NCAA Football Week 6 Odds Overview & Top Picks

The fifth week of the 2018 college football season was rich with drama. Syracuse knocked out Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence out of the game — and since Kelly Bryant left the team last week, that left the Tigers with a true freshman at the helm. They needed a key drive late to beat the Orange and avoid falling to Syracuse two years in a row. Penn State and Ohio State went down to the last minutes as well, but a curious play call by James Franklin benefited the Buckeyes. Michigan was able to roar back from a 17-point deficit at Northwestern to keep their Big Ten hopes alive, while Nebraska is now 0-4 for the first time since 1965. What will happen in Week 6? Our NCAA Football Week 6 betting predictions for some of the top matchups follow. As always, home teams are in all caps.

NCAA Football Week 6 Odds Overview & Top Picks

ESPN releases Top 25 power rankings after Week 5 in college football: https://t.co/0DweA4G55e pic.twitter.com/ncClUyUQXC

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Texas (+7) over Oklahoma (at the Cotton Bowl, Dallas) (12:00pm ET, FOX)

Texas has rebounded nicely from their opening loss at Maryland, winning four in a row. However, they barely escaped Kansas State with a win, taking a 19-0 lead in the second quarter but having to hold on mightily for a 19-14 win after the offense fell off the table. Sam Ehlinger did go 29 for 36 for 207 yards and a score in the win, and his ability to play with ball security is one reason why the Longhorns have improved their record on the season. The Oklahoma Sooners needed overtime to escape Army at home two weeks ago, but they got back to form against Baylor last week, rolling up a 66-33 win over the Bears. The offense gained 607 yards on the day, and Kyler Murray went 17 for 21 with six touchdown passes and scored a touchdown on the ground as well. The Sooners have been scoring on everyone, averaging 49 points per game and gaining 523 yards per contest. On defense, Oklahoma has been able to hold opponents to 23 points per game, but their inability to get Army’s offense off the field should be worrying to fans who wonder about how the Sooners will do if they get to the College Football Playoff. This is a rivalry that often sees the underdog win and often features close finishes. I think the Sooners have the tools to win this one late, but I think Texas keeps it close with their improved defense. NCAA Football Week 6 Prediction: Oklahoma 27, Texas 23

Syracuse (-5.5) over PITT (12:20pm ET, ACC ESPN Network)

Syracuse is now 4-1 after a heartbreaking 27-23 loss at Clemson last week that saw Clemson drive down the field late to take the win. Quarterback Eric Dungey had a solid game for the Orange, throwing for 250 yards and an interception (but also running for two touchdowns. The Orange running game was fairly limited against a physical Clemson defense, as tailback Sean Riley led the way with just 24 yards. Syracuse has a high-flying offense and a physical, fast defense that can deliver some punishment. The Orange visit a Pitt team that has wins over Albany and Georgia Tech but has lost to Penn State, North Carolina (in an upset) and UCF last week. Against UCF, Kenny Pickett only threw for 163 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Syracuse has covered the spread in four of their last five games and in seven of their last eight on the road. Pitt can’t stop their offense and may not be able to score much on their defense. NCAA Football Week 6 Prediction: Syracuse 30, Pitt 20

COLORADO (-2.5) over Arizona State (4:00pm ET, Pac-12 Network)

Arizona State likely sent Michigan State’s playoff hopes into critical condition with a 16-13 home win back on September 8. Then the Sun Devils stumbled badly, losing at San Diego State by seven. They lost to a much better Washington team by the same margin before thrashing Oregon State by 38 points. They head to Colorado to take on a 4-0 Buffaloes team that opened Pac-12 play with a 38-16 drubbing of UCLA at home. Their previous wins included a rout of Colorado State, a close win at Nebraska and a shellacking of New Hampshire. While Arizona State has a stingy defense, their inconsistency on offense has held them back. Colorado is playing at a higher level right now and should carry the win at home. They got an early scare against UCLA but scored the last 28 points of the contest to win, picking up 477 yards of offense and staying turnover-free. NCAA Football Week 6 Prediction: Colorado 24, Arizona State 16