4 bold college football predictions for Week 6: Red River Rivalry has dominant winner

4 bold college football predictions for Week 6: Red River Rivalry has dominant winner

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4 bold college football predictions for Week 6: Red River Rivalry has dominant winner

Week 6 of the college football season is underway, and there are some big-time matchups on the slate. The big games will kick off Friday night when Iowa travels to Washington to take on the Huskies, and Florida State takes on Louisville.

But the mega game takes place on Saturday. “College GameDay” will be in Tuscaloosa for the Georgia vs. Alabama game, and there could be extreme weather that affects the game. Then, in the Big Ten, undefeated UCLA will take on Oregon in Eugene.

Ahead of the games, here are four bold predictions.

MORE: ESPN College GameDay guest picker for Week 6 announced: Georgia vs. Alabama

Texas blanks Oklahoma

Texas edge Colin Simmons (1) celebrates after Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) is sacked again during a college

Texas edge Colin Simmons (1) celebrates after Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) is sacked again during a college football game between Tennessee and Texas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Sept. 26, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Texas’ offense hasn’t done anything exceptional this season. Arch Manning put together a 21-point fourth quarter to take down Ohio State earlier in the year, but it has been a mixed bag for the Longhorns. However, Texas’ defense is solid, and it can get to the passer.

If Texas hasn’t been exceptional on offense, then the Sooners are downright horrible. And they have been. When Oklahoma plays anyone with a pulse, Quarterback John Mateer has been poor, and turnovers have been a major issue.

The Sooners have a good defense of their own, but with all of Mateer’s issues — four interceptions and two fumbles — it’s hard to believe they can move the ball against this Texas defense. Unless the bye did Oklahoma a lot of good, it’s going to be a long day for the Sooners.

Alabama, Georgia pass the ball just fine

NCAA Football: Vanderbilt at Georgia

Oct 3, 2026; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) passes the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Hurricane Isaias is set to make landfall late Friday, and there was talk of postponing the Georgia-Alabama game. But the game is happening, and it will take place at Bryant-Denny Stadium. With the weather expected to be bad — wind and rain — that makes you believe it’s going to be an old-school, ground-and-pound game.

If that happens, it favors Georgia. The Bulldogs are made to run the football, and running back Nate Frazier returns to the lineup, which only helps Georgia.

But when weather is supposed to make an impact on a game, the opposite can tend to happen. Alabama needs Keelon Russell to air the ball out. He has thrown for over 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and his dual-threat ability makes the Tide’s offense tough to stop.

Expect the unexpected, and both Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton and Russell have big days through the air.

Dylan Raiola makes an argument for QB1

Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola celebrates a touchdown by Oregon running back Dierre Hill Jr. as the Oregon Ducks face the USC

Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola celebrates a touchdown by Oregon running back Dierre Hill Jr. as the Oregon Ducks face the USC Trojans on Sept. 26, 2026, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

After taking a hard hit against USC two weeks ago, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will miss the game Saturday against UCLA. That will give Dylan Raiola his first start of the season, and he’s no typical backup. After starting two seasons at Nebraska, Raiola opted to transfer to the Ducks and sit behind Moore.

He came in against the Trojans and threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Raiola has all the playmakers he needs to succeed in Oregon, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him have a big day against UCLA. The Bruins have one of the worst passing defenses in the Big Ten, and that will be Oregon’s plan of attack.

Obviously, he’s not going to replace Moore, but Oregon won’t be in a hurry to get Moore back into the lineup until he’s 100 percent.

FSU fans change tune on Mike Norvell

Florida State University football head coach Mike Norvell.

Florida State University football head coach Mike Norvell. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Entering the 2026 season, there probably wasn’t any coach on a hotter seat than FSU’s Mike Norvell. And it wasn’t getting any cooler after a tough loss to SMU and a blowout loss to Alabama.

But the Seminoles suddenly have life and look like a football team. Florida State dominated Virginia last weekend, and Norvell’s team has an away game against Louisville on Friday. A game that once felt impossible to win now feels possible for FSU.

The Cardinals are 2-3. and quarterback Lincoln Kienholz has been banged up. Louisville has struggled to stop the opposition, and Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels has been electric on the ground. A win over the Cardinals has FSU set up nicely.

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