The rivalry between Alabama and Georgia has evolved into the most consistent must-see moment in college football since Kirby Smart arrived at Georgia.
In that stretch, the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide have played in four SEC championship games and two College Football Playoff championship games. No. 2 Georgia travels to No. 6 Alabama for a 7:30 p.m. ET matchup on ABC that is the highlight of the Week 6 schedule.
The Bulldogs (51.4 ppg.) and Crimson Tide (49.6 ppg.) are the top-two scoring offenses in the FBS. The stakes in the rivalry haven’t changed much with third-year coach Kalen DeBoer either. It’s a true toss up between SEC heavyweights.
No. 21 UCLA takes on No. 13 Oregon at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS in the other matchup between ranked teams. There are 19 matchups involving FBS teams in the AP Top 25 in Week 6 as the regular season nears the midpoint.
S/U: 78-12, .867 (14-1 in Week 5)
ATS: 45-44-1, .506 (6-9 in Week 5)
MORE: College Football Playoff forecast entering Week 6
Week 6 picks against the spread
All spreads and odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Friday, Oct. 9
No. 20 Iowa at Washington (-2.5) (9 p.m., FS1)
The Hawkeyes are a road underdog at Washington, but the Huskies are 0-3 ATS as a favorite this season. Iowa does have a top-10 scoring defense at 12.6 points per game, and its running game is more consistent. The Hawkeyes are 0-2 S/U in Big Ten games on the West Coast. Can they break the trend?
Pick: Iowa wins 23-20 in an UPSET.
Iowa State at No. 8 BYU (-10.5) (10:15 p.m., ESPN)
The Cougars are double-digit home favorites against the Cyclones, who averaged 15 points per game in road losses to Iowa and Utah this season. BYU running back LJ Martin suffered a lower body injury in Week 5 – and his status will need to be monitored throughout the week. BYU is 3-0 ATS against Power 4 opponents this season.
Pick: BYU wins 29-17 and COVERS the spread.
Saturday, Oct. 10
UCF at No. 18 Oklahoma State (-9.5) (12 p.m., ESPN2)
The Cowboys are coming off a bye week – and UCF will have to put pressure on Drew Mestemaker – who is 12 of 17 (70.6%) for 433 yards and three TDs and no interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more. Oklahoma State averages 46.3 points per game in its last three games. Will the Knights get Alonzo Barnett III (hamstring) back for a tough road test? UCF is 3-0 S/U as an underdog.
Pick: Oklahoma State wins 34-24 and COVERS the spread.
North Carolina at No. 25 Pitt (-4.5) (12 p.m., ESPN)
How will the Panthers fare with quarterback Holden Gariner, who replaced Mason Heinstchel (torn ACL)? The Tar Heels have allowed 32.5 points per game in losses to Clemson and Notre Dame. Pitt allows just 2.0 yards per carry, and that will wear on North Carolina in the second half.
Pick: Pitt wins 27-20 and COVERS the spread.
No. 7 Indiana (-7.5) at Nebraska (12 p.m., Fox)
This could turn into a defensive struggle – and the line dropped a point. The Huskers are second in the FBS with a 21.3% defensive third-down percentage. The Hoosiers are No. 14 with a 26.9% conversion rate on defense. It should be a charged atmosphere. Both teams have well-balanced rushing attacks, too. Can Nebraska finally break a streak of 30 straight losses to AP Top 25 teams? Indiana won the last meeting 56-7 in 2024.
Pick: Indiana wins 31-20 and COVERS the spread.
Texas A&M at No. 14 Missouri (-3.5) (12 p.m., ABC)
The Tigers made a statement with a 45-17 blowout victory against Florida, and quarterback Austin Simmons averages 257.4 passing yards per game with 13 TDs and no interceptions. The Aggies are 3-0 S/U when they have less than two turnovers. That will be the key for Marcel Reed. Texas A&M has won the last three meetings.
Pick: Missouri wins 27-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
South Carolina at No. 16 Florida (-14.5) (12:45 p.m., SEC Network)
It’s on Florida to bounce back after the loss against Missouri. South Carolina leads the SEC with 256 rushing yards per game – but the Gamecocks are at a breaking point at The Swamp, where South Carolina hasn’t won since 2014.
Pick: Florida wins 35-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
MORE: Where USC might look if it moves on from Shane Beamer
No. 1 Texas (-7.5) vs. Oklahoma (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Texas has won in blowout fashion in three of the last four meetings – and Oklahoma ranks 136th in the FBS with a minus-6 turnover margin. It does not complement a defense that ranks fifth at 238 yards per game. Will the Red River Rivalry bring out a different Sooners’ team against Texas – which has an even turnover margin coming out of a bye week?
Pick: Texas wins 23-16 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 9 Ole Miss (-10.5) at Vanderbilt (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
The Rebels are a double-digit road favorite against the Commodores. Vanderbilt is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 home games – but they have had trouble scoring in SEC play. Freshman quarterback Jared Curtis missed Week 5 with a knee injury. Will Ole Miss get running back Kewan Lacy back?
Pick: Ole Miss wins 34-21 and COVERS the spread.
No. 21 UCLA at No. 13 Oregon (-11.5) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Are the Bruins ready for Big Ten contention under first-year coach Bob Chesney? UCLA averages 7.0 yards per carry behind a high-powered rushing attack led by Wayne Knight (445 yards, 9 TDs) and Anthony Woods (269 yards, 4 TDs). Chesney was the coach for James Madison in a 51-34 loss to the Ducks in the CFP last season. Dante Moore’s status remains in question – so Dylan Raiola could be in the spotlight for the Ducks again.
Pick: Oregon wins 38-28 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 22 Houston at Kansas State (-2.5) (3:30 p.m., Fox)
The Wildcats had a bye week to prepare for a home shot at Houston. Kansas State allowed 271 rushing yards in a Week 4 loss against Cincinnati. The Cougars have three games with at least 200 rushing yards – and Conner Weigman ranks fourth in the Big 12 with a 166.8 passer rating. Houston is 3-0 ATS as a road underdog since last season under Willie Fritz.
Pick: Houston wins 27-23 in an UPSET.
Stanford at No. 3 Notre Dame (-37.5) (3:30 p.m., NBC)
The Cardinal have been outscored 92-10 in two road losses. Notre Dame has won its two home games by a combined score of 79-10 and has won the last three meetings against Stanford by an average of 34.7 points per game. It’s a tough spot for Stanford against the Irish – but it’s a large spread ahead of Notre Dame’s showdown with BYU.
Pick: Notre Dame wins 45-14 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 15 Tennessee (-13.5) at Arkansas (4:15 p.m., SEC Network)
The Vols have a quarterback question with George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon – but the Razorbacks have allowed 242.5 rushing yards per game against SEC opponents. Tennessee should be able to work with that – and the Vols rank first in the FBS with 23 sacks. Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam and Mariyon Dye have combined for eight of those sacks.
Pick: Tennessee wins 34-14 and COVERS the spread.
Maryland at No. 5 Ohio State (-34.5) (4:15 p.m., Big Ten Network)
The Terrapins have allowed 45.7 points per game in their last three losses, and trying to solve Ohio State’s offense, led by receiver Jeremiah Smith, is not going to solve that problem. The Buckeyes are 9-0 S/U all time against Maryland, and they have cleared 50 points in five of those games.
Pick: Ohio State wins 48-10 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: Jeremiah Smith enjoys record-setting day vs. Iowa
No. 10 LSU (-10.5) at Kentucky (7 p.m., ESPN)
This is another fun SEC prime-time game given the Wildcats are off to a hot start under Will Stein. Jason Patterson (355 yards, 3 TDs) and CJ Baxter (361 yards, 6 TDs) have kept the rushing attack moving – and they’ll need turnovers to slow down an LSU offense that ranks third in the FBS with 547.8 total yards per game. Kentucky has won the last two meetings in Lexington.
Pick: LSU wins 38–21 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: Will Stein’s gutsy do-or-die call pays off in road win
No. 2 Georgia at No. 6 Alabama (-1.5) (7:30 p.m., ABC)
The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide both look the part of national championship contenders. Georgia hasn’t beat Alabama in a regular-season game since 2007, but they did win 28-7 in the SEC championship game in the last meeting. Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell has 10 TDs and no interceptions the last three weeks. Gunner Stockton leads the SEC with a 202.1 passer rating. The Bulldogs have been a little better on defense – and that should be the difference in another instant classic.
Pick: Georgia wins 27-24 in an UPSET.
No. 19 USC at Penn State (-1.5) (7:30 p.m., NBC)
How will the Trojans handle the “Whiteout?” How much juice will the Nittany Lions have after back-to-back losses? These are real questions for the Big Ten showdown. Penn State averages 83.5 rushing yards per game in conference play. USC is hardly trust-worthy in cross-country games – but we still think they are the better team here. This is a huge game under Lincoln Riley.
Pick: USC wins 28-27 in an UPSET
MORE: USC’s narrow win will not quiet Lincoln Riley’s critics
Kansas at No. 12 Utah (-15.5) (10:15 p.m., ESPN)
Kansas allowed 31 points per game in losses to Missouri and Arizona State. This is their first visit to Utah since 1996. The Utes are 3-0 ATS and have allowed 17 points or less in every game this season. It’s a huge line, but look for the Utes to keep it rolling at home with a late cover
Pick: Utah wins 34-17 and COVERS the spread.
No. 23 Boise State (-6.5) at Fresno State (10:30 p.m., The CW)
This is a new-aged #Pac12AfterDark matchup, and the Bulldogs allow 16.4 points per game. Boise State running back Dylan Riley leads the FBS with 685 rushing yards – and he ranks second with 447 yards after contact, according to PFF.com. Fresno State won the last three meetings in the series and routed the Broncos 30-7 last season.
Pick: Boise State wins 28-20 and COVERS the spread.
