College Football Betting Odds Week 6: Picks Against the Spread for Top 25 Schedule

One of the most subdued National Championship rematches highlights the Week 6 college football schedule.

The Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies had so many departures during the offseason, led by both head coaches, that Saturday's game in Seattle feels so far removed from the title clash in January.

Michigan comes into Week 6 with a 4-1 record off consecutive 27-24 victories, but there are still plenty of questions about the functionality of its offense with Alex Orji at quarterback.

Washington's had mixed results to its start in the Big Ten, but one thing is clear, it has a tough defense, and that is one of the factors that went into labeling the unranked Huskies as a slight favorite against the 10th-ranked Wolverines.

The entire Week 6 slate lacks big-game material, and that is okay since the next few weeks deliver colossal matchup after colossal matchup.

Week 6 Top 25 Schedule and Odds

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OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - SEPTEMBER 28: Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels warms up before the game against the Kentucky Wildcats at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Friday, October 4

Michigan State at No. 6 Oregon (-23.5) (9 p.m. ET, Fox)

Syracuse at No. 25 UNLV (-6.5) (9 p.m. ET, FS1)

Saturday, October 5

UCLA at No. 7 Penn State (-28) (Noon ET, Fox)

No. 9 Missouri at No. 25 Texas A&M (-2.5) (Noon ET, ABC)

SMU at No. 22 Louisville (-6.5) (Noon ET, ESPN)

Iowa at No. 3 Ohio State (-18.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

Auburn at No. 5 Georgia (-22) (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

No. 12 Ole Miss (-8.5) at South Carolina (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

No. 23 Indiana (-13.5) at Northwestern (3:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

No. 15 Clemson (-15) at Florida State (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Utah State at No. 21 Boise State (-27) (7 p.m. ET, FS2)

No. 4 Tennessee (-14) at Arkansas (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

No. 10 Michigan at Washington (-1.5) (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)

No. 11 USC (-9) at Minnesota (7:30 p.m. ET, BTN)

Baylor at No. 16 Iowa State (-13) (7:30 p.m. ET, Fox)

No. 8 Miami (-10.5) at California (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

No. 10 Michigan at Washington (-1.5)

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 21: Will Rogers #7 of the Washington Huskies stands in the pocket during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Husky Stadium on September 21, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The Huskies defeated the Wildcats 24-5. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

Plenty of college football fans did a double take when they saw Washington listed as a favorite to begin the week.

Conventional wisdom suggests Michigan should be favored because of the No. 10 next to its name, but there's plenty of reasons to believe the line is right.

Washington allowed only 26 points in first two Big Ten games, albeit against the Northwestern Wildcats and Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

The Huskies had a few mistakes cost them last Friday against Rutgers, or else they probably would be 2-0 in conference play and on the fringe of the AP Top 25.

Jedd Fisch's team ranks 10th in yards allowed per game in the FBS. Michigan's allowed 50 more total yards per contest.

That's a positive sign that the Will Rogers-led Huskies offense can move the ball against a unit seen as Michigan's most talented.

The Wolverines let up over 250 passing yards in their wins over the Minnesota Golden Gophers and USC Trojans. That is concerning going into the matchup against Rogers.

Michigan can't match whatever Washington puts up through the air. It still thrives on the ground. Alex Orji has 118 passing yards in the last two weeks.

The inability to consistently pass the ball could be Michigan's demise on Saturday, and if a loss occurs, the Wolverines could be out of the College Football Playoff discussion since they still have to play four Top 25 teams in the second half of the season.

Baylor at No. 16 Iowa State (-13)

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 7: Quarterback Rocco Becht #3 of the Iowa State Cyclones looks for a receiver during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

The Iowa State Cyclones crept into the CFB Playoff discussion by default in the Big 12.

A majority of the teams that had high preseason expectations suffered surprising losses in September.

Iowa State's rolled off four straight wins and not allowed an opponent to get over the 20-point mark.

In fact, the Cyclones held the Arkansas State Red Wolves and Houston Cougars to seven combined points over the last two weeks.

The strong defensive showings should continue at home against the Baylor Bears, who allowed over 30 points in the last two weeks.

Iowa State could easily jump out to a two-possession lead in the first quarter and never look back.

Another win over an unranked team will not look impressive in the broader CFB Playoff landscape, but just winning week by week moves a team up the Big 12 hierarchy.

Iowa State's top challenges will come at the end of the regular season against the Utah Utes and Kansas State Wildcats, but for now, the Cyclones should continue to be on cruise control.

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