Friday night’s college football slate is headlined by a pair of conference matchups, and one of them is closer than the records suggest.

No. 8 BYU (4-0) puts their unbeaten season on the line against Iowa State (3-2) at LaVell Edwards Stadium, where the Cougars are about 10.5-point favorites. BYU haven’t lost at home to an FBS opponent since the start of last season, while the Cyclones are coming off a 45-42 shootout win over West Virginia in Jimmy Rogers’ first year in Ames.

Out west, Iowa (4-1) travels to Seattle on a short week after losing to Ohio State, taking on a Washington team (3-2) that have dropped back-to-back Big Ten games to Minnesota and USC. Even so, the Huskies are 2.5-point favorites at Husky Stadium, which says oddsmakers see these two as basically even on a neutral field.

We break down our best bets for Friday’s games, including picks for BYU vs. Iowa State, Washington vs. Iowa and more. Plus, new users can bet $5 on any college football matchup and get $150 in Bonus Bets at DraftKings Sportsbook.

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College Football Friday Week 6 best bets

All odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

BYU vs. Iowa State odds

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BYU vs. Iowa State best bet

BYU is undefeated at 4-0, but laying double digits against Iowa State feels unnecessarily expensive, especially with the Cougars dealing with significant injuries. Running back LJ Martin and linebacker Isaiah Glasker have been ruled out, leaving BYU without two important contributors.

The Cyclones are coming off a 45-42 win over West Virginia, with Aiden Flora scoring five touchdowns and rushing for 212 yards. Iowa State has also been competitive against quality opponents, losing to ranked Iowa by three points.

BYU’s rushing efficiency is impressive, but losing Martin changes the offensive outlook. The Cougars managed just 17 points against TCU last week, and quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for only 62 yards.

I expect BYU to win at home, but Iowa State has enough offensive production to keep this within two possessions.

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Washington vs Iowa odds

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Washington vs Iowa best bet

Iowa is coming off a 31-14 loss to Ohio State, but this matchup is much more manageable for the Hawkeyes. Iowa enters Friday’s game allowing just 12.6 points per game, while Washington is averaging 26.6 points offensively.

Washington has the more explosive quarterback in Demond Williams Jr., but the Huskies have struggled with consistency and enter this matchup at 3-2. Iowa’s defensive strength and ability to control the clock should make this a lower-scoring game with limited possessions.

Has Iowa also allowed just 18.4 points per game fewer than Washington’s offensive average? No, the more important number is the 41.5-point total. Getting a full field goal in a game expected to feature fewer than six touchdowns is valuable.

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Florida State at Louisville odds

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Florida State at Louisville best bet

Richardson has emerged as Louisville’s most reliable receiving threat, averaging 89 receiving yards per game through five contests. He’s cleared this 61.5-yard line in four of those five games, including an eight-catch, 117-yard performance against NC State.

What stands out is his consistency. Richardson is averaging 15.9 yards per reception, meaning he doesn’t need double-digit targets to clear this number. A handful of explosive plays could be enough.

Richardson has also seen at least six targets in every game, including 10 against NC State. Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz has thrown for at least 250 yards in four of five starts, giving Richardson a steady passing attack to work with.

With Florida State entering this matchup having allowed 9.5 yards per opponent pass attempt, I like Richardson’s chances of clearing this number for the sixth consecutive game.

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Players to watch this Friday

Tre Richardson, WR, Louisville

Richardson has quickly established himself as Louisville’s most productive receiving threat. Through five games, he’s caught 28 passes for 445 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 15.9 yards per reception. He’s coming off his best performance of the season against NC State, finishing with eight catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Richardson has recorded at least 80 receiving yards in four of five games. His ability to stretch the field gives Louisville an explosive weapon against Florida State, especially with the Seminoles preparing for a passing attack that has consistently generated chunk plays.

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Bear Bachmeier , QB, BYU

With LJ Martin ruled out against Iowa State, Bachmeier becomes even more important to BYU’s offense. The sophomore has thrown for 704 yards, six touchdowns and one interception while adding 130 rushing yards and four scores. His passing numbers weren’t impressive against TCU, finishing with just 62 yards, but he rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns in the 17-10 victory. Without Martin, BYU could lean more heavily on Bachmeier’s mobility, particularly in the red zone. How effectively he handles Iowa State’s defense will go a long way toward determining whether BYU remains undefeated.

Demond Williams Jr, QB, Washington

Williams has thrown for 1,327 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions through five games, completing 67.5% of his passes. He’s also added 191 rushing yards, giving Washington another dimension offensively. However, the Huskies have dropped consecutive conference games, and Williams has struggled against stronger competition. Against USC, he completed just 15 of 26 passes for 198 yards and was sacked five times. Iowa presents another difficult matchup with its disciplined defense. Williams’ ability to extend plays without putting Washington behind schedule will be critical, particularly in a game with a total of just 41.5 points.

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