Four of the five games in Week Six’s College Football Picks feature two ranked opponents, meaning we cover a massive nine ranked teams in this week’s action! The headline matchup is #3 Iowa hosting #4 Penn State, with the Hawkeyes currently 1.5 point favourites for the clash.
Don’t miss out on our preview for each game along with our College Football Picks for the five best games of this week’s schedule!
#21 Texas v #6 Oklahoma – 12pm EDT
The Red River Showdown is here and both Texas and Oklahoma come in as ranked teams, being 21 and 6 respectively. Both offenses are lighting things up at the moment, with Texas ranking sixth in the country by averaging 43.8ppg while Oklahoma is 16th nation-wide, averaging 38.4ppg.
Who will come out on top in the latest addition of this storied rivalry? Find out below!
Tim Newton
Oklahoma may be undefeated but they have struggled to get there. Each of their last three wins have been by seven points or less and this will now be the toughest opponent they have faced this season. Spencer Rattler, the pre-season Heisman favorite, will want to put in a good showing in this matchup, considering it is on the biggest stage he will have played on and there are questions being raised on his ability to perform at the level, let alone thinking ahead to the NFL in years to come.
One of the issues for Rattler is the fact that his offensive line has been a mess so far this season but they may get some reprieve in the fact that the Texas defense might be the worst of the four lines in this game. While they are only giving up 24 points per game, which is very respectable, they also haven’t faced an offense as dynamic as Oklahoma’s.
The difference maker may be the Texas offense though, given it has looked much more dynamic with Casey Thompson under center. Combine that with the fact that Bijan Robinson may be the best player in the country, regardless of position, and the Texas offense could put up some points in this one. His incredible ability to burst through seems and move the chains should keep Texas in this, enough that they will keep it close and shouldn’t be getting more than a field goal in the spread.
Tim’s College Football Pick: Over 64.5 (-108)
Tim’s Bonus College Football Pick: Texas +3.5 (-115)
RED RIVER SHOWDOWN 😤
ABC. SATURDAY. @OU_Football | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/6g2ismrMEM
— ESPN (@espn) October 7, 2021
Tony Battalio
Coming off yet another struggle win vs Kansas State, Oklahoma looks to finally give the College Football Playoff voters the dominant performance they’ve been waiting for. It will not come easy when they line up against their hated rivals in the Red River Showdown, the Texas Longhorns and Heisman Trophy candidate Bijan Robinson. Spencer Rattler has looked shaken up at times, but despite his own fans calling for his replacement, Caleb Williams, he has delivered enough to get his Sooners to 5-0 on the young season.
Meanwhile, Texas comes into this contest at 4-1, with their only loss coming to another (albeit surprising) 4-1 team, the Arkansas Razorbacks of the SEC. This game will be pivotal in the rat race for the Big 12 Conference as both teams enter at 2-0, tied with fellow 2-0 team Oklahoma State. We are in for a good one in Dallas on Saturday and at the end of the day it will be Boomer Sooners riding high. I’m taking Oklahoma with the points.
Tony’s College Football Pick: Oklahoma -3.5 (-105)
#13 Arkansas @ #17 Ole Miss – 12pm EDT
Another matchup between ranked opponents sees Ole Miss host Arkansas inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Both sides are coming off losses to the two best teams in football and will be wanting to bounce back with a win this weekend.
Tim Newton
While Arkansas has only managed 20 points combined over the last two weeks, including being held scoreless by Georgia last week, they did average 41 points through the first three weeks. Given Ole Miss prefer to play in shootouts, rather than putting any solid defense together, that should play into the Razorbacks’ hands in this one.
In saying that, the Rebels play that way because it is their strength. Matt Corral is +250 second favorite for the Heisman, according to FanDuel, for a reason, given he has the offense ranking third in yards per game and fifth for points per game. Ole Miss has an offense that is nearly impossible to stop, considering they still managed to put up 21 on Alabama last week, in Tuscaloosa.
While Bama’s defense is incredibly good, Arkansas has a good defense of their own. The Razorbacks 10th in the country for yards per game whilst only allowing 19 points per game. That should allow them to keep in the game, but if Ole Miss can score 21 on Alabama, I think they should be able to score enough, at home, to get the job done over Arkansas.
Tim’s College Football Pick: Ole Miss (-225)
Tony Battalio
After being absolutely disrespected and run off the field by the class of the SEC, in Georgia and Alabama respectively, both of these schools are coming into this one looking for a bounce-back performance. This one should be an offensive shootout with Arkansas and their run-heavy attack and Ole Miss Quarterback Heisman candidate Matt Corral.
Also at stake will be trying to keep up with the mighty Crimson Tide of Alabama in the SEC West, potentially setting up a championship showdown with Georgia or Kentucky from the East. Now this is a hard one to predict because of recent performances, but I like Ole Miss here and I think the Rebels win handily.
Tony’s College Football Pick: Ole Miss -5.5 (-112)
#2 Georgia @ #18 Auburn – 3:30pm EDT
The second best team in college football gets on the road for an intriguing matchup with Auburn this weekend. Georgia is hunting Alabama for the top spot on the AP Rankings but can’t take Auburn for granted, who come into this one 4-1 with their only loss a narrow one to #4 Penn State.
Tim Newton
It is hard to go against the Bulldogs here. This may be their second straight matchup against a ranked opponent but they went 39-0 against Arkansas last weekend and have bigger fish to fry than the Tigers. Georgia is 99-0 over their last two games and they did all of this without their starting quarterback, JT Daniels, last weekend. While he is no certain starter for this clash, they just proved that they can beat a good team without him. The defense, with four sacks, and the running game, 273 total yards, was able to carry the load for Georgia and they should be good enough to do the same again tonight.
Auburn is no slouch though. They just went into Tiger Stadium, beat LSU and have caused people to question Ed Orgeron’s position as head coach. Box Nix has shown a great ability to keep plays alive, move the chains with his feet and keep the Auburn offense humming, but this Georgia defense is a completely different beast. They should have no problems getting on top here and I like them to win big.
Tim’s College Football Pick: Georgia -15.5 (-110)
Highest-graded defenses this season ⛓
1. Georgia – 94.6
2. Auburn – 91.8
3. Iowa – 91.4 pic.twitter.com/XnA2hxi04N— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 6, 2021
Tony Battalio
High powered Georgia steps into what some will perceive as the land of Miracles, Auburn’s Jordan Hare Stadium, a place Bulldog fans likely remember well after the infamous 4th down throw, tip and catch dubbed “The Prayer At Jordan Hare”. A few weeks later it was overshadowed by the “Kick Six” in the Auburn-Alabama Iron Bowl game. Kirby Smart brings in his shutdown defense against Bo Nix, Tank Bigsby and the Auburn Tigers. This one promises to be your typical SEC thriller down in Auburn.
A win for Georgia puts them one step closer to an SEC East Title, while a win for Auburn keeps them in the race in the West heading towards an Iron Bowl showdown in November. Georgia has many believing they are the number 1 team in the county and they have a chance to show the doubters that they are with another tough test. As for the game I like Georgia with the moneyline, but I am going with Auburn with the points.
Tony’s College Football Pick: Auburn +15.5 (-108)
Tony’s Bonus College Football Pick: Georgia (-950)
#4 Penn State @ #3 Iowa – 4pm EDT
The matchup of the weekend has Iowa host Penn State inside Kinnick Stadium in a matchup of two top five teams. Both sides are defensive juggernauts and come into this with 5-0 records, meaning a spot in the College Football Playoffs could be on the line.
Tim Newton
I have been a bit of a lover boy for the Hawkeyes ever since tipping them to upset Iowa State in Week Two and I don’t see a reason to change that here. They have won their five games by an average margin of 21.6 points per game, with the smallest margin being 10! That is absolutely incredible, especially when you consider they went into Maryland last Friday night, who were undefeated and ranked at the time, and sent them to the cleaners, winning 51-14.
Iowa gives up the seventh fewest yards per game and is the second best scoring defense in the country. They haven’t given up more than 17 points this season and their defensive front is a strong, solid and consistent unit that is impossible to move and simply forces you into mistakes. In saying that, Penn State has the third best scoring defense and is coming off a matchup where they kept Indiana scoreless and have only given up 20 points at most this season.
This ultimately comes down to which defense is able to hold the line better and I have to stick with Iowa. Dating back to last season, Penn State hasn’t lost since the last time they played Iowa, and that was in Beaver Stadium. Given this is now in Kinnick Stadium, with the Hawkeyes faithful going nuts, I like Iowa to claim the win here and continue their push up the charts.
Tim’s College Football Pick: Iowa -1.5 (-115)
Tony Battalio
In a game that will most likely be a preview of the Big Ten Championship later this season in Indianapolis, the two best defenses in the Big Ten get together for a game-of-the-year contender in Iowa City. An early season top 5 matchup between two of the best in the Midwest, Iowa and their stingy defense goes up against Penn State and their electric offense in a game that is sure to put the college football world on notice. Thankfully for us fans, this may not be the last time we get to see them tangle this year.
Both coming in at 5-0 on the season, Iowa and Penn State both look poised to be contending for a national championship in a few short months. The only thing missing here is the fact that this is a 4PM eastern standard time kickoff and not a night game under the lights at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa is favored by 1.5 in this one, but I’m taking the under (41.5) because this game will be a defensive battle for the ages.
Tony’s College Football Pick: Under 41.5 (-120)
#9 Michigan @ Nebraska – 7:30pm EDT
We round out the night, and our Week Six College Football Picks, with a Big Ten showdown between Nebraska and Michigan. The Huskers are sitting fourth in the Big Ten West while the Wolverines, being an incredible running game, are on top of the Big Ten East and are yet to lose a game this season.
Tim Newton
This is a tough one as Michigan is the best team in this game but Nebraska, despite being 3-3 for the season, are yet to lose at home. The Huskers have also kept within a score of both Oklahoma and Michigan State on the road this season, highlighting they have the ability to mix it with the best.
However, I am sticking with the Wolverines to remain undefeated. They have the seventh best backfield in the country, averaging 255 rushing yards per game this season and still managed to run for 112 yards against Wisconsin last week, who are the second best rushing defense in the country, and were first before that matchup.
Nebraska have a good running game of their own, ranking 14th in the country by averaging 237.5 yards per game, but Michigan’s run defense is better than Nebraska’s, their overall defense is better than Nebraska’s and the Wolverines rank sixth for points allowed per game. Their defense gets you off the field quickly whilst dominating time of possession with their ground game and despite this being played in Memorial Stadium, Michigan to win and cover looks the best bet in the game.
Tim’s College Football Pick: Michigan -3.5 (+104)
According to the Athletic, the Nebraska-Michigan game is a coaching hot seat extravaganza: pic.twitter.com/YLk89IqFls
— Dave Feit (@FeitCanWrite) October 5, 2021
Tony Battalio
Scott Frost is still looking for his signature win as the head coach of his alma mater the Nebraska Cornhuskers. While Jim Harbaugh has his Michigan Wolverines at an all time high and likely on another one of their famous “Revenge Tours”. Throughout the season and conference play, this only proves to be the first stop deep down in the corn fields of Lincoln , Nebraska. After yet another disappointing start from Nebraska, the hot seat just seems to keep getting hotter since leaving Central Florida in 2018.
Faced with a somewhat similar situation to his counterpart this Saturday, Jim Harbaugh feels his seat is warming as he continues to struggle to beat longtime rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. While Nebraska isn’t looking at too much success lately, I still believe they will end up qualifying for a bowl game, but as far as this one is concerned, Michigan will win big and the revenge tour will roll on back to Ann Arbor.
Tony’s College Football Pick: Michigan -3.5 (+104)
*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
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