Friday Forecast: SDS Staff picks 5 Week 6 matchups against the spread
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Week 6 is here, and we have a strong slate of college football ready to kick off. This week, our crew here at Saturday Down South made picks for 3 SEC contests, including the Red River Rivalry and Georgia at Alabama — one of the most consequential games of the SEC regular season.
Let’s jump right in.
(All odds are via DraftKings, finalized on Thursday, October 8. Point spreads might not necessarily reflect current odds.)
Week 6 Picks ATS
Here’s how the SDS crew picked 5 college football games in Week 6 (against the spread).
Want to join the SDS crew and make some picks? Take a look at our guide of the best sports betting apps to score a sign-up bonus ahead of Week 6.
2026 Season Records
- Spenser Davis: 13-15
- Andy Olson: 13-15
- Adam Spencer: 12-16
- Ethan Stone: 20-8
Indiana (-7.5) at Nebraska
Spenser Davis: Nebraska has an excellent offense and a solid defense. The Huskers also get this game at home and, crucially, right before Indiana has to play Ohio State in Week 7. Indiana hasn’t been caught sleeping very often under Curt Cignetti, but all the ingredients are there for this to be a one-score game in the fourth quarter. PICK: Nebraska +7.5
Andy Olson: This was the hardest call for me to make this week. Maybe the Nebraska hype is real and the Huskers show the CFB world that they’re back. But it’s too hard to pick against Cignett in this spot. Indiana has avoided the turnover and penalty issues that can trigger road woes. PICK: Indiana -7.5
Adam Spencer: I feel like I’ve read this story before. Nebraska starts strong. Builds momentum. Gets people to believe this is the Huskers’ year. Then they trip all over themselves in a big game and spiral into mediocrity. I don’t trust this team yet. Give me the reigning champs. PICK: Indiana -7.5
Ethan Stone: IU and Nebraska are the only teams in the Big Ten with 5-0 records, and Nebraska enters this one 0-31 against AP ranked opponents since 2016. Even considering that, I think Nebraska has a good chance to at least cover here with the home crowd itching for something, anything, from what appears to be the best Huskers team in a decade. PICK: Nebraska +7.5
Texas (-7.5) vs. Oklahoma (Dallas)
Spenser Davis: If you’re a college quarterback who is struggling for confidence and often panics under pressure, the Red River Showdown may literally be the worst place you could spend a Saturday afternoon. I expect the pressure cooker that is the Cotton Bowl to result in a couple more John Mateer turnovers and give the Longhorns a relatively easy cover. PICK: Texas -7.5
Andy Olson: Aside from Red River weirdness taking over, I’m having a hard time seeing how Texas doesn’t win by double digits. Fade accordingly, folks. PICK: Texas -7.5
Adam Spencer: As I like to say, “throw out the records in a rivalry game.” I came up with that expression, I’m pretty sure. Oklahoma won’t win, but Texas will once again struggle offensively and escape with a narrow win thanks to a late field goal. PICK: Oklahoma +7.5
Ethan Stone: While I don’t have high confidence in either team’s ability to score consistently on Saturday, Oklahoma’s offense is just in a sorry state right now. Texas also has plenty of reason to run up the score. It has little to do with this week’s game, but Oklahoma hasn’t scored a touchdown against Texas since 2023(!). There’s no world in which I can pick the Sooners here. PICK: Texas -7.5
UCLA at Oregon (-11.5)
Spenser Davis: UCLA is awesome, but I don’t love this spot for the Bruins. Oregon is significantly more talented and will be well-rested and highly-motivated coming out of a bye week. I also love the way Oregon played with backup quarterback Dylan Raiola under center last time out against USC. The Bruins are legit, but I think the Ducks will win by multiple touchdowns in this spot. PICK: Oregon -11.5
Andy Olson: As impressive as Bob Chesney’s Bruins have been this year, I feel like this might be the weekend UCLA looks like the team with a first-year head coach and Oregon reminds everyone why it entered the season hyped as a title contender. Autzen Stadium is a tough place to play, and that early kick could have the road team looking a little rusty out of the gate. PICK: Oregon -11.5
Adam Spencer: Bob Chesney has taken LA by storm. Oregon is struggling this year, win against USC aside. Did the Ducks figure something out in that game? Maybe, but I still like UCLA to keep it within the number. PICK: UCLA +11.5
Ethan Stone: 11.5 feels like a lot against a ranked opponent, even if Dylan Raiola has been playing well in Dante Moore’s stead. UCLA also had extra time to prepare coming out of the bye week. Bob Chesnety and the Bruins have overachieved to start the year, they’ll be able to keep this one close. PICK: UCLA +11.5
LSU (-8.5) at Kentucky
Spenser Davis: I came into this season as an LSU doubter, but the Tigers have looked really good outside of its loss to Ole Miss last month. They haven’t beaten a true contender yet, but they have blown out likely-bowl-bound teams like Texas A&M and Clemson already. LSU should also be the more-rested team after playing McNeese in Week 5 while UK had to deal with an overtime game at South Carolina. PICK: LSU -8.5
Andy Olson: Using the fake Minchey quote was a really goofy move, but I don’t see it backfiring on LSU as it’s all starting to come together for the Tigers. LSU has the clear talent and coaching advantages, and I don’t see Kroger Field getting to the Bayou Bengals. PICK: LSU -8.5
Adam Spencer: I still don’t think LSU is getting enough respect. That atmosphere in Oxford for Lane Kiffin’s return was insane, and the Tigers still only lost by 8 points. This is a solid team with a ton of offensive firepower and a great defense. Tigers by 10. PICK: LSU -8.5
Ethan Stone: I’m still trying to wrap my head around Kentucky not being a top 25 team right now. Kenny Minchey is playing at a high level, the Wildcats’ offensive line has performed well and Will Stein has injected an energy into the program that is unrecognizable from past Kentucky squads. This is a pretty bold take, but I think the Cats win outright in front of a home crowd. PICK: Kentucky +8.5
Georgia at Alabama (-1.5)
Spenser Davis: I think Alabama’s offense is the difference in this game. Georgia isn’t bad on that end, but I think the Tide clearly have the better quarterback and offensive coaching staff. UGA may have a slight edge on defense, but Alabama is really good on that end as well. Given that this game will be played in Tuscaloosa, I don’t think Georgia will be able to keep up with Alabama’s offense. PICK: Alabama -1.5
Andy Olson: Georgia opening as the Vegas favorite gives me slight pause that the handicappers see something we don’t, but I’ve been feeling Alabama in this one for a while now. I feel pretty good about picking the Tide to win by at least a field goal. PICK: Alabama -1.5
Adam Spencer: I’ve had to read all week about how Spenser thinks Alabama could win by a touchdown, or even 10+ points. He’s been very convincing, and I was prepared to come in here and pick Alabama -1.5. Then I saw that everyone else was on the Tide. That made me nervous. I’ll save the graphic by picking Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs. It’s not often he gets to play the underdog card. And if the weather plays a factor, that probably favors Georgia, to be honest. PICK: Georgia +1.5
Ethan Stone: Alabama gets this one at home and has Keelon Russell on its side. I think these are the 2 best teams in the SEC and we’ll almost certainly see a rematch later in the season, but I’m rolling with the Tide this time around. PICK: Alabama -1.5
Subscribe to the Saturday Football Newsletter — Get the latest news and updates on your team, your conference, and the college football nation straight to your inbox.
Having trouble seeing the signup form? Some privacy or ad-blocking tools can prevent it from loading. You can subscribe directly here.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
