertheless, talent is widely considered the most important factor, and it’s worth researching which team has the strongest roster – at least on paper – before kickoff. That’s why we explore the talent advantage in every FBS vs. FBS game using CFB Winning Edge’s Roster Strength ratings, the average rating for every player in the 247Sports Composite, and the overall team point totals compiled in the 247Sports Team Talent Composite.
Here’s how those matchups grade out ahead of Week 5:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
Duke at Virginia Tech (-2.5)
Roster Strength: Duke 84.82 (35), Virginia Tech 84.75 (37)
247Sports Rating: Virginia Tech .8624 (22), Duke .8485 (34)
Team Talent Composite: Virginia Tech 696.41 (29), Duke 633.24 (44)
Penn State (-6.5) at Maryland
Roster Strength: Penn State 86.08 (25), Maryland 85.27 (29)
247Sports Rating: Penn State .8874 (11), Maryland .8557 (27)
Team Talent Composite: Penn State 857.34 (10), Maryland 703.94 (27)
San Jose State at Air Force (-19.5)
Roster Strength: San Jose State 78.25 (110), Air Force 77.61 (118)
247Sports Rating: San Jose State .7823 (104), Air Force .7428 (129)
Team Talent Composite: San Jose State 427.04 (96), Air Force 151.86 (131)
Arizona State at Cal (-4.5)
Roster Strength: Arizona State 86.05 (23), Cal 82.35 (69)
247Sports Rating: Arizona State .8550 (28), Cal .8298 (59)
Team Talent Composite: Arizona State 691.58 (30), Cal 611.58 (50)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
Texas Tech at Oklahoma (-27.5)
Roster Strength: Oklahoma 90.20 (4), Texas Tech 82.54 (62)
247Sports Rating: Oklahoma .8982 (5), Texas Tech .8255 (63)
Team Talent Composite: Oklahoma 869.53 (8), Texas Tech 577.21 (61)
Northwestern at Wisconsin (-24.5)
Roster Strength: Wisconsin 85.15 (42), Northwestern 83.62 (44)
247Sports Rating: Wisconsin .8461 (36), Northwestern .8412 (42)
Team Talent Composite: Wisconsin 675.80 (33), Northwestern 612.62 (49)
Middle Tennessee at Iowa (-23)
Roster Strength: Iowa 83.84 (46), Middle Tennessee 80.56 (83)
247Sports Rating: Iowa .8409 (43), Middle Tennessee .7960 (88)
Team Talent Composite: Iowa 637.65 (43), Middle Tennessee 451.24 (91)
Rutgers at Michigan (-27.5)
Roster Strength: Michigan 88.53 (6), Rutgers 80.93 (78)
247Sports Rating: Michigan .8702 (18), Rutgers .8322 (55)
Team Talent Composite: Michigan 853.40 (11), Rutgers 587.28 (58)
Texas A&M (-23.5) vs. Arkansas (In Arlington, TX.)
Roster Strength: Texas A&M 86.80 (16), Arkansas 84.56 (40)
247Sports Rating: Texas A&M .8810 (15), Arkansas .8557 (26)
Team Talent Composite: Texas A&M 848.89 (12), Arkansas 707.72 (26)
Northern Illinois at Vanderbilt (-6.5)
Roster Strength: Vanderbilt 84.20 (41), Northern Illinois 82.02 (57)
247Sports Rating: Vanderbilt .8356 (52), Northern Illinois .7890 (96)
Team Talent Composite: Vanderbilt 603.40 (53), Northern Illinois 397.98
Kansas at TCU (-15.5)
Roster Strength: TCU 84.40 (38), Kansas 82.75 (63)
247Sports Rating: TCU .8481 (35), Kansas .8131 (69)
Team Talent Composite: TCU 691.26 (31), Kansas 533.25 (73)
BYU (-2.5) at Toledo
Roster Strength: BYU 82.16 (73), Toledo 80.45 (89)
247Sports Rating: Toledo .8065 (73), BYU .8062 (74)
Team Talent Composite: BYU 567.47 (65), Toledo 449.42 (92)
Buffalo (-2.5) at Miami (OH.)
Roster Strength: Miami OH 77.11 (119), Buffalo 74.42 (129)
247Sports Rating: Miami OH .7969 (86), Buffalo .7751 (117)
Team Talent Composite: Miami OH 356.75 (108), Buffalo 283.73 (127)
Central Michigan at Western Michigan (-17.5)
Roster Strength: Western Michigan 84.18 (36), Central Michigan 76.85 (121)
247Sports Rating: Western Michigan .8018 (79), Central Michigan .7967 (87)
Team Talent Composite: Western Michigan 447.77 (93), Central Michigan 416.27 (94)
Clemson (-27) at North Carolina
Roster Strength: Clemson 91.23 (3), North Carolina 83.77 (49)
247Sports Rating: Clemson .8816 (14), North Carolina .8585 (25)
Team Talent Composite: Clemson .863.03 (9), North Carolina 697.75 (28)
Ole Miss at Alabama (-38)
Roster Strength: Alabama 91.18 (1), Ole Miss 85.39 (28)
247Sports Rating: Alabama .9224 (1), Ole Miss .8570 (25)
Team Talent Composite: Alabama 984.96 (1), Ole Miss 717.98 (25)
Virginia at Notre Dame (-12.5)
Roster Strength: Notre Dame 86.94 (17), Virginia 83.41 (59)
247Sports Rating: Notre Dame .8869 (12), Virginia .8355 (53)
Team Talent Composite: Notre Dame 843.29 (14), Virginia 580.28 (59)
USC at Washington (-10.5)
Roster Strength: Washington 87.27 (14), USC 85.99 (27)
247Sports Rating: USC .8922 (8), Washington .8859 (13)
Team Talent Composite: USC 915.56 (4), Washington 801.33 (19)
Indiana at Michigan State (-14)
Roster Strength: Michigan State 85.79 (26), Indiana 82.42 (67)
247Sports Rating: Michigan State .8531 (31), Indiana .8438 (38)
Team Talent Composite: Michigan State 688.74 (32), Indiana 604.20 (54)
FAU at Charlotte (-1)
Roster Strength: FAU 80.44 (86), Charlotte 79.07 (101)
247Sports Rating: FAU .7990 (85), Charlotte .7728 (120)
Team Talent Composite: FAU 524.99 (75), Charlotte 389.37 (101)
Georgia Tech at Temple (-9)
Roster Strength: Temple 82.22 (73), Georgia Tech 79.05 (99)
247Sports Rating: Georgia Tech .8356 (49), Temple .8043 (76)
Team Talent Composite: Georgia Tech 629.10 (45), Temple 490.46 (78)
Wake Forest (-7) at Boston College
Roster Strength: Wake Forest 84.48 (58), Boston College 81.75 (75)
247Sports Rating: Wake Forest .8328 (54), Boston College .8313 (57)
Team Talent Composite: Boston College 564.95 (64), Wake Forest 563.09 (66)
Iowa State (-3) at Baylor
Roster Strength: Baylor 86.53 (19), Iowa State 83.67 (52)
247Sports Rating: Baylor .8488 (33), Iowa State .8376 (47)
Team Talent Composite: Baylor 668.90 (35), Iowa State 597.15 (55)
Minnesota (-1.5) at Purdue
Roster Strength: Minnesota 83.89 (45), Purdue 81.08 (80)
247Sports Rating: Minnesota .8436 (39), Purdue .8358 (50)
Team Talent Composite: Minnesota 621.36 (46), Purdue 607.40 (51)
Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State (-15.5)
Roster Strength: Appalachian State 81.30 (77), Coastal Carolina 74.58 (130)
247Sports Rating: Appalachian State .7776 (115), Coastal Carolina .7601 (127)
Team Talent Composite: Appalachian State 416.93 (100), Coastal Carolina 302.32 (125)
Akron (-7.5) at Massachusetts
Roster Strength: Akron 77.26 (117), UMass 76.76 (122)
247Sports Rating: UMass .7787 (111), Akron .7714 (123)
Team Talent Composite: UMass 355.62 (109), Akron 308.49 (124)
SMU (-7.5) at USF
Roster Strength: SMU 84.83 (35), USF 82.42 (71)
247Sports Rating: USF .8253 (64), SMU .8101 (72)
Team Talent Composite: SMU .563.62 (65), USF 559.66 (69)
Cincinnati (-3.5) at Marshall
Roster Strength: Cincinnati 82.17 (74), Marshall 79.89 (92)
247Sports Rating: Cincinnati .8154 (68), Marshall .7997 (84)
Team Talent Composite: Cincinnati 576.61 (62), Marshall 489.63 (81)
New Mexico at Liberty (-7)
Roster Strength: New Mexico 78.32 (103), Liberty 78.46 (105)
247Sports Rating: New Mexico .7858 (98), Liberty .7352 (130)
Team Talent Composite: New Mexico 322.60 (121), Liberty 137.67 (134)
East Carolina at Old Dominion (-3)
Roster Strength: East Carolina 78.83 (91), Old Dominion 76.86 (120)
247Sports Rating: East Carolina .8005 (82), Old Dominion .7781 (114)
Team Talent Composite: East Carolina 468.23 (85), Old Dominion 373.58 (110)
Arkansas State at Troy (-7)
Roster Strength: Troy 78.65 (95), Arkansas State 78.71 (98)
247Sports Rating: Arkansas State .7922 (93), Troy .7913 (94)
Team Talent Composite: Arkansas State 456.84 (89), Troy 376.68 (105)
Louisiana (-3.5) at Georgia Southern
Roster Strength: Louisiana 79.78 (97), Georgia Southern 77.84 (113)
247Sports Rating: Louisiana .7808 (107), Georgia Southern .7821 (105)
Team Talent Composite: Louisiana 396.80 (107), Georgia Southern 405.82 (102)
Mississippi State at Auburn (-10.5)
Roster Strength: Mississippi State 87.28 (13), Auburn 86.39 (22)
247Sports Rating: Texas A&M .8810 (15), Mississippi State .8599 (23)
Team Talent Composite: Auburn 843.93 (13), Mississippi State 732.68 (23)
Connecticut at UCF
Roster Strength: UCF 85.33 (33), Connecticut 77.23 (116)
247Sports Rating: UCF .8292 (60), Connecticut .7874 (97)
Team Talent Composite: UCF 606.87 (52), Connecticut 412.55 (101)
Kansas State at Oklahoma State (-4.5)
Roster Strength: Oklahoma State 83.34 (54), Kansas State 82.73 (64)
247Sports Rating: Oklahoma State .8407 (45), Kansas State .8107 (71)
Team Talent Composite: Oklahoma State 644.42 (38), Kansas State 550.75 (72)
South Alabama at ULM (-16)
Roster Strength: ULM 80.53 (85), South Alabama 77.68 (109)
247Sports Rating: South Alabama .7839 (102), ULM .7785 (112)
Team Talent Composite: South Alabama 366.87 (107), ULM 346.03 (116)
UTEP at Southern Miss (-26)
Roster Strength: Southern Miss 78.93 (102), UTEP 76.12 (126)
247Sports Rating: Southern Miss .7843 (100), UTEP.7668 (126)
Team Talent Composite: Southern Miss 456.23 (84), UTEP 355.31 (115)
UAB (-3) at WKU
Roster Strength: UAB 79.46 (96), WKU 79.07 (108)
247Sports Rating: WKU .7935 (91), UAB .7842 (101)
Team Talent Composite: WKU 490.01 (78), UAB 435.97 (94)
Louisiana Tech (-8.5) at Rice
Roster Strength: Louisiana Tech 83.49 (54), Rice 75.16 (128)
247Sports Rating: Louisiana Tech .8047 (75), Rice .7783 (113)
Team Talent Composite: Louisiana Tech 493.27 (77), Rice 396.33 (98)
Stanford (-4) at Oregon State
Roster Strength: Stanford 85.49 (31), Oregon State 83.18 (60)
247Sports Rating: Stanford .8661 (21), Oregon State .8279 (61)
Team Talent Composite: Stanford 787.59 (20), Oregon State 593.90 (57)
Ohio State (-17) at Nebraska
Roster Strength: Ohio State 91.60 (2), Nebraska 84.29 (39)
247Sports Rating: Ohio State .9169 (2), Nebraska .8534 (30)
Team Talent Composite: Ohio State 973.56 (2), Nebraska 729.47 (24)
NC State at Florida State (-6.5)
Roster Strength: Florida State 87.47 (10), NC State 82.52 (68)
247Sports Rating: Florida State .8938 (6), NC State .8452 (37)
Team Talent Composite: Florida State 878.07 (6), NC State 668.85 (36)
Kentucky at South Carolina (-3)
Roster Strength: South Carolina 86.65 (20), Kentucky 82.15 (66)
247Sports Rating: South Carolina .8711 (17), Kentucky .8419 (41)
Team Talent Composite: South Carolina 762.68 (21), Kentucky 672.74 (34)
Colorado State at Utah State (-24.5)
Roster Strength: Utah State 82.30 (65), Colorado State 80.86 (87)
247Sports Rating: Colorado State .8041 (77), Utah State .7727 (122)
Team Talent Composite: Colorado State 518.83 (76), Utah State 431.29 (95)
UNLV at Wyoming (-9.5)
Roster Strength: UNLV 81.29 (79), Wyoming 77.43 (104)
247Sports Rating: UNLV .7908 (95), Wyoming .7811 (106)
Team Talent Composite: 458.44 (87), Wyoming 403.00 (103)
Fresno State (-18) at New Mexico State
Roster Strength: Fresno State 80.52 (84), New Mexico State 79.95 (91)
247Sports Rating: Fresno State .8017 (80), New Mexico State .7706 (125)
Team Talent Composite: Fresno State 480.34 (83), New Mexico State 286.72 (125)
Houston at North Texas (-7.5)
Roster Strength: Houston 81.68 (30), North Texas 82.09 (74)
247Sports Rating: Houston .8243 (65), North Texas .7959 (89)
Team Talent Composite: Houston 595.51 (56), North Texas 457.24 (82)
Washington State at Utah (-5.5)
Roster Strength: Utah 84.60 (18), Washington State 83.39 (61)
247Sports Rating: Utah .8358 (51), Washington State .8216 (66)
Team Talent Composite: Utah 619.00 (47), Washington State 556.27 (70)
UCLA at Arizona (-6.5)
Roster Strength: Arizona 86.30 (20), UCLA 85.02 (33)
247Sports Rating: UCLA .8543 (29), Arizona .8265 (62)
Team Talent Composite: UCLA 741.97 (22), Arizona 570.89 (63)
Hawaii at Nevada (-2.5)
Roster Strength: Hawaii 79.40 (100), Nevada 77.51 (114)
247Sports Rating: Hawaii .7765 (116), Nevada .7730 (119)
Team Talent Composite: Nevada 461.96 (86), Hawaii 421.50 (97)
For you brave souls interested in our “best bets” of the week – or would prefer to fade them based on our disappointing results to date – the following talent advantages are worth noting:
San Jose State +19.5
Miami OH +2.5
FAU +1
Baylor +3
New Mexico +7
East Carolina +3
Houston +7.5 (And yes, this accounts for the pending redshirts of QB D’Eriq King and WR Keith Corbin)