College Football

College Football Week 6: Expert Picks, Predictions, and Best Bets

By
Colin Lynch
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Colin Lynch Sports Editor

Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.

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Published01 Oct 2024

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College Football Week 6 Picks and Predictions

College football Week 6 expert picks, predictions, and best bets are back as we gear up for an exciting slate of college football action in Week 6

As the college football season moves into Week 6, the stakes have never felt higher. The dream of a playoff berth in this inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff grows more tangible with each passing week and the pressure to perform. One mistake could change a season; one moment could define a legacy.

Week by week, we’ve already seen upsets disrupt the expected order, with breakout performances lifting teams beyond their preseason projections. As conference play intensifies, each game becomes a proving ground — a chance to show the nation who truly belongs among the elite.

Week 6 brings another opportunity for teams and those looking to find value in the chaos. Where do the smart bets lie in week 6 of college football?

College Football Week 6 Picks and Best Bets

Boston College vs. Virginia Betting Preview

All Boston College vs. Virginia odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Oct. 1.

  • Spread
    Virginia -1
  • Moneyline
    Boston College +105 | Virginia -120
  • Over/Under
    53.5
  • Game Time
    Saturday, Oct. 5, Noon ET
  • Location
    Scott Stadium | Charlottesville, VA
  • How To Watch
    ACC Network

As the Virginia Cavaliers take the field against the Boston College Eagles in Week 6, both teams find themselves at a critical juncture. Coming off a bye week, Virginia is a narrow 1-point favorite—down from an opening line of -3—thanks to a 3-1 record reflecting their resilience. On the other side, Boston College arrives at 4-1, having survived a close call against Western Kentucky without their starting quarterback, Thomas Castellanos. With Castellanos back, the Eagles are poised for another pivotal victory.

Virginia’s defense has been the backbone of their success, allowing just 23.5 points per game, ranking 34th nationally. They held Coastal Carolina to just 82 rushing yards and 14 first downs, but their secondary showed vulnerability, giving up over 300 yards through the air. That will be a key concern as Castellanos, who has already thrown for ten touchdowns this season, takes charge of Boston College’s offense.

Defensively, Boston College has been just as impressive, allowing only 15.8 points per game, good for 24th in the nation. But last week, they showed cracks, surrendering 355 yards to Western Kentucky. Still, they’ve managed to stay afloat by generating key turnovers, including two interceptions in their last outing.

Offensively, Castellanos will look to test Virginia’s secondary with help from receiver Lewis Bond, who has 279 yards and two touchdowns. The path to success for Virginia lies in their ground game, with Treshaun Ward averaging 6 yards per carry.

With Castellanos back under center, I believe Boston College’s offensive firepower will be too much for Virginia to handle in this matchup. The Eagles have the momentum—and the weapons—to come away with the win.

The Prediction: Boston College 30 – Virginia 26

Best Bet: Boston College +1

Check out our other College Football Best Bets! 

SMU vs. Louisville Betting Preview

All SMU vs. Louisville odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Oct. 1.

  • Spread
    Louisville -7
  • Moneyline
    SMU +200 | Louisville -250
  • Over/Under
    57
  • Game Time
    Saturday, Oct. 5, Noon ET
  • Location
    L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium | Louisville, KY
  • How To Watch
    ESPN

Once riding the high of an undefeated season, Louisville returns home with a fresh sting — a 31-24 loss to Notre Dame, a game that slipped away and took a piece of their College Football Playoff hopes. It was a sloppy game for Louisville and one they could have won.

But for the Cardinals, the road is far from over. They return to L&N Stadium with their sights set firmly on the ACC title, knowing every step from here matters.

On the other hand, SMU arrives brimming with confidence. Their 42-16 rout of Florida State in their ACC debut sent shockwaves, a statement of intent as they step into a new chapter of their program’s history. But this is where the true test begins—on the road, against a Louisville team eager to right the ship.

It’s been decades since these two teams last met. The rivalry, dormant since the 1980s, has been reborn. For the players on the field, it’s all-new — new stakes, new ambitions, and new beginnings.

But, while SMU’s offense has dazzled behind quarterback Kevin Jennings, the numbers tell a more complicated story. Turnovers have been their best friend, masking games where both TCU and Florida State outgained them.

Louisville knows this. They’ve studied the film. Now, with a healthier Caullin Lacy at his side, Tyler Shough will look to strike through the air while Ashton Gillotte and the Cardinals’ defensive line aim to wreak havoc up front. The game plan is clear: stop Brashard Smith and force Jennings, still finding his footing, to beat them under pressure.

Lousiville bounces back in this one.

The Prediction: Louisville 31 – SMU 20

Best Bet: Louisville -7

Missouri vs. Texas A&M Betting Preview

All Missouri vs. Texas A&M odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Tuesday, Oct. 1.

  • Spread
    Texas A&M -2
  • Moneyline
    Missouri +110 | Louisville -250
  • Over/Under
    48.5
  • Game Time
    Saturday, Oct. 5, Noon ET
  • Location
    Kyle Field | College Station, Texas
  • How To Watch
    ABC

They’re unbeaten and ranked No. 9 in the latest AP Top 25, yet the Missouri Tigers are underdogs heading into a crucial road test. Texas A&M opened as a slight 1.5-point favorite, with Missouri looking to prove they belong among the nation’s elite as they prepare for a Saturday showdown at Kyle Field.

Missouri’s undefeated season has come with some close calls. Against power-conference opponents, the Tigers have struggled to cover the spread, narrowly escaping with a 27-21 win over 14.5-point underdog Boston College and a 30-27 overtime victory against 17.5-point underdog Vanderbilt.

Last weekend, Missouri’s offense showed flashes, racking up 442 total yards and 22 first downs, but their defense allowed 324 yards and failed to force any turnovers, leaving questions about their ability to contain a more formidable opponent.

Texas A&M, on the other hand, has managed to cover the spread in both of their SEC matchups. The Aggies handled Florida 33-20 as 3-point favorites and edged Arkansas 21-17 in a neutral-site game last weekend.

While A&M’s offense produced just 297 yards against the Razorbacks, their defense made the difference, forcing three takeaways and limiting Arkansas to 5-of-15 on third-down conversions. Penalties helped, too, as Arkansas racked up ten infractions, providing the Aggies with just enough to pull out the win. If you watched, Texas A&M was fortunate to come away with a victory.

Despite Texas A&M’s defensive prowess, Missouri has the tools to win this. With Brady Cook and his top weapon, Luther Burden, the Tigers can grab a big road victory.

The Prediction: Missouri 27 – Texas A&M 24

Best Bet: Missouri +2