Our college football picks for Louisville-FSU, Kentucky-LSU, more
Welcome to Week 6 of The Courier Journal's college football picks!
Louisville plays Florida State under the Friday night lights this week as the Cardinals look to avoid their third consecutive and fourth overall loss. Kentucky, meanwhile, is riding high after a historic comeback against South Carolina. This weekend the Wildcats host the LSU Tigers.
Western Kentucky returns home to play Missouri State. And to round out our slate, we'll predict the Texas-Oklahoma game, as well as Alabama vs. Georgia.
Here's a look at this week's picks. As is our custom, predictions are straight-up winners and losers (not against the spread), with rankings based on the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. All times listed are ET, and all odds listed are per DraftKings as of Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Louisville vs. Florida State
How to watch: Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN
The picks: Five for Louisville, three for FSU (Alaina Morris, Brooks Holton, Payton Titus)
Betting line: Louisville -3.5, over/under 59.5 points
It's a short week for the Cardinals and Seminoles. UofL looks to avoid a third consecutive loss, while FSU looks to secure a third consecutive win. Who'd have thought that would be the case at the beginning of the season? Our Alexis Cubit wrote earlier this week about how turnovers could be the X factor in the game. Louisville fumbled three times against NC State, which resulted in 18 points for the Wolfpack. FSU quarterback Ashton Daniels has been picked off six times this season. Seems as though this game will end in favor of whoever plays the tidiest.
No. 25 Kentucky vs. No. 10 LSU
How to watch: Saturday, 7 p.m., ESPN
The picks: Eight for LSU
Betting line: LSU -8.5, over/under 52.5 points
Will Stein is the first UK coach to go 4-1 in his first five games since Bear Bryant. Yes, that Bear Bryant. This week Stein has his work cut out for him with No. 10 LSU coming to town. Will it be a repeat of the Cats' first SEC home game of the season, which UK lost by 32 to Alabama after a strong start? Or will the Wildcats be able to bring their dominate third quarters from College Station, Texas, and Columbia, South Carolina, to Kroger Field? We shall see!
Western Kentucky vs. Missouri State
How to watch: Thursday, 7 p.m., CBSSN
The picks: Five for Missouri State, three for WKU (Alaina Morris, Ryan Black, Jason Frakes)
Betting line: WKU -2.5, over/under 56.5 points
It's been a rough season for Western Kentucky, with only one win and a quality opponent in Missouri State on deck this week. Good news for the Hilltoppers is they're back home. Finally. That's where they defeated Mercyhurst for their lone win. Perhaps being back in Bowling Green can help turn WKU's fortunes around.
No. 1 Texas vs. Oklahoma
How to watch: Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC
The picks: Eight for Texas
Betting line: Texas -8.5, over/under 39.5 points
It's Red River Rivalry week! Both teams should be well-rested after not playing in Week 5. Texas' defensive performance against Tennessee in Week 4 seems to spell trouble for Oklahoma, which hasn't scored more than 14 points against anyone since hanging 51 on UTEP in Week 1. But anything can happen in a rivalry game. Which is probably why the bookmakers only have Texas as an 8.5-point favorite, despite its undefeated record.
No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 2 Georgia
How to watch: Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ABC
The picks: Five for UGA, three for Alabama (Brooks Holton, C.L. Brown, Ryan Black)
Betting line: Alabama -1.5, over/under 54.5 points
It's a battle of the undefeateds in Tuscaloosa this weekend. No one in college football has scored more points than Georgia so far (257). And only UGA has scored more than Alabama (248). This game could have major SEC championship implications.
The Standings after Week 5
1. Alaina Morris, Brooks Holton, Jason Frakes – 19-6
4. Ryan Black – 17-8
5. Payton Titus, Alexis Cubit, Josh Connelly, C.L. Brown – 16-9
Reach college sports enterprise reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com and follow her on X @petitus25. Subscribe to her "Full-court Press" newsletter here for a behind-the-scenes look at how college sports' biggest stories are impacting Louisville and Kentucky athletics.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Our college football picks for Louisville-FSU, Kentucky-LSU, more
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