We’re headed into Week 6 of the college football season — HOW IS IT ALREADY WEEK 6?! — and collectively, we here at For The Win are doing fairly well with our weekly picks against the spread. As individuals, let’s just say there’s always room for improvement.
It’s still a close race, but we have a new leader as we enter Week 6 with Christian D’Andrea sitting at the top with a one-game advantage over the two-way tie for second place. The pick that gave him an advantage over everyone else was correctly calling Notre Dame to cover against Louisville when everyone else had the Cardinals.
Looking at this week’s slate, we have one ranked matchup (No. 9 Missouri vs. No. 25 Texas A&M) and a handful of games with practically built-in chaos (No. 3 Ohio State vs. Iowa).
Here are our 10 college football picks against the spread for Week 6. Tail responsibly, and best of luck out there.
| Name | Last Week | YTD |
| Blake Schuster | 7-3 | 30-24 |
| Christian D’Andrea | 7-3 | 31-23 |
| Michelle Martinelli | 6-4 | 30-24 |
| Mitchell Northam | 3-7 | 27-27 |
| Tyler Nettuno | 5-5 | 27-27 |
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Opening Line: UNLV -4
Blake Schuster: Syracuse +6.5
UNLV has a lot of juice right now after rolling over Fresno State. But the Bulldogs appear to be deeply unserious, and the Orange already stunned one early season success story by upsetting Georgia Tech.
Mitchell Northam: UNLV -6.5
No Sluka? No problem. Hajj-Malik Williams piled up more than 300 yards of total offense and four touchdowns last week as UNLV beat a decent Fresno State team comfortably. They shouldn’t have a problem topping the Orange by a touchdown.
Christian D’Andrea: Syracuse +6.5
UNLV has a great opportunity to go 3-0 against Power Four opponents. That’s a lot of points to cover against a solid Syracuse team — especially after a close road win against an underwhelming Kansas team.
Michelle Martinelli: Syracuse +6.5
UNLV lost its starting quarterback before its Week 5 game and remains undefeated. Hajj-Malik Williams has taken over and accounted for four touchdowns in the win against Fresno State. UNLV wins at home but not by much.
Tyler Nettuno: Syracuse +6.5
This is an electric UNLV team that I could certainly see winning this game after it didn’t miss a beat in its first game without Matt Sluka. But this spread is just a bit too big against a Power Four team that appears to be at least competent.
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Opening Line: Texas A&M -4.5
Blake Schuster: Missouri +2.5
I know Texas A&M is ranked, but Missouri should not be an underdog in this game. The Tigers’ rushing attack is harder to stop than Luther Burden in single coverage.
Mitchell Northam: Texas A&M -2.5
Has Missouri played a team as good as the Aggies this season? The Tigers’ home win over Boston College was impressive, but there’s not much else on Mizzou’s resume to write home about. Aggies get the homefield advantage here.
Christian D’Andrea: Missouri +2.5
This is typically when the Aggies begin actively seeking out rakes to step on.
Michelle Martinelli: Missouri +2.5
Oh boy. The Tigers have had two weeks to prepare for a team that barely beat Bowling Green and Arkansas, so I’m banking on them to make this one interesting, especially with the FBS’ No. 3 defense.
Tyler Nettuno: Missouri +2.5
Yeah, the Vanderbilt game was a bit concerning, but I still think we may be overrating this Aggies team based on a dominant win over a Florida team that absolutely stinks. I think the Tigers bounce back and get a win as a road dog.
Matt Cashore-Imagn Images
Opening Line: Louisville -11
Blake Schuster: SMU +7
Louisville’s playoff dreams are about to die, but at least it’ll take Notre Dame’s strength of schedule with them, too.
Mitchell Northam: SMU +7
The Ponies have scored 108 points over their last two games. I’m not convinced that Louisville has the defense to stop that or the offense to keep up.
Christian D’Andrea: Louisville -7
The Cardinals and BYU are right next to each other when it comes to points allowed this season. And BYU held SMU to 15 points.
Michelle Martinelli: SMU +7
Louisville still wins this one — and it pretty much has to to keep playoff hopes alive — but it won’t be the comfortable win the Cardinals are looking for.
Tyler Nettuno: SMU +7
This Mustangs offense has been fairly unstoppable against everyone except for an elite BYU defense. After Louisville allowed the best passing day of Riley Leonard’s season in its first real test, I’m not particularly confident in the Cardinals heading into this game.
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Opening Line: Navy -4.5
Blake Schuster: Navy -10
Ten points in a service academy game only seems like a lot until you remember Navy is doing the damn thing again with Blake Horvath at QB.
Mitchell Northam: Navy -10
It’s always a bit dangerous to take a service academy team as a double-digit favorite, especially in a Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy game. But Air Force is inexperienced and extremely not good this season. Meanwhile, Navy, led by Blake Horvath, is outscoring opponents by an average of 46-18. The Mids are snapping a four-game losing streak to the Falcons. It’s time for Air Force to get its comeuppance for gaming the system with turnbacks for the last few seasons.
Christian D’Andrea: Navy -10
The Midshipmen’s average win this season has come by 22.5 points.
Michelle Martinelli: Navy -10
Behind standout quarterback Blake Horvath, this Navy team is rocking an undefeated record and looking pretty good. It’s defense isn’t anything particularly special, but that’s OK because Air Force has the fourth-worst FBS offense.
Tyler Nettuno: Navy -10
The Midshipmen look fantastic so far and are actually pretty balanced offensively thanks to quarterback Blake Horvath. Air Force has had a rough 1-3 start, and I think Navy rolls to take the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and win its first game against Air Force since 2019.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Opening Line: Ohio State -24
Blake Schuster: Ohio State -19.5
This is the Buckeyes’ biggest challenge yet, which admittedly doesn’t say much. But Ohio State won its last two matchups against the Hawkeyes by at least 20. Maybe take the over here, too.
Mitchell Northam: Iowa +19.5
I think the Hawkeyes can keep it within three scores. They have scored north of 30 points in their past two games, and the defense is still solid.
Christian D’Andrea: Iowa +19.5
Weird stuff happens when the Eyes meet.
Michelle Martinelli: Iowa +19.5
Last year, this would have been a no-brainer for taking the Buckeyes, but Iowa’s offense is showing signs of *relative* life this season. No way Ohio State loses at home, but I don’t think it wins by almost three touchdowns.
Tyler Nettuno: Iowa +19.5
This is the first game that even resembles a test for the Buckeyes, and it’s a rough team for that to come against. We know what Iowa is defensively, and this may just be a slightly better offense than we’ve seen in recent years. The Hawkeyes won’t win, but they’ll keep it annoyingly close.
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Opening Line: Ole Miss -11.5
Blake Schuster: South Carolina +9.5
If the South Carolina that shook LSU shows up on Saturday, Ole Miss is in trouble. If not, it could still keep this within two possessions.
Mitchell Northam: South Carolina +9.5
The Gamecocks beat Kentucky, 31-6. Kentucky beat Ole Miss, 20-17. It feels like South Carolina can keep this close at home.
Christian D’Andrea: South Carolina +9.5
South Carolina is talented enough to do frustrating things to ranked opponents at home.
Michelle Martinelli: South Carolina +9.5
South Carolina beat Kentucky earlier this season, and Kentucky just beat Ole Miss in Week 5. So with the help of the college football transitive property, the Gamecocks have basically already topped Ole Miss.
Tyler Nettuno: South Carolina +9.5
The Gamecocks dominated Kentucky and gave LSU all it could handle in their first two SEC games. I’m not sure they win this game, but this spread is way too big to pick against them at home after the way Ole Miss looked in Saturday’s loss.
(Tuscaloosa News / Robert Sutton)
Opening Line: Alabama -26.5
Blake Schuster: Vanderbilt +23.5
A hallmark of the Saban era was avoiding letdown games. Let’s see how DeBoer handles his locker room after beating Georgia at home. I feel like it’ll be hard to convince the Tide to take Vandy seriously, even if that statement is true this year.
Mitchell Northam: Alabama -23.5
Despite last week’s near-collapse, it feels like Alabama should be able to hold onto a big lead against Vandy.
Christian D’Andrea: Vanderbilt +23.5
Someone’s gotta take the ‘Dores. Might as well be the guy who went there.
Michelle Martinelli: Alabama -23.5
The Crimson Tide weren’t able to hold onto their gigantic first-half lead over a good Georgia team, but I’m far less concerned about that being an issue against Vanderbilt.
Tyler Nettuno: Alabama -23.5
This feels like such an obvious backdoor cover situation. I don’t worry about a letdown for the Tide, but Vandy is dangerous enough to score some points in this game. I expect Kalen DeBoer’s team to pull away late, though.
Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool (9) makes a catch near Florida State University defensive lineman Byron Turner Jr. (54) during the second quarter Sep 23, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; at Memorial Stadium.
Opening Line: Florida State -3.5
Blake Schuster: Clemson -14.5
The chaos addict in me really wants to see Florida State blowout Clemson, but the realist side of me knows Dabo’s got this one.
Mitchell Northam: Clemson -14.5
Is Clemson good enough to win a national championship? No. Is it good enough to win the ACC and smoke FSU? Absolutely.
Christian D’Andrea: Clemson -14.5
Winner gets to leave the ACC.
Michelle Martinelli: Clemson -14.5
It would be hilarious if Florida State leaves Clemson with a win. But the Tigers are looking pretty good, season-opening blowout loss to Georgia aside, and Florida State is, uhhh, having the kind of season that could be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Tyler Nettuno: Clemson -14.5
Why on Earth did FSU open as the favorite here? I don’t think DJU’s status matters in the slightest. If Dabo Swinney wants to avoid expediting some tough conversations, the Tigers will cover this one in their sleep.
Michigan running back Kalel Mullings runs the ball during the first quarter of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Washington at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
Opening Line: Michigan -8.5
Blake Schuster: Washington -2.5
This line flip is concerning, but I was ready to take Washington anyways. The Huskies should’ve left Rutgers with a win last week, and they’ll be motivated to get that W back against the team that beat them for the national title last year.
Mitchell Northam: Michigan +2.5
Not really sure why this line moved this much. Washington will be motivated to get some revenge from last season’s title game, but the Wolverines are the better team by a sizable margin.
Christian D’Andrea: Michigan +2.5
Weird line. What does Vegas know that I’m missing?
Michelle Martinelli: Washington -2.5
What’s… going on with the line here? Regardless, the Wolverines are winning again but not easily and looking shaky. Meanwhile, I’m a big proponent of the original losing team winning the rematch. And while neither squad resembles their counterparts from last year, I’m taking Washington getting some inadequate vengeance.
Tyler Nettuno: Michigan +2.5
Despite literally not being capable of passing the ball, the Wolverines still seem to be pretty good this year. I’m not sure the same can be said for a Washington team that lost nearly every top contributor from last year’s squad and is coming off a loss to Rutgers.
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Opening Line: Miami -14
Blake Schuster: Miami -10.5
Man, Cam Ward is FEELING IT right now. The Canes will be ready.
Mitchell Northam: Cal +10.5
Cam Ward is used to playing on the West Coast. Are the rest of the Hurricanes? This game kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET, and the Golden Bears will likely be amped up after hosting GameDay.
Christian D’Andrea: Miami -10.5
I appreciate you, Cal twitter. But y’all lost to Florida State.
Michelle Martinelli: Miami -10.5
Not picking against Cam Ward and the Hurricanes until they give me a reason to. I said that last week when Miami beat Virginia Tech but didn’t cover, but I’m still not considering that a reason to pick it.
Tyler Nettuno: Miami -10.5
I just don’t see Cal having the fireworks to keep up with Miami like Virginia Tech could, even if it is also able to force some turnovers from Cam Ward.
