College Football Picks: Tom Collins' best bets and predictions for week six

Do you want to place a Saturday night accumulator? College football expert Tom Collins has three picks and predictions for week six.

TCU Horned Frogs (-6) @ Kansas Jayhawks (+6)

Kick-off: 5pm BST Saturday

This match-up features two teams that I was against in last week’s column. TCU beat the 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners with ease in perhaps one of the biggest upsets of week five, while Kansas edged Iowa State in a tight encounter, 14-11.

Both the Horned Frogs and the Jayhawks are now ranked in the AP Top 25 Polls at 17th and 19th respectively, and they will put their undefeated records on the line as they take to the field in the featured 5pm kick-off on Saturday.

As much as Kansas have surprised and impressed me so far this season - especially by proving that they can win games with either their potent offence or uncharacteristically stout defence - it’s hard to look away from this Max Duggan-led TCU side in this matchup, given they are averaging 48.5pts on offence per game this season (fourth in the nation). 

Wide receiver Quentin Johnson eludes defensive backs on every passing down, Max Duggan’s accuracy (74.5% pass completion rate) is almost second-to-none in college ball, and they are getting it done on the ground with Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado running hard and angry. As a result, TCU -6 looks like the play.

Selection: TCU -6 @ 1.74

Wisconsin Badgers (-10) @ Northwestern Wildcats (+10)

Kick-off: 8.30pm BST Saturday

The Wisconsin Badgers and Northwestern Wildcats have stunk the place up this season. Many had high hopes for Wisconsin, but they have managed to win just two of their five games and have subsequently fired head coach Paul Chryst after their recent humiliating 34-10 defeat by Illinois.

Interim head coach Jim Leonhard takes over as they travel to Ryan Field to face Northwestern, who lead the nation in lost fumbles (nine) and sit second in total turnovers (13) through five games. Given the ridiculous tally of turnovers, it is to Northwestern’s defensive credit that they have only shipped 17 points to Miami Ohio and Penn State in each of the last two weeks. 

Their offence isn’t exactly firing, but they’re certainly not afraid to put the ball in the hands of quarterback Ryan Hilinski, who has already made 222 pass attempts through five games this term. Running back Evan Hull is a potent weapon, while receiver Malik Washington is more than capable of getting open on a regular basis.

Wisconsin has a good record in this series (61 wins compared to Northwestern’s 37) and may bounce back after the coaching switch, but I’ll take Northwestern +10 points on the handicap in what might prove to be a close game. 

Selection: Northwestern +10 @ 1.9

Washington State Cougars (+12.5) @ USC Trojans (-12.5)

Kick-off: 12.30am BST Sunday

Jordan Addison might just be the best active wide receiver in college football right now. Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and LSU’s Kayshon Boutte possess more talent, but injuries have prevented them from hitting the field on a regular basis so far this campaign, which has paved the way for USC’s Addison to earn significant recognition.

If they keep feeding the ball to the junior out of Frederick, Maryland, USC will continue to win games. Addison has 29 receptions on the year so far for 442 yards (29th in the nation) and six touchdowns (joint-sixth), and he should be able to add to that impressive haul against a Washington State side that allowed 446 passing yards against Oregon two weeks ago.

The Cougars have performed well on the whole this year, as proven by their 4-1 record, but their biggest victory came against the aforementioned Wisconsin, who have been extremely disappointing. And, unless they start fast against the Trojans this week, they will struggle to make this a competitive game.

Selection: USC -12.5 @ 1.88

Recommended college football picks

TCU -6 @ 1.74
Northwestern +10 @ 1.9
USC -12.5 @ 1.88

Accumulator odds: 6.22 decimal, 5.22-1 fractional, +522 American