College Football Predictions & Best Bets for Week 6

Week 5 was a big oof for my college gridiron bets, as I went 0-2 and fumbled away all my profits for the season. But a new week is upon us – let’s make it count and get that bankroll back into the black. For my college football predictions and best bets for Week 6, we’re off to Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington, and Valley Children’s Stadium in Fresno, California. Let’s hit the gridiron!

College Football Predictions & Best Bets for Week 6

#20 Iowa Hawkeyes vs Washington Huskies

Start Time: 9:00 PM EST (Friday)

We start with a Friday night Big Ten matchup: the 20th-ranked, 4-1 (1-1 Big Ten) Iowa Hawkeyes travel to the Pacific Northwest to meet the 3-2 (0-2 Big Ten) Washington Huskies. I was surprised to see who was favored in this matchup, but then I realized the Hawkeyes’ starting quarterback, Hank Brown, has an injured shoulder and is questionable to play in Seattle this weekend.

So I should go with the home side, the Huskies, as the favorite then, right? Wrong. I’m still going in on Iowa as dogs. Brown’s injury, plus the team dropping their first game of the season last week to the Ohio State Buckeyes (no shame there), have conspired to make this spread what it is. But Brown’s backup, Jeremy Hecklinski, played admirably when sent in last week against the Buckeyes, going 5-for-5 in the air. Plus, the Hawkeyes are a defense-first team, with the nation’s eighth-best D. That stingy defense, plus Washington’s anemic offense (88th nationally), should help the visitors escape with a victory (or at least cover the spread for us) on Friday night.

Best Bet: Iowa +3.5 (-120)

#23 Boise State Broncos vs Fresno State Bulldogs

Start Time: 10:30 PM EST

Now we move on to Saturday, but we’re staying out west for a Pac-12 matchup between the #23-ranked, 4-1 (1-0 Pac-12) Boise State Broncos heading to the Central Valley region of California to meet the 4-1 (1-0 Pac-12) Fresno State Bulldogs. Something called the “Milk Can Trophy” is on the line in this one, apparently. And, once again, this is another game where I think the wrong team is favored.

I’m going with the home dogs in this one, the Bulldogs. Just like the Iowa pick, Fresno State may be without a key offensive player, as leading rusher Rayshon Luke is day-to-day with a concussion. However, like the Hawkeyes once again, the Bulldogs make their hay on defense, not offense, allowing the 27th-fewest points in the country this season. In this offense vs defense matchup, I’m going with the D.

Plus, Fresno State has the momentum on their side, beating Boise State the last three times they’ve met. After crunching the numbers, I have the Bulldogs as a slight one-point favorite, making them the play on the spread.

Best Bet: Fresno State +6.5 (-110)

2025/6 College Football Overall Record: 5-5 (50%)
Profit (based on $100/bet): -($46.89)
Return on Investment: -5%