College football Week 6 preview

Alabama leads the nation in scoring (54.2 points per game) and is tied for fifth in average points allowed (13.0). There is not a more complete team in the country than the Crimson Tide at the moment. A 12th consecutive victory over the Razorbacks is likely on tap.

Prediction: Alabama 50, Arkansas 9

The Wolverines showed their mettle last weekend with a comeback victory over Northwestern. Now they return to the Big House, where they've outscored their three opponents 150-33 this season. Michigan has yet to allow more than 24 points in a game, but the Terps are averaging 33.8.

Prediction: Michigan 33, Maryland 20

Two straight wins have the Spartans feeling good, but this weekend begins a potentially daunting three-game stretch that includes a trip to Penn State and date with rival Michigan. Northwestern has dropped three consecutive games in a season for the first time since 2014, but has totaled 93 points while winning the last two in this series.

Prediction: Northwestern 27, Michigan State 24

Now, this is the way it should be. For the first time since 2012, the Red River Showdown features two ranked teams. The Sooners have won six of the last eight meetings, but the last four have been decided by a combined 22 points. The Longhorns bring a four-game winning streak into this matchup against an Oklahoma team whose defense has been exploited at times.

Prediction: Texas 33, Oklahoma 31

So, West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen might have given the Jayhawks some bulletin board material this week, but will that really matter? Kansas is one win away from matching its total over the last three seasons combined. That won't come against the Mountaineers, who should be steaming after yielding 34 points to Texas Tech last week.

Prediction: West Virginia 48, Kansas 20

A newcomer to the Top 25 this week, N.C. State is looking to open at 5-0 for the first time since 2002. NFL scouts like Wolfpack quarterback Ryan Finley, who is completing 68.6 percent of his passes and has thrown eight touchdowns with one interception. BC blew its chance to remain in the Top 25 against Purdue two weeks ago but now is on the other end of such a matchup while also trying for a third consecutive win in Raleigh.

Prediction: North Carolina State 25, Boston College 21

The Tigers have won four of the last five meetings between these SEC powers, but coach Ed Orgeron is throwing plenty of love the Gators way — especially toward their defense. Florida is yielding just 14 points per contest, while LSU has scored at least 31 in all but one game this season.

Prediction: LSU 24, Florida 20

After snapping a seven-game-skid against Florida State in a thriller last season, Miami will try to win back-to-back games in the series for the first time since its six-game run from 2000-'04. The Seminoles have won two in a row and showed some heart with 14 fourth-quarter points to rally by Louisville last week. It should be much tougher for them to come back if down in this one.

Prediction: Miami 33, Florida State 17

The Cowboys are back in the Top 25 after whipping Kansas, and coach Mike Gundy is receiving prank phone calls. What can be better? A victory over Iowa State? Oklahoma State will try to do that for a seventh consecutive time, as the Cyclones look to avoid going 0-3 in the Big 12 for the second time in three seasons.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, Iowa State 19

The Tigers got some good news after freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence was injured last week, as it appears he's good to go for this contest. Backup Chase Brice held his own in helping Clemson rally by Syracuse. However, sophomore running back Travis Etienne is blossoming into the Tigers next star after rushing for 203 yards and three TDs against the Orange. He's averaged 162.3 yards and 9.0 per carry in the last three games.

Prediction: Clemson 28, Wake Forest 13

Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre entered the season on the hot seat but now is looking to guide the program to its first 5-0 start since 1998. The Buffaloes have been solid on both sides of the ball, averaging 40.3 points and giving up 17.8 per contest. But the Sun Devils will be the best team they've faced thus far. Arizona State lost at San Diego State and Washington, each by seven points.

Prediction: Colorado 27, Arizona State 24

After rallying for an impressive victory at Penn State a week ago, it seems highly unlikely Ohio State will suffer any kind of hangover. That's not how this program works. The Buckeyes have won 22 in a row vs. Indiana, which has lost 23 consecutive road games against ranked Big Ten opponents.

Prediction: Ohio State 44, Indiana 13

The magical start for Mark Stoops' squad continues, but life in the SEC doesn't get any easier for the Wildcats, especially with Jimbo Fisher now coaching in College Station. Kentucky hasn't allowed more than 16 points in any of the last four games. The Aggies, however, have already played Clemson and Alabama — more than holding their own against the Tigers. The Wildcats are bound to slip at some point, and this might be it.

Prediction: Texas A&M 29, Kentucky 27

The Golden Knights continue to climb the rankings and appear in good shape to claim their 18th consecutive victory. That's the good news. The bad: They still don't have a realistic shot at being included in the College Football Playoff. At least Knights fans might have another Peach Bowl victory to celebrate.

Prediction: UCF 44, SMU 21

The Bulldogs' latest victory over Tennessee was reportedly marred by some racial slurs from a fellow Georgia student-athlete directed toward freshman backup quarterback Justin Fields, who ran for two touchdowns last weekend. Though Vandy is off to a solid start, this might be another game in which Fields sees more time.

Prediction: Georgia 41, Vanderbilt 14 

Tied for third nationally in scoring defense (12.6 points per game), that unit is the reason the Tigers should not be counted out in the SEC, despite losing to LSU. This doesn't bode well for Mississippi State, which totaled 13 points while losing to Kentucky and Florida in the last two games.

Prediction: Auburn 24, Mississippi State 10

No team in the country is allowing fewer points per game than the Huskies (11.6). Washington has dropped the last eight games against UCLA at the Rose Bowl, but these teams haven't met there since 2013. Plus, the Bruins, still looking for their first win this season, are just hoping to be competitive during Chip Kelly's first season as coach.

Prediction: Washington 31, UCLA 14

Wisconsin should return from its open week rejuvenated, following a needed bounce-back win at Iowa. This will be its first home game since losing to BYU there Sept. 15, so the Camp Randall fans will be hungry for a victory. The Badgers have won four in a row over Nebraska, which now seems in danger of not winning a game in the Big Ten.

Prediction: Wisconsin 45, Nebraska 14

The Irish's impressive win over then-No. 7 Stanford last week has them firmly part of the College Football Playoff discussion. With Ian Book at quarterback and a defense that's yielded more than 17 points just once in 2018, Notre Dame must be taken seriously. The same can't be said for the Hokies, who return to the Top 25 one week after bouncing then-No. 22 Duke and two weeks after their improbable loss to Old Dominion.

Prediction: Notre Dame 23, Virginia Tech 17

Stanford let things slip away in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame, but this is still a good football team. However, it's allowed the Irish and Oregon to each top 30 points in the last two games. Utah does not present the same kind of potency (48 points in the last three games), as it tries to avoid a third straight defeat.

Prediction: Stanford 23, Utah 13

A 28-point loss at Washington last week knocked the Cougars out of the Top 25. This might not be an easy bounce-back, considering Utah State has totaled 175 points in three wins since almost knocking off Michigan State to open the season.

Prediction: BYU 24, Utah State 20

Mizzou will have had two weeks to move on from its loss to Georgia. Winning at South Carolina can be difficult, but if the Tigers want to be taken seriously, this is a game they must win. However, they've lost the last two in the series by a combined score of 62-34.

Prediction: Missouri 34, South Carolina 31

Quick: Which team has the best overall record in the American Athletic Conference? It's not UCF, but Cincinnati. Thanks to the nation's second-ranked scoring defense (12.2 points per game) and talented running back Michael Warren II (10 rushing TDs), the Bearcats have a chance to go 6-0 for the first time since 2009.

Prediction: Cincinnati 28, Tulane 14

Following their open week, the Hawkeyes finally get the chance to rebound from blowing a fourth-quarter lead to Wisconsin. It doesn't get any easier with another rivalry game, but Minnesota might be closer to the team that lost 42-13 at Maryland than the one that started 3-0.

Prediction: Iowa 25, Minnesota 14 

This Mountain West crossover could very well be a preview of the league's title game. San Diego State has won three straight, including a victory over Arizona State, since losing at Stanford. Boise rebounded from its loss at Oklahoma State and has won the last two meetings between these two teams.

Prediction: Boise State 31, San Diego State 21