College football Week 6 schedule: Straight-up picks for Top 25 games – Can Michigan beat Iowa?

Picking winners for all of the Top 25 games in Week 6, including who wins the battle of SEC unbeatens between No. 7 Auburn and No. 9 Florida in The Swamp.

The biggest game on the Week 6 college football schedule is Gus Malzahn leading Auburn and freshman quarterback Bo Nix to Florida to take on the Gators and their great defense. Auburn has played the tougher schedule so far with a win vs. Oregon in the opener in Arlington and wins over SEC West foes Texas A&M and last week’s demolition of Mississippi State. Florida has stayed afloat in the SEC East race with Kyle Trask taking over for the injured Feleipe Franks. The game should come down to which quarterback make the most plays or at least the fewest amount of mistakes.

The other big games are in the Big Ten where Jim Harbaugh and Michigan are in a must-win position against No. 14 Iowa. Shea Patterson and the rest of the Wolverines’ offense will have to get out to an early start against a stout Hawkeyes defensive front. Michigan has steadily remained as a 3.5-point favorite for the Ann Arbor, Michigan matchup.

Ohio State hosts Michigan State as the Buckeyes look to make a case why they should be higher in the new AP Poll on Sunday afternoon. With Alabama and Clemson on bye, several top-tier teams have a chance to possibly leap either of the two teams. Auburn, Ohio State and LSU all have the chance for statement wins as the playoff conversation begins to heat up. With Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers sputtering against North Carolina, there is a major opportunity at the top.

The newly unranked California Golden Bears, who lost to Herm Edwards and Arizona State a week ago, serve as a potential upset team taking on Oregon on the road. Looking to avenge an 18-point loss last season, expect California to come out hungry in an intriguing 8 p.m. contest.

Everyone who loves watching running backs churn their way to 100-plus yards should keep their eyes peeled for Chuba Hubbard and Oklahoma State against Texas Tech. Hubbard ran wild last week with 296 yards on 15 carries single-handedly leading the Cowboys to an upset win. Expect another dominant performance against the Red Raiders.

Penn State blew the doors off of Maryland last Friday in a massive confidence builder for the rest of the season but watch out for the Purdue Boilermakers who could play spoiler on the road. Purdue can put up points in a hurry with star receiver Rondale Moore.

Week 6 schedule and predictions (winner in bold)

Friday, Oct. 4

• No. 18 UCF at Cincinnati 8 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Oct. 5

• Utah State at No. 5 LSU  12 p.m., SECN
• No. 6 Oklahoma at Kansas 12 p.m., ABC
• Kent State at No. 8 Wisconsin 12 p.m., ESPNU
• Purdue at No. 12 Penn State 12 p.m., ESPN
• No. 14 Iowa at No. 19 Michigan 12 p.m., FOX
• No. 21 Oklahoma State at Texas Tech 12 p.m., FS1
• No. 7 Auburn at No. 10 Florida 3:30 p.m., CBS
• Bowling Green at No. 9 Notre Dame 3:30 p.m., NBC
• No. 11 Texas at West Virginia 3:30 p.m., ABC
• No. 3 Georgia at Tennessee 7 p.m., ESPN
• No. 25 Michigan State at No. 4 Ohio State 7:30 p.m., ABC
• Tulsa at No. 24 SMU 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
• California at No. 13 Oregon 8 p.m., FOX
• No. 15 Washington at Stanford 10:30 p.m., ESPN
• No. 16 Boise State at UNLV 10:30 p.m., CBSN

Overall record: 89-15

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