2026 College Football Picks: Week Six

Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama

 

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 26-10 | ⚡ UPSETS 1–2 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 1–2 | 🔒 LOCKS 5–1

(2) Georgia Bulldogs @ (6) Alabama Crimson Tide

📍 Tuscaloosa, AL

🏈 Alabama -1.5 | O/U 51.5

For as much has changed in the SEC and college football over the years, Georgia and Alabama have remained constants - and the two are set to square off again on Saturday night in a matchup that has the feelings of another instant classic. Both are undefeated and have their sets sight on National Titles. The weather could be complete chaos. Future NFLers will line up all over the field. And only one team will come away with the win.

It's been smooth sailing over the first five weeks of the season for Georgia, who has taken advantage of one of the weakest schedules in the SEC up to this point to get to 5-0. Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt may genuinely be the worst three teams in the league this fall, and the Bulldogs cruised over all three. Even so, the Bulldogs still have to be excited about what the offense has been able to achieve, averaging 51.4 PPG entering the weekend. There is real balance to this group and some explosiveness, with quarterback Gunner Stockton at the controls. Stockton is completing 76% of his passes and keeping the ball out of opponent's hands, while still being willing to take the shots down the field. His supporting cast is a bit light on star power, as compared to some of the past Kirby Smart teams we've seen, but Nate Frazier and a deep backfield power the run, and there are real weapons at receiver. Craig Dandridge is the team's leading receiver, despite just nine catches on the campaign. His big play ability is something that has been missing at times for Georgia over the years and he does so by creativity after the catch. We saw Ryan Coleman-Williams become a household name with a dominant showing of his own against the Bulldogs a few years ago - could this be the type of moment for Dandridge, too? More than likely given the potential for inclement weather, it's going to be the old ground-and-pound for Georgia. It's good news they are so deep in the backfield, per usual, but the chess match against Kane Wommack and this Alabama defense is a fun storyline. Wommack is awfully creative with what he is able to do on the defensive side, and he seems to elevate his performance for the big games. The Tide are going to be aggressive and it's worth noting this is still a very young Georgia offensive line. The Bulldogs have held up on the line all season, but this is a different animal than they've seen and games like these often have a way of coming down to the war in the trenches.

There's not an overwhelming favorite in the Heisman race just yet, but if you said it was Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, I don't think anyone could argue with you. Russell simply does not look like a first-year starter - his comfortability and feel for this offense is well beyond his years. He's able to make things happen in a variety of ways, whether it's sitting back and picking apart a defense from the pocket, or going out and improvising. It has helped that Alabama's great weakness last fall, the O-Line play and the ground game, have both been much improved so far on the season. That's allowed Russell a bit more of a margin for error and not forced him to create the entire offense, as was often a problem for Ty Simpson in 2025. I'm curious what Glenn Schumann and this Georgia defense draw up to try and stop him. You almost wonder if they're going to sit back and not apply as much pressure as usual given Russell's excellent improvisation skills. When he can get out of the pocket and find openings with the big play threats the Tide possess on the perimeter, that's when he's especially dangerous. More so than anything, this feels like a mental game for this Georgia defense. Who is the toughest quarterback they've faced so far this fall, Vanderbilt freshman Jared Curtis? They're probably going to take a punch or two, potentially early, from Russell and this Alabama offense, and it's going to be about how they respond. If Alabama is able to steal away the early momentum and get the crowd fully into this one, mounting a comeback is going to be that much harder. 

Alabama has owned the regular season series between these two in recent years, and they do get the homefield advantage. Yet, Kirby is going to have his boys up for a game like this, and you almost wonder if Georgia will be fresher given the light schedule. The weather throws another wrench to consider. I don't think you can go wrong either way, but we just know Alabama more at this juncture in the season and going into Bryant-Denny Stadium and coming away with a victory is an arduous process for any opponent - especially a rival like Georgia.

The Pick: Alabama, 31 Georgia, 28

(21) UCLA Bruins @ (13) Oregon Ducks

2026 College Football Picks: Week Five

 

Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State

📊 THE RECORD

🏆 PICKS 20-7 | ⚡ UPSETS 1–1 | 🐕 SUPERDOGS 1–2 | 🔒 LOCKS 3–1

(5) Ohio State Buckeyes @ (14) Iowa Hawkeyes

📍 Iowa City

🏈 Ohio State -14.5 | O/U 45.5

It took until the very last play of the game, but Iowa found a way to overcome Michigan in a thriller in Ann Arbor last weekend. Now they welcome the Big Ten favorite to Kinnick, which has long been where ranked teams go to die. Can the Hawkeyes continue the magic, or is this the type of game that will bring them back down to Earth?

In many ways, Iowa's upset of Michigan was peak Iowa football. They found a way to make it ugly, kept it close the entire way, and then made the big play when it counted to steal away the win. But, the way they did it was not a typical Iowa effort. The Hawkeyes never found a way to get anything going on the ground limping to just 58 yards total on 24 carries. Instead, it was Hank Brown and the passing attack that stepped up most when it was needed, as Brown threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, including an excellent throw to the sideline in the end zone to seal the win. That's not to say we can expect Iowa to suddenly became a team that is going to sling the ball all over the field, but there is some actual balance to this offense this fall. Brown is a rock-solid quarterback who can make the big play when it counts, and there is real pass-catchers to throw the ball to. Tony Diaz made waves in the offseason and has impressed early on, Reece Vander Zee had the two touchdown catches last weekend, and tight end Addison Ostrenga will move the chains over the middle. Most importantly, offensive coordinator Tim Lester has worked hard to add just enough creative elements to this offense to keep defenses honest. To pull off an upset, the Hawkeyes are still probably going to have to play the field position game and rely heavily on the defense. Even the fact that there's any passing game to speak of is a far cry from some of the units Kirk Ferentz has thrown out there in recent years. Throughout the week, you have to imagine the priority for Lester and this Iowa offensive staff has been figuring out what they can do to revive the rushing attack, especially against a Buckeye defensive front that has some questions of their own. I'm of the belief Michigan has one of the best defenses in the nation, but the Hawkeyes will need more from Kamari Moulton and this entire backfield to play the type of game they are capable of.

Ohio State has recovered nicely from their shocking defeat on the road to Texas, pounding Kent State 59-3 and then running past Illinois in their opener. For as large as the offseason storyline was around the hire of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, there has not been a major difference to the way this team has operated so far this fall. The second half against Texas was ugly, but they've looked in complete command in every instance. Now, Iowa will give them the toughest test they've seen since the Longhorns. Phil Parker-coached defenses may not have the athletes of a Texas, but they're tough, disciplined, and fundamentally sound. They're going to force Ohio State to work in a way they have not for a large chunk of the season so far. The Buckeyes will need several things to put points on the board: the ground game to find a rhythm, and somebody else, anyone else, to emerge beyond Jeremiah Smith out wide. We know how good Smith is, he has a chance to take over this game, too. But against the other elite teams on the schedule, the Buckeyes need to find somebody else to take pressure off No. 4. Devin McCuin was the big-name transfer, Brandon Inniss was the former high-profile recruit and the veteran. There's even Chris Henry Jr., the prize of this year's recruiting class, who has been held to just three catches on the year. Somebody else is going to need to start making plays - we saw how limited the offense could be when Smith was held in check. Parker and this entire coaching staff are experts at throwing difficult looks at offenses and taking them out of their comfort zones. They have had all week to prepare for Smith and may have just enough to challenge the Buckeyes to look elsewhere.

I was a believer in Iowa all offseason, and there's always an energy in Kinnick when they welcome top teams to Iowa City. Yet, I fear this has the makings of a game where Ohio State has the potential to roll. There are still questions about this roster, but the athletes they have on the field will just look completely different than Iowa. They also face a Hawkeyes team riding an emotional high after last weekend, a team primed for a letdown. It may not be a pretty game from the Buckeyes, but I think they come away with a fairly comfortable victory.

The Pick: Ohio State, 35 Iowa, 17

(6) Alabama Crimson Tide @ (17) Miss. State Bulldogs