College Football Odds Week 6: Opening Line and Action Report
College Football Week 6 odds feature a coaching clash we've been looking forward to all season. Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher, who traded a few barbs in the offseason, collide when No. 1 Alabama hosts a Texas A&M team trying to get its season back on track.
Plus, the Red River Rivalry is renewed, though with a lot of bloom already off the rose. And Notre Dame meets BYU in Las Vegas.
Let's dive into Week 6 college football odds and action, with insights from multiple oddsmakers and sportsbooks. Check back regularly for updates.
College Football Week 6 Odds
Texas A&M vs No. 2 Alabama
Opening line: Alabama -23.5; Over/Under 52
Time: 8 p.m. ET Saturday (CBS)
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Ninety minutes before kickoff, Alabama is laying 24 points at WynnBet, matching the opener from Sunday night. The Crimson Tide inched down to 23.5 Monday and peaked at -25 Thursday afternoon.
On Friday, 'Bama again got as low as 22, in part on speculation that QB Bryce Young might not play tonight. Then the line made its way back to -24 Friday evening, and it remains there, while Young's status is still uncertain.
Point-spread tickets are running 2.5/1 and spread money 4/1 on the Crimson Tide.
WynnBet opened the total at 52 and steadily made its way down to 48 by Friday evening. It's at 48 now, with tickets 4/1 on the Over, but money 8/1-plus on the Under.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Alabama quarterback Bryce Young (shoulder sprain) is day-to-day and not guaranteed to start Saturday at home. Still, the Crimson Tide have been a steady 24-point chalk at Caesars Sports since Monday, after opening -23.5 and spending a little time at -24.5.
Point-spread tickets are running just shy of 2/1 and money beyond 2.5/1 on Alabama.
The total opened at 52, dipped to 51.5 Wednesday afternoon, then to 51 this morning. It's now at 51.5 again. Betting splits aren't available today.
UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: The Crimson Tide regained the No. 1 spot in the AP poll this week, thanks to Georgia's mighty struggle to beat Missouri in Week 5. Alabama (5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS) went to Arkansas as a 17-point favorite and exited with a 49-26 victory in a game of scoring surges for both teams.
'Bama bolted out to a 28-0 first-half lead, then let Arkansas score the next 23 points as the Razorbacks got back into it at 28-23 by the end of the third quarter. But Alabama scored 21 of the final 24 points.
Texas A&M (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) saw its modest two-game SU and ATS upswing end at Mississippi State. The Aggies got rolled 42-24 as 4-point road underdogs.
At TwinSpires Sportsbook, Alabama opened a hefty -23.5 and is up to -24. Early point-spread ticket count is running 4/1 and early spread money 5/1 on the Crimson Tide.
"All 'Bama so far. To say we'll need A&M is an understatement," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.
The total went from 52 to 52.5 and back to 52 early on, with ticket count 2/1 and money about 2.5/1 on the Over.
No. 16 BYU vs Notre Dame
Opening line: Notre Dame -3.5; Over/Under 52
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (NBC)
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: WynnBet opened Notre Dame a 3-point neutral-site chalk in the college football Week 6 odds market. The Fighting Irish reached -4 by late Monday morning and stuck there until backing up to -3.5 Friday evening.
The Irish returned to -4 later Friday, then this morning dipped to -3.5 (-115), where the number sits now. Point-spread ticket count is almost dead even at WynnBet, while BYU is taking 76% of spread money.
The total is at 51, after opening 52, peaking at 52.5 early in the week and sticking at 51 since Wednesday. The Over is netting 76% of tickets/56% of money.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Notre Dame opened as a 2.5-point neutral-site chalk in Caesars' college football Week 6 odds market. The Fighting Irish then peaked at -4.5 late Monday morning have been steady 3.5-point faves since Monday afternoon.
Notre Dame is taking 58% of early tickets and 77% of early cash on the spread.
"I’m a little surprised that this line crossed over 3,” Caesars Sports lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. “The sharps have really been fading BYU most of the season. They sometimes fade the same program pretty much every week, and BYU falls into that category this year. You can also see Notre Dame finding their way after a sluggish start early and navigating the ship with new coach Marcus Freeman. So I’d say this move is a little bit of both fading BYU and being pro-Notre Dame.”
The total opened at 52, went to 51 late Wednesday morning, returned shortly thereafter, and it's now 51 again. Betting splits aren't available today.
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET MONDAY: BYU is the ranked team, but Notre Dame is the sexier name for a neutral-site game Saturday night at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium.
The Fighting Irish (2-2 SU and ATS) saw their season get derailed early on. Notre Dame fell at Ohio State 21-10 catching 17 points in Week 1, though there's no shame in that loss. However, in Week 2, the Irish were 20-point home faves and lost outright to Marshall, 26-21. Notre Dame rebounded with a pair of wins, including 45-32 Week 4 victory as 3-point 'dogs at North Carolina.
The Irish had a bye in Week 5.
BYU (4-1 SU, 2-3 ATS) bounced back from a blowout loss at Oregon by winning its last two, though it enters this week on an 0-3 ATS purge. In Week 5, the Cougars held off Utah State 38-26, falling well short of covering the 25.5-point spread at home.
Notre Dame is already up a tick to -4 in TwinSpires' college football Week 6 odds market. BYU is netting a modest majority 53% of early bets, while 69% of early cash is on the Irish.
"Sharp play on Notre Dame -3.5 early in the week," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.
The total is stable at 52 on two-way action: 52% of bets on the Over/55% of money on the Under.
No. 11 Utah vs No. 18 UCLA
Opening line: Utah -3; Over/Under 64
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Half an hour before kickoff, Utah is a 3-point road chalk at WynnBet. That's after the Utes opened -3.5 on Sunday night and stretched to -4.5 late Monday morning.
Utah then toggled between -4.5 and -4 a couple of times before dipping to -3.5 Wednesday night. The line held firm there until falling to Utes -3 (-115) this morning. It's two-way action on the spread, with 57% of bets on Utah/58% of money on UCLA.
WynnBet opened the total at 64, advanced to 65 and 65.5 Tuesday morning, and the number has been stable at 64.5 since Thursday night.
The Under is seeing a nominal majority 52% of bets and 58% of money.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Utah landed on Caesars Sports' college football Week 6 odds board as a field-goal favorite Sunday afternoon. The line toggled between Utes -3 and -3.5 a couple of times, then bounced to -4.5 Monday afternoon.
Utah has been fairly stable at -3.5 since late Wednesday morning. The Utes are seeing 69% of early spread bets/61% of early spread money.
The total went from 64.5 to 64 Sunday night, then rose to 65 Tuesday, and it's been stable at 64.5 since Wednesday afternoon. Betting splits aren't available today.
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET MONDAY: Entering Week 6, UCLA is a surprising 5-0 SU (3-2 ATS) and atop the Pac-12 with its archrival USC. The Bruins topped previously unbeaten Washington in Week 5, winning 40-32 as 3-point home pups.
Utah (4-1 SU and ATS) has won four in row, bouncing back from its season-opening loss at Florida. The Utes rolled over Oregon State 42-16 as 10.5-point home faves in Week 5.
The Utes made a stop at -3.5 on the way to -4 in TwinSpires' college football Week 6 odds market. Ticket count is just shy of 2/1 and money just beyond 2/1 on Utah.
"The public and sharps are siding with Utah early," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.
The total briefly ticked up to 64.5 before returning to 64. Ticket count is approaching 3/1 and money 2/1 on the Over.
Texas vs Oklahoma
Opening line: Texas -5; Over/Under 65
Time: Noon ET Saturday (ABC)
UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Surprisingly at just six weeks into this season, neither team is ranked for today's renewal of the Red River Rivalry. Texas is now a 7.5-point favorite at WynnBet, after opening -6 and peaking at -9 Friday.
Oklahoma is actually drawing 64% of spread tickets and 53% of spread money at WynnBet.
The total opened at 65, peaked at 65.5, bottomed out at 64 and is now at 65. Tickets and money are in the 3/1 range on the Over.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET THURSDAY: This line has made a huge jump at Caesars, which opened Texas -4 on Sunday afternoon, got to -7 Monday afternoon, then rolled up to Longhorns -9 and 9.5 this afternoon.
Today's big move was due mostly to news that Texas QB Quinn Ewers is expected to start Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Ewers missed three games with a sprained clavicle. Further, Oklahoma could be without QB Dillon Gabriel (concussion).
It's two-way ticket count at Caesars Sports, with Texas taking 57% of bets. But that's translating into 81% of money on the Longhorns.
The total opened at 65, poked up to 65.5 Tuesday morning, dipped to 64.5 Wednesday night and is now at 65.5 again. Betting splits aren't available today.
UPDATE 2 P.M. ET MONDAY: Both these teams expect to be in the College Football Playoff conversation, particularly when the season isn't even halfway through. But both already have two losses this year and can pretty much forget about making CFP reservations. And a reminder: this is a neutral-site game, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Oklahoma (3-2 SU, 2-3 ATS) is in the midst of a stunning two-game losing streak. In Week 4, the Sooners suffered a 41-34 home loss as 13.5-point favorites against Kansas State. And it got much worse in Week 5. Oklahoma went to TCU as a 5.5-point chalk and got boatraced 55-24.
The Sooners also lost QB Dillon Gabriel in the second quarter, and he's currently in concussion protocol.
Texas is 3-2 SU, as well, though it's gone 4-1 ATS, which Longhorns backers will certainly take. In Week 5 against West Virginia, Steve Sarkisian's troops notched a 38-20 victory laying 7.5 points at home.
This line bolted from Texas -5 to -6.5 in the early going on TwinSpires' college football Week 6 odds board. The Longhorns are taking 57% of spread tickets/72% of spread money.
"Some sharp play on Texas early. I expect if this hits 7, we'll see some Sooners money come in," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.
The total is stable at 65, though early ticket count is 2/1-plus and early money 3/1 on the Over.
No. 17 Texas Christian vs No. 19 Kansas
Opening line: TCU -5.5; Over/Under 67.5
Time: Noon ET Saturday
UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET SATURDAY: Shortly before kickoff, TCU is laying 7 points in WynnBet's college football Week 6 odds market, after opening -6 (-105) and peaking at -7.5. The Horned Frogs are taking 56% of spread tickets and 72% of spread money.
The total climbed from 67 to 69.5, with tickets and money 2/1 on the Over.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Texas Christian opened -5 Sunday afternoon in Caesars' college football Week 6 odds market. By Monday afternoon, the Horned Frogs were up to -7, then dialed back to -6.5 Wednesday.
TCU is now at -7 again, while taking 62% of early spread tickets/76% of early spread dollars.
"I just think sharp bettors are not fully buying into Kansas just yet,” Caesars Sports lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. “People do seem to be fading Kansas every week. The power ratings really haven’t caught up for a team that usually wins very little that now has a 5-0 start. It's hard for the market to catch up. TCU has looked great, too. They crushed Oklahoma last week. If TCU wins handily, I don’t think this necessarily bumps them up to Big 12 favorites. It depends on Oklahoma State looks against Texas Tech.”
The total opened at 67.5, went to 68 and 68.5 Wednesday, then to 69 and 69.5 this morning. It's now at 69. Betting splits aren't available today.
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET MONDAY: Believe it or not, these are the two teams with the inside track to the Big 12 title, thanks to the downfalls of Oklahoma and Texas.
Kansas, which had a season win total of 2.5, is already 5-0 SU and ATS, including three wins and cashes as an underdog. In Week 5, the Jayhawks fended off Iowa State in a slog of a game, winning 14-11 as 3.5-point home pups.
Meanwhile, TCU is 4-0 SU and ATS, while coming off a monster home victory in Week 5. The Horned Frogs, who closed as 5-point underdogs, completely blasted Oklahoma, scoring 41 first-half points in a 55-24 beatdown.
TwinSpires opened TCU a 5.5-point road chalk this week and is already up to -7. Kansas is netting 58% of early tickets, while 63% of early dollars are on Texas Christian.
"Sharp play on TCU -5.5," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said. "In the battle of undefeateds, the public is siding with the home 'dog early."
The total went from 67.5 to 68 and back to 67.5, with 53% of tickets/61% of money on the Over.
No. 8 Tennessee vs No. 25 LSU
Opening line: Tennessee -3; Over/Under 62
Time: Noon ET Saturday (ESPN)
UPDATE 11:30 A.M. AT SATURDAY: With kickoff looming, Tennessee is a 2.5-point road chalk at WynnBet, down from -3 earlier this morning and the opening number of -3 (-125). Point-spread ticket count is 3/1 on the Vols, but point-spread money is closer, at 54% on the Vols.
The total opened at 62 and got out to 65, but it's dialed back this morning to 63.5. The Over is netting 58% of bets/59% of dollars.
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Tennessee did a fair amount of bouncing around early on at Caesars Sports. The Vols opened -3.5 Sunday afternoon, quickly rose to -4, then dropped to -3 before returning to -3.5, all within a few hours.
Late Monday morning, Tennessee hit its low point of -2, and the Vols have been at -3 since Tuesday morning. Tennessee is attracting 71% of spread bets so far, but spread money is much closer, at 54% on the Vols.
"It’s been really sharp action that’s driven this line down,” Caesars lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. “But that sharp action stopped as soon as we moved it to 3. Tennessee is one of those teams that the public is going to love. It’s really them and Ole Miss that are in that second group behind Alabama and Georgia for the elite SEC teams. Hendon Hooker is right outside of that top tier in the Heisman race. If he has a big game, he’s going up in the ranks, especially if Bryce Young is out against Texas A&M."
The total initially receded from 62.5 to 62, then on Monday afternoon briefly shot to 65. After stints at 64 and 63.5, it's now back at 65. Betting splits aren't available today.
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET MONDAY: Tennessee is one of four SEC teams ranked in the top 10 this week. The Vols (4-0 SU, 3-1 ATS) are coming off a bye week, after fending off Florida 38-33 but failing to cash as 11.5-point home favorites.
LSU is on a four-game SU win streak entering this Saturday SEC showdown. The Tigers (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) spotted Auburn a 17-0 second-quarter lead, then pulled within 17-14 at halftime. LSU added a late-third quarter TD, and that was it for the scoring as the Tigers won 21-17 laying 8 points on the road.
Tennessee is already down a point to -2 at TwinSpires Sportsbook, while taking 66% of early spread bets/54% of early spread dollars.
"Sharp play on LSU +3 as soon as we opened," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.
The total initially backed up a tick to 61.5, but it shot up to 64 this afternoon. Ticket count is just beyond 2/1 and money just shy of 3/1 on the Over.
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