College Football Week 6 Predictions: Every Game, Every Pick

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The conference games become more important as the teams start to define their seasons going into the Week 6 Saturday showdowns. Jump to the links to the full previews and predictions for the biggest Week 6 games, and scroll down for our picks and thoughts on 28 of the other games, with some fun showdowns including Boise State at Fresno State, Kansas at Utah, and Tennessee at Arkansas on what should be a whale of a day.

– Week 6 Schedule & Predictions
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 6
– 10 Best Picks of the Week

College Football Week 6 Predictions

Tulane at Army

Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
Consensus Line: Army -3.5, o/u: 48.5
Can the Tulane defense stop the run? Not really. The Green Wave are struggling, allowing 191 rushing yards per game, and they have to deal with the nation’s best ground game. Army is the only team averaging over 300 yards per game, with 334.25 per outing, and it’ll start running and keep running in a low-scoring game.
Prediction: Army 24, Tulane 20

Sacramento State at Bowling Green

Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Bowling Green -8.5, o/u: 43.5 
All of a sudden, Bowling Green has figured it out defensively, with a great game in a 14-6 loss to USF and a stunning 24-20 win over Miami University. The Hornets have scored 19 points over the last three games, and they’re not about to get going in this.
Prediction: Bowling Green 30, Sacramento State 13

Old Dominion at App State

Game Time: 1:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: App State -9.5, o/u: 47.5
App State has been one of the biggest surprises of the first half of the season, and Old Dominion has been among the biggest disappointments. The Monarchs can’t throw at all, and they’re the worst in the nation in sacks allowed and tackles for loss given up. There’s one problem: the weather will be awful.
Prediction: App State 27, Old Dominion 20

Miami University at UMass

Game Time: 2:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Miami University -4.5, o/u: 44.5
Will the real teams please stand up? Miami University couldn’t stop getting flagged in a stunning 24-20 home loss to Bowling Green, and UMass was rolled 38-14 by Eastern Michigan just when it had the home crowd fired up. The RedHawks will do more with their downfield passing attack in a fun game.
Prediction: Miami University 24, UMass 20

Duke at Georgia Tech

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN2
Consensus Line: Duke -6.5, o/u: 44.5
Didn’t you used to be Georgia Tech? It can’t move the ball well enough, can’t stop the run, and the defense isn’t coming up with any big plays. Duke keeps on methodically winning with great offensive line play and no big mistakes. That continues as the Blue Devils quietly get to 5-0 in a soggy, windy game.
Prediction: Duke 24, Georgia Tech 14

Virginia Tech at Cal

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ACC Network
Consensus Line: Virginia Tech -9.5, o/u: 53.5
Be careful with this. Virginia Tech has been great so far, but it has to travel across the country to deal with a Cal team that’s far better than it played against UNLV last week. On the plus side for the Hokies, this isn’t a night game that might screw with their internal clocks. They’ll win, but they’ll be in for a fight from a Bear team in desperate need of a win.
Prediction: Virginia Tech 30, Cal 24

Illinois at Michigan State

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: FS1
Consensus Line: Illinois -2.5, o/u: 48.5
Both teams are struggling, but in different ways. Michigan State is banged up, but fighting. Illinois is still battling, but it doesn’t have any mojo – there’s no swagger to this bunch. That’s because the defensive front isn’t doing a thing. The Spartans get a nice home win for Pat Fitzgerald by controlling the clock and tempo throughout.
Prediction: Michigan State 26, Illinois 23

Charlotte at North Texas

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: North Texas -28.5, o/u: 57.5 
North Texas has been a little bit hit-or-miss – the defense is having a rough time. But Charlotte can’t score, and the defense won’t have a prayer against a rolling Mean Green attack that’s been on a tear over the last four games.
Prediction: North Texas 44, Charlotte 16

Tulsa at Navy

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
Consensus Line: Navy -1.5, o/u: 48.5 
There hasn’t been a lick of consistency to Tulsa’s season. There’s a big problem for the Golden Hurricane in this: they can’t convert third down chances or control the clock. Navy might be having its own issues, but it’ll own the time of possession battle.
Prediction: Navy 26, Tulsa 24

Eastern Michigan at Akron

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Eastern Michigan -5.5, o/u: 51.5 
Akron is overdue for an FBS win. Don’t get caught up in the 1-4 start – the losses were to Wake Forest, UNLV, and against Minnesota and Central Michigan on the road. Eastern Michigan might have been great in a 38-14 win at UMass last week, but it’ll have a problem against the Zip offense that will finally get moving.
Prediction: Akron 28, Eastern Michigan 24

Buffalo at Toledo

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Toledo -18.5, o/u: 55.5 
Buffalo is coming off its best performance of the season in a 20-17 loss against Western Michigan, but it’s about to run into a buzzsaw. Toledo is playing well behind an offensive line dominating week after week. The Rockets don’t make enough mistakes for UB to catch a break.
Prediction: Toledo 41, Buffalo 14

Central Michigan at Ohio

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Ohio -2.5, o/u: 46.5 
Central Michigan might not be considered in the MAC title mix like Western Michigan and Toledo, but it’s been playing well. What it hasn’t done is win on the road, but the two games were at Miami and New Mexico. The Bobcats have turned the defense up a notch. They’ll stop the Chippewas just enough to get by in a fun game.
Prediction: Ohio 27, Central Michigan 20

Kent State at Western Michigan

Game Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Western Michigan -13.5, o/u: 43.5 
Kent State’s offense hit a bit of a wall, and it’s not about to get going against a Western Michigan defense that rebounded from a rocking against Boise State to close down Buffalo. But the Broncos aren’t scoring much, either. The Golden Flashes will seem like they’re holding on to the ball all game long, but the points won’t be there.
Prediction: Western Michigan 27, Kent State 16

UConn at Temple

Game Time: 3:45 PM ET
TV: ESPNU
Consensus Line: Temple -3.5, o/u: 54.5 
Temple should’ve beaten Army – it lost 21-17 a few weeks ago – but was fantastic in a 17-13 defensive fight at USF last week. The defense will keep the UConn offense from getting the running game going like it needs to. The Owls will live in the Husky backfield.
Prediction: Temple 30, UConn 24

Rice at East Carolina

Game Time: 4:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: East Carolina -9.5, o/u: 46.5 
East Carolina has finally started to step it up a bit, even if it took a tight win over a struggling Old Dominion and a 42-9 blowout over NC Central to do it. The Pirates can’t seem to move the ball at all, but what they can do is get behind the line. They’ll get to the Rice running game before it gets started on a rough day through a driving rainstorm.
Prediction: East Carolina 24, Rice 14

Tennessee at Arkansas

Game Time: 4:15 PM ET
TV: SEC Network
Consensus Line: Tennessee -13.5, o/u: 51.5 
There won’t be any problem with the weather in Fayetteville – expect 85 and sunny. George MacIntyre gets the start over a banged up Faizon Brandon, who’s been fighting through a shoulder injury. MacIntyre was solid in the second half against Auburn. On the other side, the Vol pass rush will overwhelm the Hogs.
Prediction: Tennessee 38, Arkansas 14

San Diego State at Oregon State

Game Time: 6:00 PM ET
TV: USA Network
Consensus Line: Oregon State -16.5, o/u: 52.5
San Diego State pulled off one of the most amazing wins of the season last week against Texas State. Already banged up, the Aztecs were also dealing with an outbreak of the mumps. The defense stepped up in the second half to pull off the shocker, but this week will be different. Oregon State and the nation’s best passing game will overwhelm an SDSU team that’s still beaten up a bit.
Prediction: Oregon State 35, San Diego State 17

UAB at Memphis

Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN2
Consensus Line: Memphis -14.5, o/u: 53.5 
This is a really, really well-coached UAB team. Alex Mortensen has done a strong job of turning the program around, but the Blazers are about to deal with a red-hot Memphis team that will open it up, but will have to push a bit. UAB isn’t the Charlotte team that Memphis beat 59-8 last week.
Prediction: Memphis 34, UAB 20

Nevada at UTEP

Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: FS1
Consensus Line: Nevada -9.5, o/u: 49.5 
This is where Nevada finally catches a break. It lost the last two weeks in tough fights, and it’s on a three-game losing streak since rolling Western Kentucky 49-14 to start the season. UTEP’s defense hasn’t even been close, allowing 197 points in the four games against FBS teams.
Prediction: Nevada 30, UTEP 20

North Dakota State at UNLV

Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: CW
Consensus Line: North Dakota State -2.5, o/u: 47.5
Alright, North Dakota State, are you ready to do this? Are you really ready to come up with the one big win needed to launch yourself into the College Football Playoff chase as the possible star of the Mountain West? The defense has been amazing, but the maddeningly inconsistent Rebels will hold up just enough to make their own statement.
Prediction: UNLV 26, North Dakota State 24

Coastal Carolina at Marshall

Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Marshall -4.5, o/u: 58.5 
Marshall has a slew of issues. It doesn’t have a pass rush, the defense can’t come up with third down stops, and the offense has been painfully inconsistent, but that will all change against a Coastal Carolina offense that won’t keep the Thundering Herd out of the backfield.
Prediction: Marshall 31, Coastal Carolina 27

James Madison at Georgia Southern

Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: ESPNU
Consensus Line: James Madison -7.5, o/u: 51.5 
Georgia Southern is struggling way too much defensively to hold up against an efficient James Madison offense, but this won’t be pretty. The forecast in Statesboro is for lots and lots of rain for the entire game.
Prediction: James Madison 34, Georgia Southern 17

Syracuse at Virginia

Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: ACC Network
Consensus Line: Virginia -11.5, o/u: 49.5 
Who’s going to turn its season around? Virginia didn’t even make the trip to Florida State last week in a 38-7 loss, and Syracuse is looking for something to spark an attack that rolled UConn last week, but needs to one-time USC super-recruit Malachi Nelson to step up with Steven Angeli out. The Cavalier defense will take over right away.
Prediction: Virginia 34, Syracuse 16

Air Force at Northern Illinois

Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: CBS Sports Network
Consensus Line: Air Force -7.5, o/u: 46.5 
Air Force has been relatively underwhelming, but it keeps winning with a 3-1 record after a 14-9 defensive fight with Navy. Northern Illinois has the worst defense in the nation at coming up with third down stops. It has the worst rushing offense in the country, and it’s dead last in punting. Air Force will methodically win without pushing too hard.
Prediction: Air Force 30, Northern Illinois 17

Louisiana at Louisiana Tech

Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN+
Consensus Line: Louisiana Tech -2.5, o/u: 48.5 
The fantastic Louisiana defense that’s been able to hold up against everyone but USC will control the game and the clock. Louisiana Tech survived Army last week, but it’ll buckle against the midrange Ragin’ Cajun passing game in a spirited Sun Belt fight that will come down to the final possession.
Prediction: Louisiana 26, Louisiana Tech 24

Minnesota at Purdue

Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: Big Ten Network
Consensus Line: Minnesota -2.5, o/u: 50.5
Minnesota is still buzzing after wins over Washington and Michigan to turn this season into something special, at least over the first half of the season. Now it faces a Purdue team that, unlike the Huskies and Wolverines, has an offense.

The Boilermakers shocked Illinois last week, and they’ll give the Gophers a run with a strong day from Ryan Browne and the passing game. The problem will be a defense that won’t be able to get off the field until it has to in the final moments of a thriller.
Prediction: Purdue 27, Minnesota 24

Hawaii at Arizona State

Game Time: 9:30 PM ET
TV: FS1
Consensus Line: Arizona State -20.5, o/u: 51.5 
Hawaii just can’t seem to get this going. Its offense stalled at Wyoming, sputtered at home in a 20-16 loss to San Jose State, and now it faces an Arizona State team that just got hammered by Baylor 55-19. The Sun Devils aren’t going to look past this.
Prediction: Arizona State 40, Hawaii 16

Kansas at Utah

Game Time: 10:15 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Consensus Line: Utah -15.5, o/u: 51.5 
The Utes had a few weeks off to rest up after a decent fight against a plucky Iowa State team. Forgotten a bit on a national scale, the 4-0 team will step up the defense with a great performance against a Kansas offense that will come up with a few good early drives before stalling.
Prediction: Utah 34, Kansas 17

Boise State at Fresno State

Game Time: 10:30 PM ET
TV: CW
Consensus Line: Boise State -6.5, o/u: 48.5 
There’s a shot this is the first of two meetings – this could be the Pac-12 Championship with a few things that break right. Fresno State has been terrific defensively, but it hasn’t faced anyone with any sort of attack since losing 39-0 at USC. Boise State will bring the firepower, but it won’t come up with enough late stops against Jayden Mandal in the Bulldog passing game.
Prediction: Fresno State 26, Boise State 24

Biggest College Football Games of Week 6

Texas A&M at Missouri
Indiana at Nebraska
UCF at Oklahoma State
Arizona at West Virginia
North Carolina at Pitt
Wake Forest at NC State
Ball State at Northwestern
South Carolina at Florida
Texas at Oklahoma
Stanford at Notre Dame
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
UCLA at Oregon
Houston at Kansas State 
LSU at Kentucky
Georgia at Alabama
USC at Penn State

Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos