2014 College Football Picks: Week 6 Primetime Games Odds and Predictions – Free College Football Picks 10/4/14

2014 College Football Picks: Week 6 Primetime Games Odds and Predictions – Free College Football Picks 10/4/14: A loaded Week 6 of the college football season kicks off with four top-25 matchups during the afternoon slate of games, but there are also a couple of big primetime contests on the schedule that will have huge implications in the SEC and Big Ten as well as the college playoff picture. The action begins with the LSU Tigers going on the road to face the Auburn Tigers, and it continues with the Michigan State Spartans playing host to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Here is a closer look at both marquee matchups.

No. 15 LSU Tigers at No. 5 Auburn Tigers

The SEC West is easily the toughest division in college football, and two of its six top-15 teams will meet in this one. Recent history definitely favors LSU as Les Miles’ teams have won six of their last seven meetings with Auburn, including a 35-21 win last year that ended up being Auburn’s only loss until the national title game. However, LSU just hasn’t shown its normal muscle on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the trenches, and that could spell trouble against Auburn’s multi-dimensional rushing attack.

Dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Cameron Artis-Payne head an Auburn ground game that ranks 18th in the country, and LSU didn’t fare well against Wisconsin’s power running game or against Mississippi State dual-threat quarterback Dak Prescott. The Badgers piled up 268 rushing yards and averaged 6.8 yards per carry, and the Bulldogs topped 300 yards on the ground and averaged more than six yards per carry. Granted, the LSU offense has a chance to play better now that Miles has committed to true freshman QB Brandon Harris, but asking Harris to go on the road and knock off a team like Auburn is a tall order. In the end, LSU’s defensive struggles are going to be too much to overcome against an Auburn team built to run the ball.

Prediction: Auburn Tigers (-7.5) Cover the Spread

No. 19 Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 10 Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans knocked off the Cornhuskers last year for the first time in program history on their way to an eventual Big Ten championship, but five Nebraska turnovers negated what was an otherwise legitimate upset bid. In fact, the Cornhuskers had more success moving the ball on the Spartans’ elite defense than any other team Michigan State faced. This time around, both sides are not only thinking about a conference title, but the winner will have a shot at climbing back in the playoff picture.

In addition to the big team implications, Saturday’s game could also make or break a Heisman Trophy campaign for Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah. He currently leads the country in rushing, and he will get a chance to show his stuff against a Michigan State defense that has been excellent against the run once again this season. However, a big performance from Abdullah might not even be enough to lead the Cornhuskers to a victory. After all, Nebraska’s defense looked shaky against its toughest competition to date, the Miami Hurricanes, and the unit also allowed McNeese State to score 24 points. Now, the Cornhuskers will have to try to contain a balanced Michigan State offense that has reached another level thanks to the emergence of quarterback Connor Cook. Abdullah is the real deal, but the Spartans are the more complete team, and they will take care of business in East Lansing.

Prediction: Michigan State Spartans (-7) Cover the Spread