2021 NCAA Week 6 Picks

3:30 pm #2 Georgia (-14 1/2, 46) at #18 Auburn - The Bulldogs are 5-0 after demolishing Arkansas last week, 37-0. Georgia' offense is averaging 41 points per game and in SEC action, 46.3 (SC, VAndy, Ark). The defense is the best in the country, allowing a very stingy 4.6 points per game. The next closest is Iowa, at 11.6.

Auburn is fresh off a 24-19 win at LSU and comes in 4-1, their only loss a 28-20 setback at Penn State. The Tigers are 1-0 in conference play.

Georgia QB JT Daniels' status is still questionable for the game. Stetson Bennett filled in for him in the win over Arkansas and has experience. No matter how good the Tigers are, until Georgia's defense can be solved, the Bulldogs will be the pick.

Coin Flip: Georgia

Prediction: Bulldogs 38 Tigers 13

3:30 pm Boise State at #10 BYU (-5, 55) - As usual, Boise State is eyeing a Mountain West championship. Though they are 1-1 and tied for the Mountain division top spot, they're 2-3 overall, the losses at UCF (36-31), Oklahoma State (21-20), and last week's upset by Nevada (41-31).

The Cougars have moved up the ranking ladder each week, reaching #10 with a 5-0 record and appear to be getting better with each successive outing. Their wins came over Arizona, Utah, Arizona St., South Florida and Utah. Their smallest margin of victory has been 8 points.

Boise is good enough to give them a game, but eventually the BYU defense digs in and the offense grinds down.

Coin Flip: Boise State

Prediction: Cougars 31 Broncos 20

3:30 pm #19 Wake Forest (-6 1/2, 56 1/2) at Syracuse - The Demon Deacons come in second in the ACC in points scored (192) and are the only unbeaten team in the conference. Wake outlasted a solid Louisville team last week in a 37-34 nail-biter.

The two best teams 3-2 Syracuse has faced are Rutgers and Florida State, and they lost to both of them. Playing in the Carrier Dome can be challenging, but Syracuse won just one of six games here last season (without fans). The Deacons topped them 38-14 in the dome. These two met the prior season, with the Orange winning 39-30, in overtime. Wake looks to be the better balanced team and the Orange were a dreadful 1-10 last year.

Coin Flip: Syracuse

Prediction: Demon Deacons 27 Orange 17

3:30 pm #24 SMU (-13 1/2, 56) at Navy - The 5-0 Mustangs ride into Annapolis with a 5-0 record and the most potent offense in the AAC (213 points) The 1-3 Middies have put just 64 on the scoreboard over four games. SMU's defense should be schooled against the option attack and will score at will in a game that looks like a runaway.

Coin Flip: Navy

Prediction: Mustangs 38 Midshipmen 10

4:00 pm #4 Penn State at #3 Iowa (-2, 41 1/2) - Why this isn't a prime time televised game is a question in need of an answer. Here are two unbeaten teams looking to extend and get hopeful for a final four appearance. The Hawkeyes have the second-best defense in the country, allowing just 11.6 points per game. Penn state is third, at 12.0. Iowa averages 33.2 on offense; Penn State, 30.0.

This is about as even as a game can get, so take the points or home field? The crowd could provide an edge in the best contest of the week.

Coin Flip: Iowa

Prediction: Hawkeyes 26 Nittany Lions 17

7:30 pm #9 Michigan (-3, 52) at Nebraska - At 3-3, there's nothing surprising about Nebraska, but the quality of their last two losses may indicate they are better than their record implies. Prior to putting a serious whipping on Northwestern last week, 56-7, they lost to Oklahoma, 23-16, and Michigan State, 23-20 in OT, both games on the road. Getting home field against the Wolverines offers a distinct advantage even though Michigan comes in touting a 5-0 mark.

This looks like a real set-up for a Michigan loss. Note the low spread and both defenses. Michigan is allowing just 12.8 ppg, Nebraska, 15.5. Other than their records, there isn't much separating these two and the Cornhuskers may be peaking and laying for a big win.

Coin Flip: Michigan

Prediction: Cornhuskers 31 Wolverines 20

7:30 pm LSU at #16 Kentucky (-3, 52) - Kentucky got respect and inclusion in the Top 25 with their 20-13 win over Florida, pushing their record to 5-0. A win here would have them unbeaten when they host Georgia on the 16th, but first, they have to get past a pretty solid LSU team.

The Tigers are just 3-2, their main deficiency being the lack of a solid running game. In last week's loss to Auburn, they rushed for just 11 yards on 26 carries. Kentucky's defensive front must be drooling in anticipation.

Coin Flip: Kentucky

Prediction: Wildcats 28 Tigers 17

7:30 pm #14 Notre Dame (-1, 47) at Virginia Tech - With the Irish losing to Cincinnati last week, 24-13, one might consider the season over for Notre Dame, since it will be difficult for them to make the playoffs with a loss. That may or may not matter, but the line here seems somehow skewed toward Virginia Tech winning at home. It also might have something to do with the Hokies' losing at Notre Dame in 2019, 21-20.

Virginia Tech is 3-1 and has had an extra week off to prepare for the Irish, and the boys may be a bit deflated, but coach Kelly will emphasize the importance of winning this game and the rest down the road. Virginia Tech does not seem to have enough offensive firepower to stay on the field with Notre Dame.

Coin Flip: Notre Dame

Prediction: Fighting Irish 26 Hokies 17

8:00 pm #1 Alabama (-17 1/2. 52) at Texas A&M - The Aggies are without QB Haynes King, who broke a leg in week two as A&M squeaked by Colorado, 10-7. Zach Calzada has been the replacement, but losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State the past two weeks have shown he's not ready for prime time.

Even with King, the Aggies are nowhere near as good as the Crimson Tide and home field won't make much of a difference either.

Coin Flip: Texas A&M

Prediction: Crimson Tide 45 Aggies 10

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