Week 6 of the 2024 college football season promises excitement, with several key matchups and potential upsets. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the games to watch, top picks, odds, and key betting trends to consider.

Week 6 kicks off with two Thursday night matchups from the Sun Belt Conference:

Texas State (2-2) at Troy (1-4): Texas State is favored by 13.5 points with an over/under of 57.5. Texas State enters the game after a win over Nevada, while Troy comes off a loss to Georgia State.

Sam Houston State (4-1) at UTEP (0-4): Sam Houston State is a 10.5-point favorite, with an over/under set at 50. Sam Houston is riding a four-game win streak, while UTEP remains winless.

Saturday features a packed schedule with several high-profile matchups that could shape the conference standings.

Missouri (#9) at Texas A&M (#25): This SEC clash starts at 12:00 PM ET, with Texas A&M favored by 2.5 points.

Ohio State (#3) vs. Iowa: Ohio State is a 19.5-point favorite in this Big Ten showdown, which kicks off at 3:30 PM ET.

Michigan (#10) at Washington: In a rematch of last year’s national championship, Michigan is a 2.5-point underdog on the road.

Alabama (#1) at Vanderbilt: Alabama is a heavy favorite at -23.5.

Tennessee (#4) at Arkansas: Tennessee is favored by 13.5 points.

Clemson (#15) at Florida State: Clemson comes in as a 14.5-point favorite.

Auburn at Georgia (#5): Georgia is a dominant 24.5-point favorite.

Miami (#8) at California: Miami is a 10.5-point favorite in this late-night Pac-12 matchup.

With seven ranked teams playing as road favorites, Week 6 has the potential for several upsets that could shake up the rankings. Weather conditions, particularly strong winds off Lake Michigan, could play a role in Northwestern’s home game against #23 Indiana, adding to the upset potential.

Here are some top picks and notable odds for this week:

Ohio State (-19.5) vs. Iowa: Ohio State is expected to dominate Iowa, who has struggled against ranked opponents.

Wake Forest (+5.5) vs. Clemson: Wake Forest has played close games despite their 1-3 record and could pose a challenge to Clemson.

Georgia Tech (-9) vs. Duke: Duke remains undefeated, but close calls make Georgia Tech, fresh off a bye week, a strong pick.

Arkansas (+13.5) vs. Tennessee: Arkansas has been more competitive than their record shows and could keep it close against Tennessee.

California (+10.5) vs. Miami: Analysts see value in California as a home underdog, especially with Miami dealing with cross-country travel and a late kickoff.

Michigan (+2.5) at Washington: In a rematch of last year's championship, Michigan is a slight underdog but could upset Washington.

• Missouri (+115) at Texas A&M

When making picks, bettors should look beyond the odds, considering factors such as recent performance, injuries, and line movements throughout the week. These elements can significantly impact the value of certain bets and the likelihood of upsets.