Building the Winning Squad Blitz Lineup for Week 5

Squad Blitz is giving away another $100 to the winner of this weekend’s contest. Last week our lineup scored 140.20 points and finished 18th in the main contest. On Squad Blitz you select teams, not players. You pick two passing attacks, two rushing attacks and one defense. You are given 1000 Squad Blitz Bucks to build your ideal lineup and the best result wins $100.

Passing

Ole Miss ($165)
We are starting our picks with a value play. Trinidad Chambliss will get the start for Ole Miss this weekend, and he has been outstanding in his two games as the Rebels’ quarterback. He has thrown for 660 yards and three touchdowns over that span, leading Ole Miss to 86 total points against Tulane and Arkansas. LSU will present a tougher test, but their pass defense has not been challenged by an elite offense yet. Clemson was expected to be that team, but they have struggled to meet expectations. Ole Miss currently leads the country in 20-plus yard completions, while LSU has already allowed seven such plays this season. That could be an area the Rebels exploit.

USC ($220)
USC’s passing offense ranks second nationally in yards per attempt and 11th in passing yards per game. Jayden Maiava is completing nearly 71 percent of his passes and could emerge as a dark-horse Heisman contender if he maintains this level of play. Illinois, USC’s opponent, is reeling after a blowout loss in which Fernando Mendoza completed 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns. Earlier this season, Darian Mensah shredded the Illini for 334 yards. Maiava and the Trojans’ passing attack are more potent than either Indiana or Duke, which makes USC a strong play with significant scoring potential.

Rushing

Georgia Tech ($265)
We are splurging here to take Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets rank 14th in rushing yards per game and 5th in yards per carry, averaging nearly seven yards per attempt this season. Wake Forest’s rushing defense sits 61st nationally, but that number may be deceiving. Against NC State, the Demon Deacons gave up more than 200 rushing yards, and they could be in trouble again this week. Jamal Haynes finally topped 100 yards against Temple on just 12 carries, and quarterback Haynes King adds another dimension on the ground. After piling up more than 300 rushing yards as a team against Temple, Georgia Tech’s ground game is poised for another big performance.

Penn State ($165)
If Penn State is going to knock off Oregon, the offense will need to lean heavily on the running game. The Nittany Lions are counting on Nick Singleton to break out after a relatively quiet start, as he is averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Kaytron Allen has picked up the slack, averaging an impressive 8.0 yards per carry. We have seen what this backfield can do at its best, and James Franklin will likely ride both Allen and Singleton in this matchup. Oregon’s rushing defense has only allowed 109 yards per game so far, but they have not yet faced a rushing attack as talented as Penn State’s. This is a high-risk, high-reward play, but chasing first place requires a few calculated risks.

Defense

Duke ($95)
There is one reason I am picking Duke’s defense: Syracuse will be starting a new quarterback. Rickie Collins takes over for Steve Angeli for the rest of the season. Collins showed flashes after Angeli’s injury, throwing a touchdown on his first drive, but he also finished just 3-of-8 passing. Duke’s defense has not been particularly strong this year, but facing a quarterback making his first start is a gamble worth taking. Manny Diaz’s defense will look to keep Collins out of rhythm and capitalize on his inexperience.

Recap
Passing – Ole Miss ($165), USC ($220)
Rushing – Georgia Tech ($265), Penn State ($165)
Defense – Duke ($95)
Total: $910

This lineup leaves us with $90 unused, but it gives us balance and upside across the board. Ole Miss and USC bring explosive passing attacks that can rack up points quickly, while Georgia Tech and Penn State provide the rushing firepower to control games and deliver big yardage totals. Duke is the wild card, but taking a chance on a defense facing a first-time starter could be the edge that separates a good lineup from a winning one. With $100 on the line, this mix of steady production and calculated risks is exactly the type of strategy that can put us in position to finish at the top of the Week 5 main slate.