TUCKER’S PICK ‘EM 2016: College football picks and previews for Week 6

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – 41NBC’s Tucker Sargent makes his picks for Week 6.

Record last week: 12-0

Record this season: 45-13

All Times Eastern

All FBS rankings reflect latest Associated Press poll

 

Georgia Southern (3-1, 2-0 Sun Belt) @ Arkansas State (0-4)
Wednesday, October 5 at 8:30 p.m. ESPN2
Georgia Southern has played four games on ESPN2 and has lost all four.

There’s a first time for everything:

Georgia Southern 38, Arkansas State 23

Actual Score: Arkansas State 27, Georgia Southern 26 (LOSS)

 

 

LSU (3-2, 2-1 SEC) @ No. 18 Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 8 at 12 p.m. ESPN
LSU racked up the most yards in an SEC game in school history in last week’s 42-7 win over Missouri, posting a total of 634 (418 of them rushing).

Leonard Fournette didn’t even play. He might not this week, either:

LSU 21, Florida 16

Actual Score: Postponed to November 19

 

 

Auburn (3-2, 1-1 SEC) @ Mississippi State (2-2, 1-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 8 at 12 p.m. SEC NETWORK
Auburn has lost two straight to Mississippi State and three of the last four.

Crazy, I know.

An 11 a.m. CT kickoff in “Cowbell Country” isn’t exactly ideal for the Tigers’ first road game:

Auburn 23, Mississippi State 13

Actual Score: Auburn 38, Mississippi State 14 (WIN)

 

 

Georgia Tech (3-2, 1-2 ACC) @ Pittsburgh (3-2, o-1 ACC)
Saturday, October 8 at 12 p.m. ACC NETWORK
It’s been a rough few weeks for the Yellow Jackets.

After starting the season 3-0, they could be 3-3 after this one:

Pittsburgh 30, Georgia Tech 21

Actual Score: Pittsburgh 37, Georgia Tech 34 (WIN)

 

 

Kentucky State (1-4, 1-0 SIAC) @ Fort Valley State (1-4, 1-2 SIAC)
Saturday, October 8 at 2 p.m.
Fort Valley State is off to its worst start since 2010.

The Wildcats finished that season 2-8:

Fort Valley State 23, Kentucky State 21

Actual Score: Kentucky State 26, Fort Valley 10 (LOSS)

 

 

No. 25 Virginia Tech (3-1, 1-0 ACC) @ No. 17 North Carolina (4-1, 2-0 ACC)
Saturday, October 8 at 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN2
Virginia Tech is back inside the Top 25 for the first time since 2014.

UNC is 3-8 against ranked teams since Larry Fedora took over in 2012:

North Carolina 35, Virginia Tech 23

Actual Score: Virginia Tech 34, North Carolina 3 (LOSS)

 

 

No. 9 Tennessee (5-0, 2-0 SEC) @ No. 8 Texas A&M (5-0, 3-0 SEC)
Saturday, October 8 at 3:30 p.m. CBS
Can Tennessee keep its comeback streak alive?

The unbeaten Volunteers have trailed by at least 10 points in every game this season:

Texas A&M 35, Tennessee 26

Actual Score: Texas A&M 45, Tennessee 38 – 2 OT (WIN)

 

 

Mercer (2-2, 1-1 Southern) @ Chattanooga (5-0, 3-0 Southern)
Saturday, October 8 at 4 p.m. SOCON DIGITAL NETWORK
Mercer is looking to push its record above .500 with a win over the Football Championship Subdivision’s only 5-0 team.

It’s not impossible, by any means. The Bears lost by a touchdown in their first meeting with the Mocs in 2014 and pulled off the 17-14 upset last season:

Chattanooga 42, Mercer 28

Actual Score: Chattanooga 52, Mercer 31 (WIN)

 

 

Vanderbilt (2-3, 0-2 SEC) @ Kentucky (2-3, 1-2 SEC)
Saturday, October 8 at 4:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
The line here is in Kentucky’s favor by three points.

You know what that means? It’s a toss-up. The Wildcats are only favored because they’re at home:

Kentucky 23, Vanderbilt 20

Actual Score: Kentucky 20, Vanderbilt 13 (WIN)

 

 

No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) @ Arkansas (4-1, 0-1 SEC)
Saturday, October 8 at 7 p.m. ESPN
For whatever reason, the Razorbacks have matched up well with the Tide the last two seasons.

However, their last win in the series came in 2006:

Alabama 28, Arkansas 16

Actual Score: Alabama 49, Arkansas 30 (WIN)

 

 

Georgia (3-2, 1-2 SEC) @ South Carolina (2-3, 1-3 SEC)
Postponed to Sunday, October 9 at 2:30 p.m. SEC NETWORK
The Bulldogs bounced back from that Ole Miss beatdown, playing well enough to knock Tennessee from the ranks of the unbeaten (until the final play).

For what it’s worth, coach Kirby Smart said his players did what they were supposed to do.

Coach Will Muschamp’s Gamecocks looked better in Week 5, too. They trailed Texas A&M by just four points in the fourth quarter before falling 24-13:

Georgia 24, South Carolina 17

Actual Score: Georgia 28, South Carolina 14 (WIN)

 

 

No. 23 Florida State (3-2, 0-2 ACC) @ No. 10 Miami (4-0, 1-0 ACC)
Saturday, October 8 at 8 p.m. ABC
Can someone tell me why Florida State is still ranked?

Maybe the Seminoles will show me why, but I’m not counting on it:

Miami 28, Florida State 21

Actual Score: Florida State 20, Miami 19 (LOSS)