College Football Week 6 Staff Picks: Changing of the guard coming in the SEC

Each week during the college football season, the staff at theScore will put on their prognosticator hats and offer up selections against the spread on each of the week’s top games, highlighting several marquee matchups.

More College Football Betting Resources

Opening Line Report
Week 6 Betting Preview (Thursday)
Game Day Betting Update

Unanimous selections: Mississippi State -1.5, Oklahoma State -17, Ohio State -8, Oklahoma -4.5, Stanford -1.5, LSU +7.5, South Carolina -5, Michigan State -7

Unanimous selections are 10-24 ATS for the season. Last week: 3-4 ATS.

Marquee Matchups

14 Stanford Cardinal (-1.5) at 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Chris Battaglia: The Fighting Irish are riding high at 4-0, but the Stanford is their first ranked opponent of 2014. The Cardinal proved themselves more than capable with a road victory over Washington last week and their tougher schedule thus far should help the team prepare for Notre Dame. Expect Stanford’s defense to shut the Irish down. Stanford -1.5

Gino Bottero: The Irish have been playing above their abilities thus far, and a big part of that has come from navigating a cushy schedule. Even still, Everett Golson has needed to play like a Heisman candidate to keep Notre Dame in its games. Both sides play strong defense, but Stanford should be able to do a better job of moving the ball, even if that means getting a big play or two from Ty Montgomery in the return game.  Stanford -1.5

Mike Dickson: Notre Dame's 4-0 record looks impressive, but it comes against opponents with a combined record of 7-11 this season, so it's not like the Fighting Irish have been facing the toughest competition. They will have a heck of a time trying to move the ball against a Stanford defense that has allowed 13 points or less in every game and leads the nation in points against. Everett Golson's Heisman campaign will take a sizable hit as he struggles with the Cardinal defense and Stanford will walk out of South Bend victorious. Stanford -1.5

3 Alabama Crimson Tide (-6) at 11 Ole Miss Rebels

Battaglia: Bo Wallace and the Rebels are ready to serve notice of their arrival as an SEC West powerhouse against the Crimson Tide. Alabama won’t be able to run away with the score against Ole Miss’ stout defense and home field advantage should help the Rebels do the rest. Ole Miss +6

Bottero: The name on the front of the jersey is pretty well all that's behind the Tide's status as a favorite in this one. Alabama has looked like its old dominant self at times, but when they've been tested, their flaws have been on full display. Ole Miss has the luxury of getting this game at home, and that should be enough to make this into a game. Ole Miss +6

Dickson: While both teams are undefeated, neither has faced much of a challenge in the opening weeks of the season. The Rebels are allowing less than nine points per game, but they have yet to run into an offense like that of the Crimson Tide. Alabama has put up an average of 42 points and quarterback Blake Sims is coming off of a 445-yard, four-touchdown performance against Florida. The Crimson Tide will continue to ride Sims's hot hand as Ole Miss will be unable to find a way to cover Amari Cooper. Alabama -6

15 LSU Tigers at 5 Auburn Tigers (-7.5)

Battaglia: Auburn may be at home, but it’s difficult to see them routing an LSU team that has been largely dominating its opponents. LSU is also in danger of starting its conference schedule 0-2, which is perilous in the highly competitive SEC West. Even if Auburn maintains its perfect record, LSU will put up enough of a fight to beat the spread. LSU +7.5

Bottero: With the exception of their trip to Manhattan, Auburn hasn't had much trouble moving the ball this season. That unit will get a wake up call on Saturday when they line up against a stout LSU defense that shut them out in the first half of last year's meeting. LSU +7.5

Dickson: LSU struggled a great deal at home against Mississippi State two weeks ago and it wasn't until Brandon Harris took over at quarterback that the Tigers really put up a fight. Last week Harris again relieved Anthony Jennings and that sparked the offense to the point that he earned the start for this pivotal matchup. Auburn found it difficult to put away Kansas State and will have the exact same type of problem this week, allowing LSU to at least keep it close enough for a cover. LSU +7.5

Wild Card Selections

Arizona Wildcats at 2 Oregon Ducks (-23)

Battaglia: It’s a lot to ask Arizona to keep their undefeated season alive by defeating Oregon, but it’s even more to ask the Ducks to defeat the Wildcats by more than three touchdowns. Arizona’s defense doesn’t impress but its offense is producing 42 points per game - only 6.5 fewer than Oregon. This one will be closer than the spread suggests. Arizona +23

6 Texas A&M Aggies at 12 Mississippi State Bulldogs (-1.5)

Bottero: Both quarterbacks in this game can lay claim to the title of best quarterback in the SEC, but it's Mississippi State's Dak Prescott that brings the better supporting cast with him into this matchup. Texas A&M caught South Carolina off guard in their opener and have been laying low while teams in front of them in the AP poll lose, allowing the Aggies to move up in the rankings. Now that we know what South Carolina is, it's pretty hard to justify Texas A&M's high ranking. Mississippi State -1.5

6 Texas A&M Aggies at 12 Mississippi State Bulldogs (-1.5)

Dickson: In a week loaded with quality games, this may end up being the best of the bunch. After dismantling South Carolina in their season opener, the Aggies breezed through three games before running into a stiff test against Arkansas last week. The Razorbacks nearly pulled the upset, but Kenny Hill led Texas A&M to the comeback victory in overtime. That kind of performance won't cut it against Dak Prescott and the Bulldogs who will keep their undefeated start going with their second straight win over a top-10 team. Mississippi State -1.5

Lines courtesy Scoresandodds.com, Covers.