Joel Klatt picks Texas A&M at Missouri, marquee Week 6 college football picks

The college football regular season nears the halfway point this weekend when Week 6 kicks off. It’s a Saturday loaded with plenty of big-time matchups headlined by high-stakes conference games across the country.

Every game this weekend comes with betting opportunities for fans who wish to put their football knowledge to the test and win some money. And FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt revealed his betting picks and predictions for the top games heading into Week 6.

Klatt was an impressive 5-1 last week against the spread and will look to keep his momentum going this weekend. Check out his breakdown of each of the top matchups along with score predictions for each game below.

UCLA at Penn State (-27.5)

Klatt did not make a pick for UCLA and Penn State’s matchup this weekend since he’ll be on the broadcast for the game. But with the Bruins entering as heavy underdogs searching for their first Power Four win and Penn State looking like undefeated College Football Playoff contenders, Saturday will definitely be a big challenge for UCLA.

“Penn State hosts UCLA, they’re making that first cross-country trip out to State College. UCLA by the way playing their third straight top-20 opponent. LSU, Oregon, and now Penn State. My goodness, DeShaun Foster, not an easy schedule so far and it’s been a really tough season for him,” Klatt said.

Missouri at Texas A&M (-2.5)

Missouri versus Texas A&M represents the only ranked matchup of the weekend and a big one at Kyle Field. It’s a game Klatt believes the battle-tested Aggies win against a Missouri team that’s ranked higher but has not impressed him so far this season.

“I like A&M in this one at home,” Klatt said. “I think that they learned a ton losing that game to Notre Dame, winning a semi-tight one at Arkansas, getting more solid quarterback play, and solidifying their identity. At home I like A&M 28-24, so that’s a cover for the Aggies in College Station.”

Michigan at Washington (-2.5)

Michigan and Washington are two very different teams from when they met in the national championship last year. But Klatt thinks the result of this matchup will be different than the last, highlighted by Michigan’s one-dimensional offense and the Huskies showing some positive flashes in their game last week.

“I like Washington in this game guys, I really do,” Klatt said. “The second half of each of the last two games for Michigan, the fact that they have no margin for error, the fact that Washington played a very good game but just wasn’t clean at the right time against Rutgers. They can clean that up, I think Washington wins, I think they win this 24-17 and that’s a cover for the Huskies at home in a national championship game rematch.”

Iowa at Ohio State (-19.5)

Ohio State faces their biggest test of the season this weekend when they host an Iowa team that entered the season ranked. But the Buckeyes’ embarrassment of riches on both sides of the ball is enough to convince Klatt the Buckeyes win and cover in their first Big Ten home game of the year.

“I like Ohio State getting after Iowa, this one’s at home. I like them covering the 19.5, a big win for the Buckeyes, 42-10. I think this offense goes crazy, I think it’s too much for Iowa to stop. Iowa can’t do anything offensively and it’s 42-10,” Klatt said.

Clemson at Florida State (+14.5)

Not many thought Florida State would be 14.5-point home underdogs to Clemson to start the season. But the defending ACC Champions enter the matchup 1-4 with one of the worst offenses in the nation and without their starting quarterback. It’s a spread that Klatt is very confident in that the red-hot Tigers cover on the road.

“14.5 is not enough,” Klatt said. “I saw that line, I was shocked. Clemson’s playing vastly better than that and Florida State’s playing vastly worse than that. So I’ve got a huge Tigers win 48-17.”

Rutgers at Nebraska (-6.5)

Rounding out the top games of the weekend is a Big Ten matchup and another where Klatt believes the home team will win and cover. Picking Nebraska to have a dominant day against Rutgers in a game where the run game will be a major key for both teams.

“Give me Nebraska in this one, I think Nebraska wins this one handily,” Klatt said. “I think Rutgers is going to struggle to score. I think Nebraska wins this 31-17, and the Huskers cover at home and get back on track, and they would be a 5-1 team after that win.”