College football Week 6: Picks and preview

Since Nov. 30, 2019, the Chanticleers are 17-1 with that lone loss coming to Liberty by three points in last year's Cure Bowl. We don't expect that defeat total to rise this weekend at Arkansas State, which fell 52-23 to Coastal last season and enters looking to avoid a fifth straight defeat. Coastal Carolina has allowed nine points and no touchdowns in its last two contests.

Prediction: Coastal Carolina (+19)

Cincinnati is coming off a statement 24-13 win at then-No. 9 Notre Dame, and it wasn't that close. If the nation wasn't aware, the Bearcats are a contender for the College Football Playoff, and those chances likely won't take a hit this weekend, even though Temple has won two straight. Cincinnati ranks eighth in the country, allowing 14.5 points, and has forced all 11 turnovers over the last three games.

Prediction: Cincinnati (-29)

Arizona State is back in the Top 25 after winning 42-23 at then-No. 20 UCLA last weekend. However, facing Stanford this season seems like the kiss of death for ranked teams. The Cardinal won 42-28 at then-No. 14 USC last month and 31-24 over then-third-ranked Oregon last weekend. Not to mention, Stanford played then-No. 24 UCLA to a competitive contest. That said, the Sun Devils have won their three 2021 home games by a combined 76 points.

Prediction: Stanford (+11)

Perhaps Vandy is the ideal opponent for Florida to rebound from that 20-13 loss at Kentucky last weekend. The Gators have dropped two of three in the league, but are 29-1 and have won seven straight against the Commodores since 1989. Not to mention, Vanderbilt has dropped 24 in a row against ranked SEC opponents on the road. The Gators have their issues and inconsistencies, but a bounce-back here should be obvious.

Prediction: Florida (-38)

Previously undefeated Maryland received a major jolt of reality with last week's 51-14 home loss to a top-five Iowa squad. Things won't get any easier versus Ohio State, which has scored 111 points in the last two contests -- and allowed 40 over a three-game stretch. The Buckeyes are one of four Big Ten teams ranked inside the top 10, but with one defeat, have little room for error in terms of the national championship race.

Prediction: Ohio State (-21)

Each team is looking to rebound from a loss to one of the top two teams in the SEC. Arkansas was humbled during its 37-0 loss at No. 2 Georgia, and now faces another potentially daunting task against an Ole Miss squad that scored 21 in a 21-point defeat at top-ranked Alabama. Rebels quarterback Matt Corral still has not thrown an interception this season (10 touchdown passes) but was picked off six times in last year's 33-21 loss at Arkansas.

Prediction: Mississippi (-5 1/2)

The Spartans are one of four teams sitting 2-0 in the Big Ten's East Division. They've been the biggest 2021 surprise in the league, mostly because of an offense that's averaging 37.8 points. That doesn't seem to bode well for Rutgers, which just had 52 points laid on itself by Ohio State. The Scarlet Knights won at Michigan State last season to snap a six-game skid in this series, but have dropped three straight at home to the Spartans.

Prediction: Michigan State (-5)

It's always special when both Red River Rivalry participants are ranked in the Top 25. Still, it might be tough to top last season's matchup, at least from an entertainment standpoint, that ended with Oklahoma winning 53-45 after four overtimes. The stands at the Cotton Bowl should be filled, and the Longhorns enter looking for a fourth consecutive victory. The Sooners, meanwhile, have been somewhat living on the edge while beating their four FBS opponents by a combined 21 points.

Prediction: Texas (+3 1/2)

Georgia's 2021 defensive performance has been truly impressive. The Bulldogs top the nation in average points allowed (4.6), touchdowns allowed (two), and total yards allowed (180.6). Not to mention, they've pitched shutouts in their last two games -- against Vanderbilt and then-No. 8 Arkansas. Georgia has also outscored Auburn 103-37 during a four-game winning streak. Tigers quarterback Bo Nix came up big against the LSU last week but is 0-2 against Georgia while throwing for 422 yards with a touchdown, interception, and a rushing touchdown, to go with being sacked five times.

Prediction: Georgia (-14 1/2)

BYU has won 21 of its last 24 games. That run began with a 28-25 home victory over then-No. 14 Boise State on Oct. 19, 2019. Last season, the Cougars rolled to a 51-17 rout of the then-No. 21 Broncos at Boise. Now, they look for an eighth consecutive win overall and 14th straight at home. Perhaps the only drama here is the lead-up, and who will start at quarterback for the Cougars.

Prediction: BYU (-5)

For a third consecutive season, SMU has opened with five straight wins and got some Top 25 love this week. Former Oklahoma backup Tanner Mordecai leads the nation with 24 touchdown passes -- plus six interceptions -- and also ranks among the country's leaders with 1,569 yards for the Mustangs. SMU, though, has dropped five in a row at Navy, however, these Midshipmen have totaled just 64 points on the season.

Prediction: SMU (-13 1/2)

For the second time in three seasons, Wake Forest is 5-0. The Demon Deacons also sit atop the ACC Atlantic Division thanks to an offense that averages 38.4 points. Wake's receiving trio of Jaquarii Roberson, A.T. Perry, and Taylor Morin has combined for 60 receptions, 943 yards, and eight touchdowns. Syracuse, however, is giving up just 167 passing yards per contest and has recorded 20 sacks.

Prediction: Wake Forest (-6 1/2)

The premier matchup of the week comes courtesy of the Big Ten. Penn State is averaging 30.0 points and allowing 12.0 this season. Iowa, meanwhile, is scoring 33.2 points per contest and giving up 11.6 a game. The Hawkeyes have won 11 in the row while the Nittany Lions are riding a nine-game winning streak. Iowa snapped a six-game skid in the series with last year's 41-21 victory at Penn State, but the Nittany Lions will be looking for a fourth consecutive triumph at Iowa City. Does it get much better than this?

Prediction: Iowa (-2 1/2)

The last thing Kentucky needs after finally getting the best of Florida is suffering a setback at home. These schools haven't met on the gridiron since 2014, and the last time it happened in Lexington, the Wildcats knocked off then-No. 1 LSU 43-37 in three overtimes on Oct. 13, 2007. Kentucky's Chris Rodriguez ranks fifth in the country with 612 rushing yards and averages nearly 6.0 yards per carry. LSU, meanwhile, remains tough to figure out but will try for a third consecutive SEC road victory.

Prediction: Kentucky (-3)

The Wolverines continue to impress, this time by winning at Wisconsin for the first time since 2001. Perhaps it's time to take notice of Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara (731 passing yards, five TDs, zero INTs), and the fact he can win big ball games. Nebraska, meanwhile, is giving up 503.7 yards per game, but only 15.5 points. That bend-but-not-totally-break defense will certainly be put to the test this weekend.

Prediction: Michigan (-3 1/2)

Following that 11-point home loss to then-No. 7 Cincinnati last weekend, Notre Dame is trying to avoid losing back-to-back regular-season contests for the first time since November 2016. The first of those losses came against Virginia Tech. The big question for the Irish, this week, is who will start under center  between the struggling Jack Coan and promising Drew Pyne. Regardless of who starts, Notre Dame's offensive line must improve after yielding 22 sacks and paving the way for a run game that's averaging just 2.4 yards per carry. Meanwhile, all three Virginia Tech victories have come at home.

Prediction: Virginia Tech (+1)

Texas A&M is responsible for one of Alabama's 11 regular-season SEC losses since the start of the 2010 season. However, the Aggies have dropped eight straight to the Tide and dealing with serious quarterback issues which is mostly why they've dropped two in a row. Alabama, meanwhile, is 30-0 on the road against unranked SEC opponents since losing 17-12 at Mississippi State on Nov. 10, 2017.

Prediction: Alabama (-17 1/2)

Partially why San Diego State is undefeated and ranked in the Top 25, it averaged 5.3 rushing yards per carry and allows 1.9. (184 total rushing yards allowed). For the time being, the Aztecs are the class of the Mountain West Conference without having yet played a league contest. They'll open conference action looking for an eighth consecutive victory over New Mexico, which has totaled 23 points during its current three-game losing streak.

Prediction: San Diego State (-19 1/2)

Baylor's stay in the Top 25 lasted all of one week after falling 24-14 at then-No. 19 Oklahoma State. However, it won't go down as a bad defeat as the Bears made things interesting by rallying back from a 14-0 hole. Baylor also picked off Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders three times. West Virginia quarterback Jarret Doege has been intercepted four times this season but has thrown just one touchdown while his team has dropped two in a row -- by a combined six points. The Mountaineers have lost six straight on the road.

Prediction: Baylor (-3)

Two years ago, Illinois stunned a then-No. 6 Badgers' squad 24-23 at home. That's the Illini's lone win over Wisconsin in the last 11 meetings. However, early in the week quarterback Graham Mertz and tight end Jake Ferguson are both questionable with injuries as Wisconsin looks to avoid a third straight defeat after yielding 79 points in the last two games. The Badgers have allowed just 181 total rushing yards this season -- 81 fewer than Illinois' Chase Brown ran for in last weekend's home win over Charlotte.

Prediction: Illinois (+8 1/2)

The Seminoles finally have their first victory of 2021, 33-30 over Syracuse at home last weekend that required a last-second field goal. Making it two straight will be exceedingly tougher. Florida State gives up an average of 31.4 points and North Carolina has scored 156 while going 3-0 at home. This is the first time the schools have met in Chapel Hill since 2009. The Tar Heels' last win over the Seminoles at home came in 2001.

Prediction: North Carolina (-17 1/2)

Oregon State is writing a pretty nice story at the moment. Following back-to-back victories at USC and over Washington, the Beavers have won four straight and sit atop the Pac-12's North Division. They've done it, in part by a defense that's allowed only two teams to rush for 100 or more yards, recorded 11 sacks, and forced 11 turnovers. The one thing Oregon State has not done is beat Washington State since 2013 -- a slide of seven consecutive games.

Prediction: Oregon State (-3 1/2)