College Football 2024: Week 6 Predictions for Every Game
The calendar has only just turned to October, yet we can already start thinking about bowl eligibility around college football.
During the Week 6 slate, a trio of programs—Indiana, Duke and Miami, in that order—have an opportunity to secure a sixth win. That conversation will become more prevalent in the near future, too.
Beyond that, it's an interesting set of games on the schedule. The lone Top 25 matchup sends Missouri to Texas A&M, but don't mistake the lack of an enormous national clash with a quiet weekend. Every ranked team in action is playing a conference game.
The stage is set for upsets. How many will happen?
Along with a preview of each ranked team, we've predicted every game involving a Football Bowl Subdivision school.
AP Nos. 25-21
1 of 7
Syracuse (3-1) at T-No. 25 UNLV (4-0), Friday, 9 p.m. ET
After a chaotic week, UNLV smashed Fresno State 59-14 with new quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams. He threw for 182 yards, rushed for 119 and totaled four touchdowns. Whether the Rebels can maintain that emotional high is a fair question, and Syracuse has a dangerous offense. UNLV's balance should be too much for Cuse's defense, though.
Prediction: UNLV 38, Syracuse 31
No. 9 Missouri (4-0) at T-No. 25 Texas A&M (4-1), Noon ET
For prediction, see No. 9 Missouri.
No. 24 Illinois (4-1), Idle
No. 23 Indiana (5-0) at Northwestern (2-2), 3:30 p.m. ET
Back in December, reporters asked Indiana coach Curt Cignetti how he sold the program to recruits after he'd just taken over. "It's pretty simple: I win. Google me." Fast-forward to today, and the Hoosiers are 5-0 for the first time in 57 years. I have no reason to pick against IU, especially since Northwestern's offense looks lifeless so far.
Prediction: Indiana 42, Northwestern 14
SMU (4-1) at No. 22 Louisville (3-1), Noon ET
Following an ugly start, SMU has settled its QB conundrum with Kevin Jennings. The offense has scored 10 touchdowns in the last two weeks. Louisville is stout enough defensively to slow that momentum, and being at home helps. I'll stick with the Cards, but a mistake-plagued loss to Notre Dame certainly is a concern opposite an SMU defense that is tied for the most takeaways in the nation.
Prediction: Louisville 37, SMU 34
Utah State (1-3) at No. 21 Boise State (3-1), 7 p.m. ET
Losers of three straight games, Utah State has allowed 5.1 yards per carry this season. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has averaged a mind-numbing 10.3 per attempt. A simple pick, this one is.
Prediction: Boise State 45, Utah State 24
AP Nos. 20-16
2 of 7
No. 20 Kansas State (4-1), Idle
No. 19 Oklahoma (4-1), Idle
No. 18 Utah (4-1), Idle
No. 17 BYU (5-0), Idle
Baylor (2-3) at No. 16 Iowa State (4-0), 7:30 p.m. ET
Baylor has stuck around in three Big 12 losses, but this matchup would be more dangerous if the Bears hosted the game. Baylor has relied heavily on explosive gains through the air, so Iowa State—which has yielded 412 passing yards in four games—has a seemingly defined path to a win.
Prediction: Iowa State 26, Baylor 16
AP Nos. 15-11
3 of 7
No. 15 Clemson (3-1) at Florida State (1-4), 7 p.m. ET
What seemed like a critical ACC matchup and revenge game for now-FSU quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will instead be neither of those things. Uiagalalei has struggled immensely and is now injured anyway, and in his absence the reeling 'Noles are turning to Brock Glenn. Florida State's horrible season is about to get worse against an ascending Clemson team.
Prediction: Clemson 45. Florida State 17
No. 14 Notre Dame (4-1), Idle
No. 13 LSU (4-1), Idle
No. 12 Ole Miss (4-1) at South Carolina (3-1), 3:30 p.m. ET
Play a transitive game, and you'll lean toward the hosts. South Carolina annihilated Kentucky on the road, and Ole Miss fell to UK at home. South Carolina fans probably feel optimistic with the potential returns of quarterback LaNorris Sellers and running back Rocket Sanders, too. Totally fair. I can't yet quit on Ole Miss' firepower, but the Gamecocks are undeniably built to spring an upset in their own building.
Prediction: Ole Miss 27, South Carolina 22
No. 11 USC (3-1) at Minnesota (2-3), 7:30 p.m. ET
Let's talk about Minnesota. Through five games, the defense has yielded 484 passing yards at 4.3 per attempt with one score allowed to eight interceptions. Incredible start. Also, the context—a mid-game injury to North Carolina's QB, lower-division Rhode Island, Nevada and awful passing teams Michigan and Iowa—must be weighed. It seems USC's collective talent will decide the game, but there's clearly reason for caution here.
Prediction: USC 31, Minnesota 24
AP Nos. 10-6
4 of 7
No. 10 Michigan (4-1) at Washington (3-2), 7:30 p.m. ET
Considering the vast changes at both schools this offseason, we always knew the rematch of the 2023 season's national championship would look different. That's an understatement, huh? Washington's red-zone inefficiency—a 50 percent touchdown rate in 18 drives—is a significant issue, but at least the Huskies are creating opportunities. I just don't believe Michigan's run-only offense is sustainable.
Prediction: Washington 23, Michigan 17
No. 9 Missouri (4-0) at No. 25 Texas A&M (4-1), Noon ET
Conner Weigman is dealing with a shoulder injury, so Marcel Reed may continue starting for Texas A&M. Missouri has played a couple of dual-threat QBs recently, shutting down Boston College's Thomas Castellanos but struggling with Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia. The lessons learned in those contests can help Mizzou overcome the home-field advantage that has made A&M a slight betting favorite.
Prediction: Missouri 24, Texas A&M 20
No. 8 Miami (5-0) at Cal (3-1), 10:30 p.m. ET
Miami quarterback Cam Ward played for Washington State last season, so he's familiar with Cal—and vice versa. How much will that matter for Cal, and how will an exceedingly rare late-night kickoff affect Miami? This may be another tricky game for the 'Canes, although they should be able to escape after a fortunate win over Virginia Tech.
Prediction: Miami 38, Cal 31
UCLA (1-3) at No. 7 Penn State (4-0), Noon ET
Penn State is second in the Big Ten with 11.5 points allowed per game, while UCLA ranks last in the conference at 14.8 scored per game. I would be straight-up shocked if an overmatched UCLA team wins a noon kickoff. There's your bulletin-board material, I guess?
Prediction: Penn State 42, UCLA 10
Michigan State (3-2) at No. 6 Oregon (4-0), Friday, 9 p.m. ET
The first year of the Jonathan Smith era is going fine for Michigan State. That doesn't mean the Spartans are ready to compete with the best teams, as evidenced by last weekend's 38-7 loss to Ohio State.
Prediction: Oregon 43, Michigan State 17
AP Nos. 5-1
5 of 7
Auburn (2-3) at No. 5 Georgia (3-1), 3:30 p.m. ET
Even though Auburn has looked rough so far, Georgia knows better than to discount the rivalry. While last season's tilt happened at Auburn, UGA nearly lost to a roster that finished 6-7. Plus, the Dawgs just fell to Alabama in heart-breaking fashion. Georgia should dominate the game, though.
Prediction: Georgia 34, Auburn 16
No. 4 Tennessee (4-0) at Arkansas (3-2), 7:30 p.m. ET
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman could greatly use a marquee upset to bolster his job security. However, in all likelihood, the combination of an offense with multiple turnovers in three of Arkansas' five games and a vulnerable pass defense will doom the Hogs. Tennessee had an extra week to rest and prepare for this SEC clash, too.
Prediction: Tennessee 37, Arkansas 21
Iowa (3-1) at No. 3 Ohio State (4-0), 3:30 p.m. ET
Flip the setting to Iowa City, and this is a prototypical Kinnick Stadium upset. Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, they're on the road. Ohio State's run defense showed a few cracks against Marshall two weeks ago, but the Buckeyes will probably stack the box and dare Iowa to throw.
Prediction: Ohio State 30, Iowa 10
No. 2 Texas (5-0), Idle
No. 1 Alabama (4-0) at Vanderbilt (2-2), 4:15 p.m. ET
The post-Georgia hangover is possible. We're not talking down-for-the-day, silence-your-phone lethargy, though. Vanderbilt's offense must be respected, but it would take a stunning performance from the defense to actually send Alabama home stunned.
Prediction: Alabama 45, Vanderbilt 17
Rest of the Slate, Part I
6 of 7
Texas State (2-2) at Troy (1-4), Thursday, 7 p.m. ET
Prediction: Texas State 34, Troy 24
Sam Houston (4-1) at UTEP (0-4), Thursday, 9 p.m. ET
Prediction: Sam Houston 31, UTEP 17
Jacksonville State (1-3) at Kennesaw State (0-4), Friday, 7 p.m. ET
Prediction: Jax State 30, Kennesaw State 20
Houston (1-4) at TCU (3-2), Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: TCU 38, Houston 27
Boston College (4-1) at Virginia (3-1), Noon ET
Prediction: Boston College 28, Virginia 23
Pitt (4-0) at North Carolina (3-2), Noon ET
Prediction: Pitt 31, North Carolina 24
Wake Forest (1-3) at North Carolina State (3-2), Noon ET
Prediction: NC State 26, Wake Forest 23
Purdue (1-3) at Wisconsin (2-2), Noon ET
Prediction: Wisconsin 27, Purdue 17
Army (4-0) at Tulsa (2-3), Noon ET
Prediction: Army 35, Tulsa 21
Navy (4-0) at Air Force (1-3), Noon ET
Prediction: Navy 28, Air Force 14
Massachusetts (1-4) at Northern Illinois (2-2), Noon ET
Prediction: NIU 34, UMass 20
Tulane (3-2) at UAB (1-3), 1 p.m. ET
Prediction: Tulane 45, UAB 14
Western Michigan (1-3) at Ball State (1-3), 2 p.m. ET
Prediction: WMU 34, Ball State 27
Virginia Tech (2-3) at Stanford (2-2), 3:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: Virginia Tech 31, Stanford 28
East Carolina (3-2) at Charlotte (2-3), 3:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: ECU 29, Charlotte 24
Temple (1-4) at Connecticut (3-2), 3:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: UConn 38, Temple 19
Bowling Green (1-3) at Akron (1-4), 3:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: Bowling Green 34, Akron 20
Miami (Ohio) (1-3) at Toledo (3-1), 3:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: Toledo 27, Miami 22
Appalachian State (2-2) at Marshall (2-2), 3:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: App State 26, Marshall 21
Rest of the Slate, Part II
7 of 7
Rutgers (4-0) at Nebraska (4-1), 4 p.m. ET
Prediction: Rutgers 23, Nebraska 20
West Virginia (2-2) at Oklahoma State (3-2), 4 p.m. ET
Prediction: Oklahoma State 31, West Virginia 26
Colorado State (2-2) at Oregon State (3-1), 6:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: Oregon State 34, Colorado State 27
James Madison (4-0) at Louisiana-Monroe (3-1), 7 p.m. ET
Prediction: JMU 38, ULM 17
Louisiana (3-1) at Southern Miss (1-3), 7 p.m. ET
Prediction: Louisiana 37, Southern Miss 21
South Alabama (2-3) at Arkansas State (2-2), 7 p.m. ET
Prediction: South Alabama 34, Arkansas State 31
Old Dominion (1-3) at Coastal Carolina (3-1), 7 p.m. ET
Prediction: Coastal Carolina 35, ODU 20
Nevada (2-3) at San Jose State (3-1), 7:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: SJSU 30, Nevada 23
UCF (3-1) at Florida (2-2), 7:45 p.m. ET
Prediction: UCF 27, Florida 24
Duke (5-0) at Georgia Tech (3-2), 8 p.m. ET
Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Duke 23
Kansas (1-4) at Arizona State (3-1), 8 p.m. ET
Prediction: Arizona State 32, Kansas 26
Hawaii (2-2) at San Diego State (1-3), 8 p.m. ET
Prediction: Hawaii 28, SDSU 24
Texas Tech (4-1) at Arizona (3-1), 11 p.m. ET
Prediction: Arizona 38, Texas Tech 33
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