2021 College Football Week 6 Preview, Odds and Picks
The second Saturday in October usually means one big thing in college football: The Red River Rivalry featuring Oklahoma and Texas from the Texas State Fair in Dallas. Once again, it’s the game of the year in the Big 12 as they meet Saturday. Here’s a look at that matchup and one other marquee game in Week 6.
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Top 2021 College Football Week 6 Games to Bet On
Michigan cracks the Top 10 in the Week 6 AP Poll ?
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 3, 2021
1. Alabama
2. Georgia
3. Iowa
4. Penn State
5. Cincinnati
6. Oklahoma
7. Ohio State
8. Oregon
9. Michigan
10. BYU
READ MORE: 2021 College Football Week 5 Recap
No. 6 Oklahoma vs. No. 21 Texas
- When: Saturday, October 9th, 12:00pm ET
- Where: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
- 2021 College Football Week 6 Odds: Oklahoma Sooners -3
Not sure why they always start this at noon ET, which is 11 a.m. local time. ABC has the telecast. It seems as these Big 12 and future SEC rivals always play close, high-scoring games and last year was no different. The Sooners won 53-45 in four overtimes. Both teams missed field goals in the third overtime. Horns QB Sam Ehlinger’s pass to the end zone was intercepted after Oklahoma scored and converted a two-point try in the fourth overtime. It was the second overtime game on record vs. Oklahoma and Texas also lost the other in 1996.
UT has lost three straight in the series. Seven of the last eight meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer after 15 straight years where the annual matchup was decided by at least two scores (1999-2013). Texas is 29-20-5 when the rivalry game is decided by one possession (eight points or less).
This is the third season in the last four both OU and Texas enter their October matchup ranked in the AP poll. It’s 12th time in the last 13 matchups that OU is ranked higher in the AP poll than Texas. The higher-ranked team in the AP Top 25 has won 18 of the last 29 matchups (18-10-1) when at least one of the programs are ranked in the AP Top 25. The team that wins the turnover battle between Texas and OU is 13-6 since 2000.
Oklahoma (5-0) is very fortunate to be unbeaten with a handful of close wins, including 37-31 over Kansas State last Saturday. The Sooners have won 13 straight games overall, No. 2 in the nation behind Alabama’s 19 in a row. Coach Lincoln Riley is 12-1 all-time as OU head coach in games against AP-ranked Big 12 opponents. The only defeat came in 2018 when the No. 7 Sooners fell 48-45 to No. 19 Texas inside the Cotton Bowl.
Texas (4-1) was upset in its second game at Arkansas but has won three in row since changing to Casey Thompson as the starting quarterback. UT has scored 32 or more points in four of five games this season and in six of the last seven games overall.
ESPN GameDay will be on hand in Dallas. The underdog is 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings.
2021 College Football Week 6 Pick: Texas
No. 4 Penn State at No. 3 Iowa
- When: Saturday, October 9th, 4:00pm ET
- Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, Iowa
- 2021 College Football Week 6 Odds: Iowa -2.5
Who would have thought this might be the Big Ten game of the year? It’s a 4 p.m. ET kickoff on Fox. It could be a Big Ten title game preview – Iowa (5-0) is very likely to win the West Division but Penn State (5-0) is in the much tougher East Division with Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.
Last year, Iowa routed Penn State in Happy Valley 41-21 and the Hawkeyes have won 11 straight overall, the third-longest streak by a Power 5 school in the country. Penn State had a six-game win streak in the series from 2011-19 before last year.
This top five matchup is the sixth top-five matchup in Iowa football history, and the first at Kinnick Stadium since No. 1 Iowa defeated No. 2 Michigan, 12-10, in 1985. It’s Penn State’s first Top 5 matchup against a Big Ten opponent since 1997 vs. Michigan. Penn State is 4-6 all-time in matchups where both teams are ranked in the Top 5 of the AP Poll.
Iowa has two wins over ranked opponents (vs. #17 Indiana, 34-6; at #9 Iowa State, 27-17) this season and has won five straight against ranked opponents overall. Only Alabama (9) has more consecutive wins over ranked opponents. The No. 3 ranking is the highest for the Hawkeyes since they were No. 3 in 2015.
Expect a defensive battle as Iowa ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring defense and Penn State No. 3. The Hawkeyes lead the nation with 12 interceptions and Riley Moss leads the Big Ten with three, returning two for touchdowns. Iowa has turned 16 turnovers into 75 points in 2021. The Hawkeyes’ defense has scored 20 points.
Penn State is allowing opponents only a 53.3 conversion rate in the red zone this season, ranking second in the country and leading the Big Ten. In 15 opponent red zone trips, Penn State has held opposing teams without a touchdown on seven possessions.
The favorite is 4-1 ATS in the past five meetings.
2021 College Football Week 6 Pick: Iowa
Check out our latest sports betting guides for the 2021 College Football season. Stay tuned for more Football previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest Football betting odds at our online Bitcoin sportsbook.
*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.
