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Staff Picks: Big Week 6 matchups on tap during South Carolina bye week

imageby: Jack Veltri10/03/25jacktveltri
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Florida State defensive back Renardo Green (8) tackles Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (22) during a college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. (© Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

After a dominant win over Kentucky, South Carolina is off this week with a grueling five-game stretch starting next week with a trip to LSU.

While the Gamecocks aren’t playing this weekend, there are still a handful of Week 6 games going on around the country. Plus, the GamecockCentral and 107.5 The Game staff have predicted a random game of their choosing just to have some fun.

Here’s how the staff picked this weekend’s games.

George Bagwell: I want to use the bye week to shout out former South Carolina QB Robby Ashford, who had a solid game on the ground last week in a close loss to Georgia Tech. I think he’ll keep improving en route to the Demon Deacons defeating Virginia Tech. Wake Forest 31, Virginia Tech 17.

Elijah Campbell: For my random game, I’ll take the lovely folks of Gamecock Central out to BEAUTIFUL Pocatello, Idaho. A dream destination calls for a magnificent match-up between Montana at Idaho State. Don’t let State’s 2-3 record fool you, they’re a frisky bunch. They put scares into FBS opponents New Mexico and Dan Mullen’s UNLV team. HOWEVER, give me Montana on the road. A traditional power at the FCS level, Montana has won in a variety of ways this year and is scoring 42.5 points per game this season. In the Grizz, I trust. Montana 38, Idaho State 28.

Chris Clark: South Florida beats Charlotte.

Terry Ford: A match-up of two undefeated teams. It doesn’t matter that the game is in Houston. Cougars barely survived winless Oregon State and are 76th in the country in offensive efficiency. Not a great formula to beat Tech. Texas Tech 37, Houston 17.

Griffin Goodwyn: At 2 p.m. on Saturday, Furman (3-1, 1-0 SoCon) will be taking on Eastern Tennessee State (2-3, 0-1 SoCon) at Paladin Stadium. That just so happens to be where I spent many a late night during the summer of 2023 interning with Greenville Triumph SC, the locale’s professional soccer team. This matchup may appear to be a blowout on paper, but the team’s records have had no bearing on the eventual outcomes of their recent meetings. Last year, the Buccaneers fell 24-21 at home despite having a significantly better record (6-4) than the Paladins (2-7) and being ranked No. 21 in FCS at the time. The year before that, No. 3 Furman (6-1) found the end zone just once in a 16-8 win over ETSU (2-5) at home. The one constant in both situations, though, was a Paladin win, and I expect that to be the case again this weekend. Furman 27, ETSU 13.

Tyler Head: Virginia had one of its biggest moments in recent program history last week, upsetting FSU. This screams classic let down by going on the road to an underrated Louisville. Louisville 34, Virginia 24.

Mingo Martin: Taking the bye week to recognize the CW Game of the Week between Wake and VT. I think coming off NCST, VT fans had a fun weekend with the patented Interim Coach Bump. However, I expect Wake to roll here. They’ll be hungry after falling just short of upsetting Georgia Tech. Wake Forest 38, Virginia Tech 10.

Kevin Miller: In what could be the most lopsided matchup of the college football weekend, Mount Union will host Otterbein. The Raiders won’t be gracious hosts and could put a strain on the school’s fireworks budget. Mount Union 66, Otterbein 3.

Wes Mitchell: Georgia 38, Kentucky 10.

Jay Philips: Vanderbilt travels to Tuscaloosa this weekend, looking to shock the CFB world yet again after last season’s upset of the then-Number One Crimson Tide. Diego Pavia has certainly infused a different and very positive belief into his program, and he should be celebrated as one of Vandy’s most iconic players in the modern SEC. Alabama, like last season, is coming off a huge win over Georgia, proving they still have more than enough talent and technique to win their biggest games. This year will not see another upset, and if I were a gambler, I’d take Bama minus the points. In their own version of a statement win, I’ve got Alabama 38, Vanderbilt 17.

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Kendall Smith: My random game of the week stays within my home state. I have an affection for NC State that really is for no reason other than I love Raleigh, and growing up in NC, I always felt like they were the underdog to UNC and Duke. So naturally, I rooted for them. After an unfortunate loss last weekend to VT at home, I want the Wolfpack to bounce back, and I think they will over Campbell. Which, by the way, the Fighting Camels is like one of the greatest names in college sports, bar none. NC State 42, Campbell 17. 

Mike Uva: After falling short back-to-back weeks by a combined seven points in two non-conference games, the Fightin’ Pete Lembos host Eastern Michigan in a MAC showdown. In the least surprising Lembo stat, Buffalo is first in FBS for blocked punts (3). Look for some more special teams magic this weekend from the Bulls to help. Buffalo 27, Eastern Michigan 17.

Jack Veltri: After a 0-3 start, Western Carolina is getting hot at the right time with two straight wins, where the offense has scored 50 and 42 points. I expect that trend to continue as the Catamounts travel to Wofford this weekend. The Terriers have had some bad luck with their first three losses coming by a combined six points before getting hammered by Virginia Tech. But I’m rolling with Western, mainly just because that’s my girlfriend’s alma mater. Plus, shoutout Cullowhee. I expect the Catamounts to cover the 7.5-point spread and win by plenty. Western Carolina 49, Wofford 21.

Chris Wellbaum: My game is #1 North Dakota State at #6 Illinois State. I’m taking the Bison 34-13. No home-field advantage in Normal, Illinois, because I think the Redbirds are overrated. The Bison never are. North Dakota State 34, Illinois State 13.

Iowa State at CincinnatiAir Force at NavyTexas at FloridaOregon State at App StateVanderbilt at AlabamaMichigan State at NebraskaKansas at UCFMiami (FL) at Florida StateDuke at California
George Bagwell (39-19)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)California
Elijah Campbell (38-20)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)California
Chris Clark (34-24)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaUCFMiami (FL)Duke
Terry Ford (33-25)Iowa StateNavyTexasOregon StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)California
Griffin Goodwyn (37-21)CincinnatiNavyTexasOregon StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)Duke
Tyler Head (35-23)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)Duke
Mingo Martin (33-25)Iowa StateNavyTexasOregon StateAlabamaMichigan StateUCFMiami (FL)California
Kevin Miller (35-23)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaUCFMiami (FL)Duke
Wes Mitchell (39-19)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasFlorida StateCalifornia
Jay Philips (34-24)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)California
Kendall Smith (39-19)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)California
Mike Uva (37-21)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasMiami (FL)Duke
Jack Veltri (36-22)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaKansasFlorida StateDuke
Chris Wellbaum (35-23)Iowa StateNavyTexasApp StateAlabamaNebraskaUCFFlorida StateDuke

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