College Football Week 6 Betting Preview: Odds & Picks Including The Red River Showdown and Tennessee at LSU

Our resident NCAAF experts Sam and Matt preview six of this weekend’s big matchups and give their betting tips, focusing on Tennessee(8) at LSU(25), TCU(17) at Kansas(19), Texas vs Oklahoma, Utah(11) at UCLA(18), BYU(16) vs Notre Dame and Texas A&M at Alabama(1).

Overall Records

Sam Overall: 48-41-1 – 0.539

Moneyline: 21-9
Spread: 17-13
Over/Under: 10-19-1

Matt Overall: 21-9 – 0.700

No.8 Tennessee at No.25 LSU Picks

Saturday 8th October – 12:00pm EST

Sam’s Picks

Moneyline: Tennessee: -145
Spread: Tennessee -2.5: -110
Over/Under: Under 64.5: -110

If this was Saturday Night in Death Valley I’d be backing my Tigers, but 11am in Death Valley doesn’t quite have the same intensity. Tennessee and QB Hendon Hooker are on a roll, but this LSU defense has a knack for making big plays in big moments and will be Hooker’s toughest test so far. If Jayden Daniels, Kayshon Boutte and the rest of the LSU’s receivers can get more in sync then the Tigers definitely have a chance, but I think the Vols just take this one.

Matt’s Pick of the game:

Tennessee to cover

It’s going to be a rowdy morning in Death Valley. While many people would think LSU’s home advantage would be nullified slightly with the 11:00 am start, the Tigers are actually 8-0 in home games that start in the morning since 2000. Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker has been on a Heisman charge this year, playing out of his skin as he’s led his team to a 5-0 record. LSU will certainly be the toughest game the Vols will have faced this season, but Tennessee feels like the better team, and I expect them to show that in Death Valley.

No.17 TCU at No.19 Kansas Picks

Saturday 8th October – 12 PM EST

Sam’s Picks

Moneyline: Kansas: +220
Spread: Kansas +6.5: -110
Over/Under: Under 69: -110

This is more of a heart over head pick, but I want to see the Jayhawks keep on rolling and move onto 6-0. They’re up against a 4-0 TCU fresh off their demolition of Oklahoma in a game that was never even close. Max Duggan and Kendre Miller will be a problem for this Jayhawk defense, but I’m hoping to see Jalon Daniels and the Kansas offense do enough to pull through.

Matt’s Pick of the game:

Kansas Moneyline

Just as we all anticipated before the season started, this TCU @ Kansas game is a battle between two undefeated ranked teams. The Horned Frogs are coming off an amazing demolition of Oklahoma last week and Sonny Dykes has this offense really humming, and yet I can’t help but root for a Kansas team that had a 2.5 win total with Vegas before the season. Keep counting them out, but I think Lawrence, Kansas is going to absolutely rocking for this game. Rock Chalk, Jayhawk baby.

Texas vs. Oklahoma Picks

Saturday 8th October – 12 PM EST – Cotton Bowl

Sam’s Picks

Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Texas: -300
Spread: Texas -7: -110
Over/Under: Over 65.5: -110

Whilst the past decade has seen Texas largely curb stomped in the Red River Showdown, today I’m expecting them to get some payback. This Sooners team is reeling after giving up 41 to Kansas State and got bullied last week at TCU. Bijan Robinson will fancy his chances against a Sooners run defense that gave up 361 yards last Saturday, and QB Quinn Ewers is back for the Longhorns. Texas continues to put pressure on Brent Venables and Oklahoma in a beatdown.

Matt’s Pick of the game:

Oklahoma to cover

Yikes. This is the first time since 1998 that the Longhorns and the Sooners are both unranked, and that’s before they’ve even gone to the SEC. Oklahoma is coming off two ugly losses to Kansas State and TCU, and now to rub salt into the wounds QB Dillon Gabriel looks to be out for this one. The big worry for them however will be on the other side of the ball, as they have been woeful against the run this season, and face the task of trying to stop Bijan Robinson this week. I do think Texas will win this one, but I’m not sure about the seven-point spread in a game that always throws up crazy endings, so I reckon Oklahoma will cover.

No.11 Utah at No.18 UCLA Picks

Saturday 8th October – 3:30 PM EST

Sam’s Picks

Moneyline: Utah: -175
Spread: Utah -3.5: -110
Over/Under: Under 64.5: -110

Utah seem to be back on track after their Week 1 blip against Florida which catapulted Anthony Richardson into the Heisman conversation before he very quickly played himself back out of it. The Bruins are rolling under Chip Kelly and Dorian Thompson-Robinson who is having an excellent fifth year. The Utes have the best defense in the PAC-12 and will be DTR’s toughest test yet in a game that is a toss up – given what Utah can bring defensively I’m leaning slightly towards them.

Matt’s Pick of the game:

Utah to cover

UCLA faced their first real challenge of the season against Washington last week, but passed it with flying colors. However, anyone that’s watched college football while Chip Kelly has been in charge of the Bruins knows they are usually pretty bad in big games, and this one is huge. Utah is a different beast to any team UCLA has faced this year, and I fully expect them to bring the Bruins back down to earth with a beating.

No.16 BYU vs. Notre Dame Picks

Saturday 8th October – 7:30 PM EST – Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas

Sam’s Picks

Moneyline: BYU: +145
Spread: BYU +3.5: -105
Over/Under: Under 51: -110

After a nightmare start to his Head Coaching career, Marcus Freeman and the Irish have won consecutive games against Cal and UNC – but Saturday against BYU will be the proper litmus test for Notre Dame. The Irish have found themselves more in the ground game recently, but the passing game is still a worry. The Cougars have looked great outside of a tough loss to Oregon and QB Jaren Hall and his supporting cast will have opportunities against what has been a mediocre Notre Dame defense so far.

Matt’s Pick of the game:

Under 51 Points

This will be a fun game out in the desert for BYU and Notre Dame fans. With it being a neutral site game between two teams that love to play physical defense, I can see it being low-scoring, and I’m taking the under.

Texas A&M at No.1 Alabama Picks

Saturday 8th October – 8:00 PM EST

Sam’s Picks

Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Alabama: -3000
Spread: Alabama -24: -110
Over/Under: Over 48: -110

Both Head Coaches will really want this one after their offseason spat, but I’m afraid it’s going to be a tough evening for Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies. Even without Bryce Young, Alabama have more than enough to deal with an A&M who once against are struggling after all the preseason talk.

Matt’s Pick of the game:

Alabama to cover

Matt’s Pick of the game:
This game last year was amazing, as the Aggies shocked the world by beating the unbeaten Crimson Tide by three points down in college station. I don’t believe we’re seeing lightning strike twice however, particularly with the news that A&M QB Max Johnson is out, and I think ‘Bama is going to exact revenge with a drubbing, even if Bryce Young can’t play.