Week 6 picks: the Deacon's card

The card is the card. I don't hedge, I don't hide behind 'it depends,' and I don't pick with my heart — the heart is for the pews, not the pulpit. These are my takes for Saturday, October 3rd. Come find me Sunday if I'm wrong. I'll be right here.

**#6 Ohio State at #14 Iowa (3:30 PM ET, CBS) — PICK: Iowa.** Yes, I'm calling it. Kinnick at 3:30 with GameDay in town for the first time in twenty years, a Hawkeye defense that treats third down like a personal insult, and an Ohio State team walking into the loudest room in America. The Buckeyes have the better roster. Iowa has the better Saturday. In October, I'll take the Saturday.

**Auburn at Tennessee (3:30 PM ET, ABC/ESPN) — PICK: Tennessee.** The disciple-knows-the-master stuff is real, and Golesh will have Auburn ready — but Neyland at 3:30 with the checkerboard out is a place where parables go to die. Heupel's offense at home is its own kind of scripture. The student preaches a good sermon. The teacher owns the building.

**Miami at Clemson (ABC/ACCN) — PICK: Miami.** The defending runners-up are still the most talented roster in the ACC, and Death Valley is quieter than it used to be when the home team is searching for itself. Miami's defensive front ends this by the fourth quarter.

**#6 Georgia vs Vanderbilt (Noon window) — PICK: Georgia.** Vandy's a better story than they used to be, and I respect a program that learned to fight. But this is a noon kickoff in Athens with Alabama looming next week, and the Bulldogs don't do trap doors in October. Business handled, starters resting by the fourth.

**Alabama at Mississippi State (Noon window) — PICK: Alabama.** Same sermon as Georgia, different verse. Starkville at noon is where seasons go to get humbled — unless you're the team that remembers what happened the last time everybody looked ahead. The Tide rolls, then turns its eyes to next week.

**Washington at USC (7:30 PM ET, NBC) — PICK: USC.** The late-night West Coast service. Both of these programs are still proving they belong in this new Big Ten world, but the Trojans at home under the lights, with that offense humming — that's a revival Washington's defense isn't ready to stop.

**BYU at TCU (7 PM ET, ESPN) — PICK: TCU.** Fort Worth at night is a hard place to be a visitor, and the Horned Frogs have the athletes to make BYU's discipline look a step slow. The Cougars keep it close for a half. The second half belongs to the home crowd.

**Florida at Missouri (3:30 PM ET) — PICK: Missouri.** Columbia is a sneaky-hard road trip, the Tigers are the steadier team, and Florida is still figuring out who it is. In a league this cruel, steadier wins in October.

**Notre Dame at North Carolina (ABC/ACCN) — PICK: Notre Dame.** Chapel Hill will be loud and the Tar Heels will land punches early. But the Irish have the lines, and games like this get decided in the fourth quarter by the team that can still run the ball. That's Notre Dame.

**Texas Tech at Colorado (7:30 PM ET, FOX) — PICK: Texas Tech.** Boulder at night is theater, and Colorado always brings the show. But the Red Raiders bring the more complete football team, and theater doesn't block a pass rush.

**Michigan at Minnesota (Noon ET, FOX) — PICK: Michigan.** The Little Brown Jug stays where it belongs. Minnesota will make it ugly — that's what Minnesota does, bless them — but Michigan's front seven turns ugly into a win.

**Virginia at Florida State (3:30 PM ET) — PICK: Florida State.** Tallahassee, 3:30, and a Seminole team that needs a statement. Virginia's game, but statements get made at home.

**Penn State at Northwestern (Friday, 8 PM ET, FOX) — PICK: Penn State.** The Friday night service. Smaller crowd, louder truth — and the truth is the Nittany Lions have too much of everything for Evanston. Penn State rolls, and the weekend starts on time.

Thirteen games, thirteen convictions. No ties in the church I grew up in. See you Sunday — I'll bring the hymns, you bring the scoreboard.