College Football Week 6 Preview: Score Predictions for Must-See Games Including Ohio State vs. Iowa

Week 6 of 2024 college football season marks the first Saturday of action in the month of October, which means the top matchups are all about conference play. A huge showdown in the SEC is on tap with Missouri-Texas A&M, while a pair of key games in the Big Ten in Iowa-Ohio State and Michigan-Washington highlight the top matchups in Week 6.

In the Group of 5 conferences, realignment and expansion dominated the news once again throughout the week, but the focus returns to an intriguing slate of games on Saturday. UNLV hosts Syracuse on Friday night, with Miami (Ohio)-Toledo, Appalachian State-Marshall, Navy-Air Force, and South Alabama-Arkansas State atop the list of must-see matchups.

Athlon Sports previews and predicts all of the top matchups and must-see games for Week 6:

Disagree with our picks and predictions? Sound off in the comments below.

• See also: College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Every Game in Week 6

College Football Week 6 previews and score predictions: the five biggest games of the week

1. Texas A&M vs. Missouri (+2.5)

Steven Lassan: This matchup is one of the toughest to get a read on this week. Missouri is 4-0, but the offense isn't hitting big plays and needed one-score victories to get by Boston College and Vanderbilt. Texas A&M seems to be slowly building momentum under new coach Mike Elko and have won four in a row since losing to Notre Dame in the opener. The Aggies' standout defensive line and ability to stuff the run will be tested against Missouri's offensive front and running back Nate Noel, but the battle in the trenches could decide which team comes out on top. Also, Elko's offense hopes a heavy dose of running back Le'Veon Moss to go with an efficient day from quarterback Marcel Reed is enough against a Missouri defense giving up just 12 points a contest. When the Tigers have the ball, quarterback Brady Cook and receiver Luther Burden III need to hit on a couple of deep passes to spark the offense. With a tight game expected, this one could come down to whichever offense does a better job at generating big plays and finishing drives with seven points and not a field goal.
Prediction: Missouri 27, Texas A&M 24

Dan Lyons: The Tigers, which return plenty of talent from last year’s 11-win team, are the stronger team on paper. They’ve been walking a tightrope over the last few weeks, with a six-point win over Boston College and three-point double-overtime victory over Vanderbilt, which they were extremely lucky to pull out. If Eli Drinkwitz can get this team to flip a switch, they have College Football Playoff potential, but so far Mizzou hasn’t been able to kick things into gear. The Tigers have the weapons to make explosive plays, but haven’t done so at all yet this season. That is a dangerous notion for a team taking a trip to Kyle Field on Saturday, especially after facing issues on third-down and in the red zone against Vandy. Quarterback Marcel Reed gives Texas A&M a running dimension that Week 1 start Conner Weigman does not, and has been extremely safe with the ball this season, both of which are valuable in a close game.
Prediction: Texas A&M 24, Missouri 21

2. Washington vs. Michigan (+2.5)

Lassan: It's a rematch of last year's national championship but much has changed from that January meeting for both teams. New coaches (Jedd Fisch at Washington and Sherrone Moore at Michigan) lead the way, and this is now a conference game after the Huskies joined the Big Ten this offseason. And as if that wasn't enough change, both rosters were overhauled significantly thanks to the draft, roster attrition and the transfer portal. Shifting to Alex Orji at quarterback seems to have provided a spark for the Wolverines' offense, but this unit still has major concerns in the passing game. Will Michigan still be able to lean on running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards against a tough Washington front in a tough road environment? Transfer quarterback Will Rogers (1,354 passing yards and 10 TDs) has been solid so far for Fisch. However, Michigan's defense is the best he's faced this year, as this unit is holding teams to 21.4 points a game and has one of the top defensive lines in the nation. This one is a toss up.
Prediction: Michigan 24, Washington 20

Lyons: This national championship rematch will barely resemble last year’s game between the Wolverines and Huskies, with both teams undergoing significant roster turnover and coaching changes. Michigan has maintained its run-first identity from a year ago, but haven’t proven the ability to mix in the pass at all, the way that J.J. McCarthy did a year ago. That could spell trouble against a Washington team that has been decent on both ends of the ball, and should have a pumped up home crowd for the first premier Big Ten game in Seattle. Offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell admitted that Michigan’s approach is unsustainable. Washington is still finding its sea legs under head coach Jedd Fisch and gave away winnable games against Washington State and Rutgers, but has much more balance at this point. Quarterback Will Rogers and running back Jonah Coleman have impressed so far this season.
Prediction: Washington 23, Michigan 20

3. Ohio State vs. Iowa (+20.5)

Lassan: It's hard to envision the Iowa offense being able to do enough to threaten Ohio State into a four-quarter game. However, I think this matchup still has a ton of intrigue. With a road date at Oregon next week, this is a good opportunity to get a look at the Buckeyes against a tough Iowa defense. Quarterback Will Howard is off to a good start, but this secondary is the toughest he's faced so far in the '24 season. The Hawkeyes need to find a way to get running back Kaleb Johnson (685 yards) on track, create a few turnovers, and hope the defense can keep the Buckeyes' standout skill talent in check. That's too much to ask from coach Kirk Ferentz's squad on Saturday.
Prediction: Ohio State 31, Iowa 13

Lyons: The Buckeyes and Hawkeyes may have the two best defenses in college football. Iowa’s offense is much improved this year, led by Kaleb Johnson, one of the best running backs in the sport. Ohio State has two backs in that conversation in Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, both of whom are averaging over eight yards per carry. Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has been as advertised so far this year, and transfer quarterback Will Howard has done everything Ohio State has needed from its signal caller. The Buckeyes haven’t faced a real test yet this year. Saturday should deliver it, on one side of the ball at least. Expect the Buckeyes to be up to the challenge.
Prediction: Ohio State 28, Iowa 13

4. Nebraska vs. Rutgers (+6.5)

Lassan: Points are likely to be at a premium in this one. Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai is one of college football's most underrated players and could have opportunities to find running lanes against a Nebraska front that struggled to slow Illinois' ground game in the second half of the overtime loss. However, in order for Monangai to carry the Scarlet Knights to a win, he will need quarterback Athan Kalikmanis to deliver a couple of big plays. Nebraska true freshman Dylan Raiola has already developed into one of the Big Ten's top signal-callers but faces a tough test against a stingy Rutgers defense (16.3 points a game allowed). In a tight game, Nebraska's field goal issues (four of nine so far this year) could be a problem.
Prediction: Nebraska 24, Rutgers 20

Lyons: Can Nebraska slow down Kyle Monangai? The Huskers are ranked 15th in the FBS in rushing defense this year, and while the early schedule has been light on matchups against dynamic rushing offenses, they did hold Illinois to under 4.3 yards per carry in a loss. Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has effectively managed games for the Scarlet Knights, but RU hasn’t had to lean on him to win a game; he hit some big plays against Virginia Tech but did not throw for a touchdown, and was held to just 115 yards and a score on 24 passes against Washington. Tony White’s Blackshirts will try to force the ball into his hands. Nebraska’s offense is a work in progress, but looks more balanced with quarterback Dylan Raiola impressing early, even as he works through some freshman mistakes.
Prediction: Nebraska 24, Rutgers 18

5. South Carolina vs. Ole Miss (-9)

Lassan: Ole Miss is in a must-win situation after last week's loss to Kentucky. Although the Rebels aren't out of the CFB Playoff with two defeats, things could quickly fall apart for coach Lane Kiffin's team if it loses on Saturday. Ole Miss' offensive line is under pressure to play a lot better after this unit struggled to open up running lanes and protect quarterback Jaxson Dart last week. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and running back Rocket Sanders missed the team's last game on Sept. 21 but are listed as probable for Saturday night. Similar to last week's matchup, this one is all about styles. The Gamecocks want to play slow to limit Ole Miss' possessions and win the battle in the trenches on defense with standouts Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart. I think the urgency of last week's defeat helps Ole Miss rebound - but it's not going to be easy in Columbia.
Prediction: Ole Miss 31, South Carolina 24

Lyons: Ole Miss can’t appreciate South Carolina after the Gamecocks seemed to light a fire under Kentucky. After getting blown out by SC, the Wildcats nearly took down Georgia and then upset the Rebels 20-17 last week. The transitive property is a dangerous game to play in college football, and we saw South Carolina struggle against LSU’s wide open passing attack late in its controversial loss to LSU a few weeks ago. There are similarities between the Gamecocks and Wildcats —  South Carolina also fields an impressive defense with one of the sport’s most impactful defensive lines, which could cause real problems for Jaxson Dart and the Rebels offense. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers and running back Rocket Sanders have been banged up in recent weeks, but are expected to play in Saturday’s game game. It will be difficult for SC to keep up with Lane Kiffin’s offense without those two at full capacity, even if Kyle Kennard, Dylan Stewart and the Gamecocks pass rush is able to cause some havoc.
Prediction: Ole Miss 33, South Carolina 17

• See also: Heisman Trophy Rankings: Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe Make Statements

College Football Week 6: the next tier of Power 4 games

California vs. Miami (-10.5)

Lassan : After last week's controversial win over Virginia Tech, Miami has a tough turnaround with a long road trip to California. Similar to last week, a slow start might be in order, but the guess here is quarterback Cam Ward eventually gets this offense on track, and the defensive front should overwhelm the Golden Bears' shaky offensive line.
Prediction: Miami 34, California 20

Lyons: The power of the Calgorithm is enough to bring College GameDay to Berkeley for the first time. It is not, in all likelihood, enough to hand Miami its first loss, with Cam Ward playing at a Heisman-caliber level.
Prediction: Miami 38, California 23

Louisville vs. SMU (+7)

Lassan: There should be some fireworks in this one. Both offenses enter Week 6 averaging over 40 points a game, and this matchup doesn't lack for talented quarterbacks or weapons at running back/receiver. Louisville's defensive front should be able to create enough disruption to slow SMU's offense when it matters to give the Cardinals their second ACC win of the year.
Prediction: Louisville 34, SMU 27

Lyons: Louisville coughed away a game against Notre Dame, but looks to be in the tier below Miami hoping for a chance to play in the ACC championship. SMU may be there as well after figuring out its quarterback situation, but this is a tough first conference road trip for the Ponies.
Prediction: Louisville 31, SMU 27

Arkansas vs. Tennessee (-13.5)

Lassan: A road trip to Fayetteville for a Saturday night game is never easy, but Tennessee is simply playing too well on both sides of the ball right now. Arkansas needs a big game from quarterback Taylen Green to have any shot at the upset, but the Razorbacks inability to run the ball last week against a stout Texas A&M defensive front is a concern going into this matchup. Also, Arkansas can't afford to struggle with turnovers and penalties against a Tennessee team that can win with different styles.
Prediction: Tennessee 34, Arkansas 17

Lyons: Tennessee has been rolling teams, and will be even more dangerous as Nico Iamaleava continues to develop in real time. The Vols defense has flown under the radar, but may be ahead of Josh Heupel’s explosive offense. Arkansas has improved this year, and field a fun offense of their own with Taylen Green wheeling and dealing at QB, but the Hogs aren’t ready for what the Vols can do on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: Tennessee 41, Arkansas 21

Oregon vs. Michigan State (+24, game on Friday)

Lassan: After a slow start, it looks like Oregon has made the right adjustments and has started to look like the top-five team most projected this preseason. This is a lookahead spot for the Ducks with Ohio State up next, but Michigan State doesn't have the pieces on defense right now to slow down Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and his standout group of receivers. The Spartans do have a rising star at quarterback in Aidan Chiles, but this is a tough spot on the road in Eugene.
Prediction: Oregon 41, Michigan State 17

Lyons: Oregon looks like it has fixed what ailed it to start the season, with the reshuffled offensive line keeping Dillon Gabriel upright over the last two weeks. He’s looked deadly with time to throw. Michigan State’s rebuild is underway under Jonathan Smith, but last week’s game against Ohio State showed the Spartans are not ready for prime time.
Prediction: Oregon 42, Michigan State 13

Penn State vs. UCLA (+28)

Lassan: Not only is this a long road trip for UCLA, but coach DeShaun Foster's squad could be without quarterback Ethan Garbers after he was injured in last week's loss to Oregon. The Nittany Lions have too much on defense for the Bruins' sluggish offense, and coach James Franklin's attack with quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton won't have much trouble scoring on a UCLA defense ranked 17th in the Big Ten in points allowed.
Prediction: Penn State 38, UCLA 10

Lyons: Penn State’s two-headed monster at running back — Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton — is dominant, and the Nittany Lions field one of the nation’s best defenses. Drew Allar still hasn’t been asked to do too much, but he’s taken a nice step forward from 2023. UCLA’s offense has shown signs of life in recent weeks, but those blips won’t be nearly enough at Beaver Stadium, especially if quarterback Ethan Garbers is not at full health.
Prediction: Penn State 37, UCLA 12

Virginia vs. Boston College (+1)

Lassan: This critical ACC showdown features two of the ACC's most entertaining quarterbacks in Virginia's Anthony Colandrea and Boston College's Thomas Castellanos. Considering both teams have tough schedules remaining the rest of the way, it's also a crucial matchup for hopes of a winning season. If Virginia is going to take the next step under coach Tony Elliott, this is a game it needs to win. Boston College has been better than the Cavaliers on defense so far in '24. That's the difference in a tight game.
Prediction: Boston College 27, Virginia 24

Lyons: Virginia picked up a very nice win at Coastal Carolina in its last game, but the Eagles have been rock solid, and were a touchdown shy of a win at Mizzou to start 5-0. BC engineered a solid comeback to get past Western Kentucky last week with backup quarterback Grayson James. Thomas Castellanos is back for the Eagles on Saturday.
Prediction: Boston College 23, Virginia 20

North Carolina vs. Pitt (-3)

Lassan: How North Carolina responded from the loss to James Madison and the noise surrounding coach Mack Brown's future was a key question entering last Saturday's action. The Tar Heels came up just short against Duke (21-20), but this team showed fight, which is a good sign going into the Week 6 matchup against Pitt. The Panthers are quietly 4-0 thanks to a revamped offense under new coordinator Kade Bell. A couple of portal additions in quarterback Eli Holstein and running back Desmond Reid have been instrumental in the growth under Bell. Pitt also received good news this week when last year's leading rusher Rodney Hammond Jr. was declared eligible after sitting out the first four games of '24.
Prediction: Pitt 31, North Carolina 30

Lyons: Pitt is out to a 4-0 start, though it hasn’t always been pretty, with tight wins over Big 12 programs Cincinnati and West Virginia. North Carolina will have some issues with the revamped Panthers passing game led by Eli Holstein, but UNC’s rushing game should be able to expose a Pitt defense that struggled at times against Power 4 opponents. Omarion Hampton (658 yards, six touchdowns) is one of the nation’s best rushers while backup Davion Gause has averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
Prediction: North Carolina 32, Pitt 29.

Georgia vs. Auburn (+24)

Lassan: The Deep South's Oldest Rivalry never lacks for intrigue. Georgia should be motivated to rebound after last week's loss to Alabama, as well as clean up some of the struggles on defense in SEC play so far. On the other side, Auburn is off to a disappointing 2-3 start, but coach Hugh Freeze's teams tend to punch above their weight (see games against Alabama and Georgia in '23) in high-profile games. The Tigers have had success moving the ball (7.6 yards a play) but can't stop the catastrophic penalties or turnovers. Expect a motivated Carson Beck, as the Georgia quarterback picks up where he left off in the second half against the Crimson Tide and quickly dashes Auburn's upset hopes.
Prediction: Georgia 38, Auburn 17

Lyons: A game with Hugh Freeze’s spiraling Auburn team is exactly what the doctor ordered after a dramatic loss to Alabama. Auburn has been competitive against flawed Arkansas and Oklahoma teams, and has some serious talent on offense, but the quarterback situation — whether Payton Thorne or Hank Brown spends most of the time under center — isn’t nearly good enough to hand Georgia’s its second loss. If the Dawgs can turn on what it found in the second half against Alabama, it will be hard for anyone to contend with Kirby Smart’s team down the stretch.
Prediction: Georgia 41, Auburn 19

Northwestern vs. Indiana (-13)

Lassan: With a win over Northwestern, Indiana will already earn bowl eligibility in coach Curt Cignetti's first season. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke's play is a big reason why the offense averages 48.8 points a contest, which is more than enough to beat a struggling Northwestern squad.
Prediction: Indiana 31, Northwestern 10

Lyons: The Hoosiers put forth more and more evidence that they’re a real threat with every game they play. IU beat UCLA by 29 and Maryland by 14. There should be of cream and crimson-clad fans making their way to Evanston to see Northwestern’s lakeside stadium in person. The Wildcats have taken a step back from the surprising 8-5 team from a year ago.
Prediction: Indiana 28, Northwestern 7

Stanford vs. Virginia Tech (-8)

Lassan: A long road trip to California a week after a crushing and controversial loss to Miami is a tough spot for Virginia Tech. Stanford is showing steady progress under coach Troy Taylor, and the playmakers - receiver Elic Ayomanor and running back Micah Ford - should find plenty of room to operate against the Hokies (5.74 yards a play allowed). A Cardinal upset wouldn't be a surprise.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 27, Stanford 24

Lyons: It would be very easy for Virginia Tech to be demoralized after its controversial loss at Miami. Now the Hokies have to make a trip to the West Coast and play a Stanford team that has showed real fight to open ACC play. The Cardinal did not fare nearly as well against Clemson as it did in its upset win at Syracuse, but they did run for 236 yards on the Tigers. Wide receiver Elic Ayomanor remains a matchup nightmare on the outside. Virginia Tech is still waiting for a breakout game from quarterback Kyron Drones, who has been disappointing after his impressive 2023.
Prediction: Stanford 24, Virginia Tech 23

Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia (+3.5)

Lassan: Oklahoma State's Big 12 title hopes are fading after an 0-2 start in conference play, which makes Saturday's game a must-win setup for coach Mike Gundy's squad. Standout running back Ollie Gordon II has been held to less than 100 yards in four consecutive games, and quarterback Alan Bowman has been inconsistent. West Virginia struggles to stop the pass and is allowing nearly 30 points a game (28.5), so this could be an opportunity for the Cowboys to get their offense on track. However, Oklahoma State's defense ranks last in the Big 12 against the run, giving West Virginia's ground game and quarterback Garrett Greene plenty of chances to control the pace of this one.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 34, West Virginia 31

Lyons: It’s hard to know what to make of the Cowboys and Mountaineers this year. Oklahoma State veteran quarterback Alan Bowman has put up big numbers, but hasn’t always come through in big moments. Preseason Heisman hopeful Ollie Gordon has struggled to gain any traction, and is averaging just 3.8 yards per carry on the season. West Virginia gave up 247 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Kansas and has a -5 turnover margin. This could be a good opportunity for Mike Gundy to get Gordon going.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 33, West Virginia 26

Vanderbilt vs. Alabama (-23)

Lassan: Perhaps Vanderbilt could catch Alabama in a sluggish start after last week's win over Georgia. However, quarterback Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide offense simply has too much firepower. Expect Alabama to pull away from an improved Vanderbilt team in the second half.
Prediction: Alabama 45, Vanderbilt 17

Lyons: The game nearly got away from them in the second half, but last Saturday showed the best of what Alabama can be in the Kalen DeBoer era. Vanderbilt is much improved this season, but the Commodores will need to find their first SEC win since 2022 elsewhere.
Prediction: Alabama 41, Vanderbilt 14

Florida State vs. Clemson (-14.5)

Lassan: This matchup was expected to be a key game in the ACC Championship picture, but it's off-the-radar now due to Florida State's 1-4 record. After losing to Georgia in the opener, the Tigers have won each of their last three games by 24 points. Getting an extended look at Brock Glenn at quarterback is a good thing for the 'Noles, but Clemson just has too much on both sides of the ball.
Prediction: Clemson 34, Florida State 17

Lyons: Florida State continues to circle the drain in the ACC, while Clemson has somewhat quietly gotten itself back in the College Football Playoff conversation after its rough Week 1 showing against Georgia. Cade Klubnik has played very well since that loss, while DJ Uiagalelei continues to struggle mightily, and is now out of the starting lineup with a hand injury. Brock Glenn will get the start against the the Tigers.
Prediction: Clemson 43, Florida State 12

Minnesota vs. USC (-8)

Lassan: If the first half isn't exciting on Saturday, don't get too concerned after both Minnesota (Michigan) and USC (Wisconsin) proved to be strong second-half teams last week. The Trojans have improved on defense, but this group is still vulnerable to the run. That's not good news with Darius Taylor (258 yards) up next. USC quarterback Miller Moss and a standout group of receivers should make enough plays in the second half to escape Minneapolis with a win.
Prediction: USC 30, Minnesota 20

Lyons: USC’s first Big Ten road trip didn’t go all that well, and the Trojans struggled early against Wisconsin before putting up 28 second-half points to run away from the Badgers. Minnesota has been up-and-down, but lost by the same margin to Michigan as USC did. The Golden Gophers have the No. 16 defense in the country, per SP+. This should be closer than many expect.
Prediction: USC 26, Minnesota 23

Georgia Tech vs. Duke (+9)

Lassan: New Duke coach Manny Diaz is quietly putting together one of the better performances by a first-year coach. The Blue Devils are 5-0 after rallying to beat rival North Carolina last Saturday, while Diaz's defensive acumen has paid off (16.2 points a game allowed and generated 17 sacks). However, the guess here is the undefeated season ends for Diaz's team. Georgia Tech has a standout offensive line to go with quarterback Haynes King and a solid group of playmakers on an attack averaging 6.97 yards a snap.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Duke 24

Lyons: Duke deserves plenty of credit for its 5-0 start, but the Blue Devils will come back to the pack soon. Maalik Murphy has played fairly well at quarterback for Duke, but the offense lacks explosiveness. Georgia Tech’s Haynes King continues to give opposing defenses headaches. This game could come down to Georgia Tech’s offensive line, which hasn’t allowed a sack this year, vs. Duke’s impressive pass rush.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 24, Duke 19

Florida vs. UCF (-2.5)

Lassan: UCF (a two-touchdown favorite last week) is coming off a surprising loss to Colorado, while Florida has had two weeks to get ready for this game. The Knights should be motivated for their shot at one of the Big 3 in the Sunshine State, and coach Gus Malzahn's offense should have no trouble putting up points behind quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back RJ Harvey versus the struggling Florida defense. However, the Knights have their own set of issues on defense, giving coach Billy Napier's team a chance to move the ball consistently behind quarterback Graham Mertz and running back Montrell Johnson. Expect plenty of offensive fireworks in a must-win matchup for Napier.
Prediction: Florida 34, UCF 31

Lyons: Teams have had no problem running all over Florida’s defense, and that is exactly what a UCF team, looking for a bounceback from its loss to Colorado, plans to do. RJ Harvey is one of the nation’s most dynamic runners, with 525 yards and eight touchdowns. KJ Jefferson’s fit in Gus Malzahn’s offense hasn’t been seamless, but the Gators defense should gives him an opportunity to put up big numbers.
Prediction: UCF 28, Florida 24

Arizona State vs. Kansas (+3)

Lassan: Kansas was one of the biggest September disappointments with a 1-4 mark and a four-game losing streak after beating Lindenwood in the season opener. Offensive regression under new coordinator Jeff Grimes and inconsistent play from quarterback Jalon Daniels are primarily to blame for the slow start. Arizona State is trending up under second-year coach Kenny Dillingham and should be motivated to rebound after a close loss at Texas Tech two weeks ago. Running back Cam Skattebo (108.3 rushing yards a game) faces a tough matchup against a Kansas defense limiting rushers to 3.6 yards a carry.
Prediction: Arizona State 31, Kansas 30

Lyons: The Sun Devils are ahead of schedule in their rebuild under Kenny Dillingham, and scored close wins over Mississippi State and Texas State before falling at Texas Tech last week. Kansas has had the opposite experience, stumbling to 1-4 after opening the year as a Big 12 favorite, with four losses coming by an average of six points. The Jayhawks have a 22-spot edge on the Sun Devils in SP+ and are due for one of these games to flip. If Jalon Daniels can get his turnover issues under control, KU can start its march back towards bowl eligibility.
Prediction: Kansas 33, Arizona State 28

Arizona vs. Texas Tech (+6.5)

Lassan: Texas Tech has been a difficult team to get a read on from week-to-week, while Arizona is coming off a huge road victory against Utah. The Red Raiders are giving up 6.4 yards a snap, which is bad news against the Wildcats one-two punch of quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
Prediction: Arizona 38, Texas Tech 31

Lyons: Arizona got on track with a win over Utah, and the Wildcats offense should find plenty of success against a Texas Tech defense that finds itself in a shootout more often than not. Expect to see another one on Saturday.
Prediction: Arizona 35, Texas Tech 32

• See also: College Football Group of 5 Coaches Poll: Week 5

Top Group of 5 games of College Football Week 6

Air Force vs. Navy (-10)

Lassan: The hire of Drew Cronic as Navy's offensive coordinator has been one of the best assistant moves in the Group of 5 ranks this year. Quarterback Blake Horvath (271.8 total yards a game) is off to a fast start, and the Midshipmen lead the AAC in scoring (46 points a contest). Air Force is off to a slow start (1-3), but coach Troy Calhoun's squad could play its best game of the season with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy up for grabs.
Prediction: Navy 24, Air Force 13

Lyons: Navy is a real contender in the AAC, while Air Force needs to reload after winning nine or more games four times in the last five seasons. This may be Troy Calhoun’s worst Falcons team since 2013’s 2-10 squad.
Prediction: Navy 39, Air Force 17

Marshall vs. Appalachian State (+3)

Lassan: Both Marshall and Appalachian State enter this key Sun Belt East Division showdown with major question marks. The Mountaineers' defense is a major issue after giving up 48 points in a blowout loss to South Alabama on Sept. 19, while the Thundering Herd are a work in progress offensively (4.9 yards a play against FBS teams). This one is a toss up. I'll take the better defense and homefield advantage with the Thundering Herd.
Prediction: Marshall 30, Appalachian State 27

Lyons: Saturday’s game will be emotionally charged for the Mountaineers, after the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene in the school’s home of Boone, N.C. Quarterback Joey Aguilar hasn’t been at his best so far this year, but he remains one of the Sun Belt’s top passers.
Prediction: Appalachian State 30, Marshall 29

Toledo vs. Miami (Ohio) (+6.5)

Lassan: Could this potentially be an early preview of the MAC title game? As expected, Miami’s defense is one of the best in the Group of 5 ranks, but the offense is off to a slow start (12 points a game). Despite losing a ton of pieces from last year’s squad, Toledo already ranks atop the MAC in scoring offense and defense and picked up a massive road win at Mississippi State.
Prediction: Toledo 27, Miami (Ohio) 20

Lyons: The Rockets look like the class of the MAC, though the loss at Western Kentucky hurt their College Football Playoff aspirations. Miami (Ohio) was expected to compete for the league again after beating Toledo in the MAC title last year, but the offense hasn’t shown up.
Prediction: Toledo 24, Miami (Ohio) 15

Arkansas State vs. South Alabama (-2.5)

Lassan: This is a key game for positioning in the Sun Belt West for both teams. Also, it’s a great matchup between two of the league’s top quarterbacks in Gio Lopez and Jaylen Raynor. Expect plenty of fireworks here.
Prediction: South Alabama 34, Arkansas State 31

Lyons: South Alabama flashed a lethal offense in September, putting up 135 points in its back-to-back wins over Northwestern State and Appalachian State. The Jaguars understandably came back to the pack against LSU, but should be able to put up points against a Red Wolves defense rated near the bottom of FBS.
Prediction: South Alabama 39, Arkansas State 23

ULM vs. James Madison (-17)

Lassan: At 3-1, the Warhawks are off to a great start under new coach Bryant Vincent. However, as the last two weeks showed (70-50 win over North Carolina and 63-7 over Ball State), James Madison is on a different level in the Sun Belt.
Prediction: James Madison 41, ULM 17

Lyons: ULM coach Bryant Vincent should get some serious plaudits for the job he’s done early this year with the Warhawks, but James Madison is turning into a College Football Playoff contender out of the Group of 5, with 133 points over the last two weeks. ULM will struggle to keep up with that attack.
Prediction: James Madison 45, ULM 24

• See also: College Football’s Top 25 Quarterbacks After Week 5

Best of the rest of College Football games in Week 6

TCU vs. Houston (+16.5, game on Friday)

Lassan: Houston has scored only one touchdown in three games against power conference opponents this year. The Cougars have been better on defense (4.95 yards a snap allowed), but this is a tough spot for coach Willie Fritz’s squad against TCU’s offense led by quarterback Josh Hoover and a deep group of receivers.
Prediction: TCU 38, Houston 13

Lyons: The defense’s performance against Oklahoma aside, Houston has been outclassed by its Power 4 opponents all year. TCU’s offense is still very explosive, and the Cougars haven’t been able to score at all this season.
Prediction: TCU 31, Houston 9

UNLV vs. Syracuse (+6.5, game on Friday)

Lassan: Friday night games have delivered so far this season, and I'm expecting another good one with UNLV hosting Syracuse. With a spot in the CFB Playoff going to the highest-rated Group of 5 conference champion, this game is crucial to the Rebels' hopes, especially after handling Fresno State 59-14 last week. Coach Barry Odom's offense didn't miss a beat in that game after the high-profile departure of Matthew Sluka to the transfer portal. New starter Hajj-Malik Williams shined with four overall scores in that game, and he will help to lead a UNLV rushing attack (283 yards a contest) that should find room to operate against Syracuse (139 yards a game allowed). However, expect quarterback Kyle McCord to answer for the Orange offense, setting up a game that goes down to the wire.
Prediction: UNLV 31, Syracuse 30

Lyons: This game should be more of a toss-up than the 6.5-point line would indicate. UNLV looked even better after swapping in Hajj-Malik Williams at quarterback for the departed Matthew Sluka . If Syracuse can keep Kyle McCord clean, the Orange offense is extremely dangerous, but UNLV has the pass rush talent to really disrupt things.
Prediction: UNLV 35, Syracuse 32

Oregon State vs. Colorado State (+11)

Lassan: The return of receiver Tory Horton from injury should give Colorado State’s offense a boost against an Oregon State defense holding teams to 21.3 points a game. The Beavers’ standout ground game (averaging 267.8 rushing yards a game) will test the Rams’ defense (allowing 113.5 rushing yards a contest).
Prediction: Oregon State 30, Colorado State 20

Lyons: Oregon State can really run the ball, with Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson leading an offense with 1,071 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Colorado State gives up points in bunches, and the offense is a disappointment.
Prediction: Oregon State 27, Colorado State 13

Related: College Football Top 134 Team Rankings for 2024

Related: College Football Playoff 12-Team Projections After Week 5

Related: Heisman Rankings: Travis Hunter Makes Dual-Threat Statement