While some of the hottest teams in college football are taking a bye-week this week (8 of the top 25 teams), there are still some pretty good games to watch in week 6.
We’ve put together the best games with our bets and predictions for each.
Clemson Is Heating Up, and Florida State Is Slipping
Clemson: -14.5 -102
Florida State: o47.5 -110
Clemson is riding high after a dominant stretch, scoring 40 or more points in three consecutive games. The Tigers seem to have put their opening loss to Georgia behind them.
Led by Cade Klubnik, who’s obviously found his stride this season, Clemson's offense is clicking under Garrett Riley. They're up against a Florida State team that looks nothing like last year's ACC champions.
The Seminoles are struggling with a 1-4 record, and now they face Clemson without their starter, D.J. Uiagalelei. Backup quarterback Brock Glenn will try to right the ship, but his underwhelming performance so far doesn’t inspire confidence.
Against a tough Clemson defense, it’s going to be a tall order for Glenn to lead an offense that ranks 119th in EPA/play.
Prediction. Clemson is simply too much for Florida State, even with a road game in Tallahassee. Glenn’s inefficiency under center combined with Clemson’s high-powered offense makes it hard to see the Seminoles keeping pace to even cover the spread. Clemson’s defense may give up some big plays, but it won’t be enough to flip the script.
Pick: Clemson -14.5
Prop Bet: Cade Klubnik Over 2.5 passing touchdowns
Tennessee’s Playoff Hopes Are Rising
Tennessee: -13 -112
Florida State: o58 -110
Tennessee is on a roll. They’re sitting undefeated and looking every bit like a College Football Playoff contender. They’ve beaten Oklahoma on the road and now face Arkansas as 13.5-point favorites. The Volunteers are lighting it up on offense, thanks to quarterback Nico Iamaleava and a solid run game, but their defense has been the unsung hero, allowing just 8.3 points per game.
On the other side, Arkansas is fighting for bowl eligibility in what has been a tough season.
Quarterback Taylen Green has shown a few flashes here and there but has been relatively inconsistent. The Razorbacks will be tested by Tennessee’s defensive line, which has made life miserable for opposing QBs.
Prediction: Arkansas will struggle to establish the run against Tennessee’s elite front seven, and that will put a ton of pressure on Green to win the game through the air. It’s hard to see him having much success against a Volunteers team that’s won every game by at least 10 points this season. We just don’t see a path for the Razorbacks to cover the spread.
Pick: Tennessee -13.5
Prop Bet: Tennessee Defense Under 17.5 points allowed
Georgia Needs a Bounce-Back Win
Auburn: o52 -110
Georgia: -24 -110
Georgia is coming off a heartbreaking 41-34 loss to Alabama — though it was a really, really good game. It was their first defeat of the season, and now they need to bounce back.
Carson Beck had a strong second half in that game but ultimately came up short. Georgia still controls their own destiny in the SEC, but they need to refocus quickly as they head to Auburn.
Auburn, sitting at 2-3, has had a rocky season and will be starting Payton Thorne again, who’s been erratic with six interceptions on the year. While Auburn’s defense is fairly respectable, their offense will face one of the best units in the country in Georgia.
The Bulldogs’ defense should feast on a turnover-prone quarterback, and their run game could put this one out of reach early.
Prediction: Expect Georgia to bounce back in a big way as they look to redeem themselves after Alabama. Auburn’s defense will try to keep it close, but the Tigers’ offense won’t be able to move the ball against Georgia’s stout defense. This could get ugly fast.
Pick: Georgia -24
Prop Bet: Georgia to win by 25-30 points (+550)
Revenge for Last Year’s Championship?
Michigan: u41.5 -109
Washington: -2 -112
Washington is still reeling from a surprising loss to Rutgers, and they’re looking to bounce back against Michigan, the team that beat them in last year’s National Championship.
Despite a rough start to the year, Washington’s offense has shown a few flashes of brilliance, particularly with quarterback Will Rogers, who’s completing nearly 75% of his passes. If he can keep up that pace, this team is nothing to scoff at despite being 3-2.
Michigan has been tough to figure out.
They’ve had quarterback issues, and their passing game has been almost nonexistent. Still, their defense is strong, and they’ve managed to grind out wins with their running game. This game could come down to which team makes fewer mistakes.
Prediction: Michigan’s defense should keep this one close, but Washington’s home-field advantage and their ability to move the ball through the air gives them the edge. Look for a low-scoring battle, with Washington doing just enough to pull out the win.
Pick: Washington -2.5
Prop Bet: Under 41.5 points scored
Buckeyes on Cruise Control
Iowa: o45 -110
Ohio State: -19.5 -110
Ohio State has looked every bit the part of a playoff contender, especially after dismantling Michigan State last week.
Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has become an unlikely star, scoring a touchdown in every game this season. The Buckeyes’ defense is ranked second in early-down EPA/play, making them a nightmare matchup for a one-dimensional Iowa team.
Iowa’s offense is centered around Kaleb Johnson and the run game, but they’ll struggle to move the ball against Ohio State’s defense.
The Hawkeyes will need to throw to stay in this game, and that’s not something they’ve done well this season, ranking 98th in EPA/pass. So, you can see which way this game will probably go.
Prediction: Ohio State may not need to put up big numbers offensively to cover the spread here. Their defense should suffocate Iowa, and while this might not be a shootout, the Buckeyes should win comfortably.
Pick: Ohio State -19.5
Prop Bet: Jeremiah Smith Anytime TD
These are some of the best games of the week and the best bets. Sure, we’d love to see some of the other teams play like the Longhorns, but every team needs a break throughout the season.
There are no earth-shattering matchups that will shift the rankings too much, but if one of these teams pulls off the upset, we could see a few changes.