College football Week 6 sneaky good games: Red River Showdown will be offensive

College football season continues this weekend, with conference rivals facing off and one notable Group of Five school finally kicking off its season.

Week 6 offers college football fans an interesting slate, headlined by a top-10 battle between ACC heavyweights Clemson and Miami, while fellow top programs Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina all face stiff tests against ranked opponents as well.

However, in the most unusual season in recent memory, entertainment can be found across the board, and fans would be wise to tune into some contests that may fly under the radar.

Pittsburgh at Boston College (+5.5)

Pittsburgh fell out of the top 25 after a crushing one-point loss to North Carolina State, but the Panthers should have a good opportunity to rebound on Saturday at Boston College. The Eagles cannot be taken lightly, though. After giving North Carolina a late scare last week, Jeff Hafley’s program proved that it is hell-bent on competing in the ACC.

Look for Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett to follow up his 400-yard performance with another strong outing against a somewhat vulnerable Eagles defense. DJ Turner figures to be his favorite target once again, while tight end Hunter Long has emerged as the primary threat for Boston College.

Tulane at Houston (-6.5)

Houston looks like it will finally kick off its football season on Saturday after a slew of postponements related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Always competitive in the AAC, look for the Cougars to come out strong.  Tulane, meanwhile, is coming off of a bye, but put up 66 points in its last contest against Southern Mississippi, tallying seven rushing touchdowns.

The Green Wave will likely continue to feed running backs Cameron Carroll and Stephon Hudson, both of whom exceeded 100 rushing yards two weeks ago. On the other sideline, with former star quarterback D’Eriq King now at Miami, the Cougars will look to junior Clayton Tune to build on his solid finish to last season.

Louisville at Georgia Tech (+4.5)

Louisville and Georgia Tech have both faced some challenges in recent weeks, but this week’s face-off should give each a chance to prove their standing in the ACC. Both figure to finish in the middle of the pack, but an explosive offense looking to find its rhythm will likely give the Cardinals the edge.

Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham is supposed to return to action after an injury scare vs. Pitt. He and running back Javian Hawkins and wideouts Tutu Atwell, Dez Fitzpatrick and Braden Smith all give this offense big-play potential. The Yellow Jackets have a dual-threat in Jeff Sims, but his eight interceptions are cause for concern. Turnovers could ultimately dictate the outcome here, as Cunningham has five interceptions of his own.

No. 22 Texas at Oklahoma (-2.5)

The Red River Showdown won’t fly under anyone’s radar, but with Texas and Oklahoma both looking like massive disappointments in the early stages of the season, the game does not appear to be receiving its usual attention. Regardless of the records, this is one of the best rivalries in college football, and a close game should be expected.

Quarterbacks Sam Ehlinger and Spencer Rattler will assuredly light up the scoreboard as both teams look to salvage their seasons. The Sooners shocked fans by dropping games against Kansas State and Iowa State, while the Longhorns scraped by Texas Tech in overtime before losing to TCU. If either of these teams hopes to catch Oklahoma State in the Big 12 standings, a win here is imperative.

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