Time flies in the college football season. Once this Saturday wraps up, we will be one week away from the halfway mark of the campaign.
There's been a lot to digest with some solidifying of contenders at the the top, some pretenders falling out of the race and other surprise teams that could threaten to upset things.
The schedule for Week 6 packs one major matchup in the SEC that will provide a boost to the winner and shouldn't damage the other too much. There are other potential pitfalls on Saturday, notably one of the sport's great rivalries that takes place on neutral ground in Dallas.
Where will the upsets come this week? Our experts weight in the bold predictions.
College football bold predictions for Week 6
Tennessee's quarterback conundrum lingers
The Vols opened their season with heralded 18-year-old freshman Faizon Brandon
at the helm. He was throwing into the end with a chance to upset Texas last month - despite being sacked 10 times in that game. He was cast off to the sidelines amidst his struggles Oct. 3 against Auburn. Enter George MacIntyre, a former four-star prospect and grandson of the late, former Vanderbilt coach of the same name. Here's believing MacIntyre does enough this week at Arkansas to make Josh Heupel keep making excuses. After all, Heupel said Brandon still wasn't healthy from getting dinged up against Texas - but started him nonetheless. -- John Brice
Missouri avoids Florida hangover against Texas A&M
Missouri won't be the latest SEC team to play flat after a big win. Ole Miss and Florida weren't ready after statement games, Missouri will be. Why? Defense. The Tigers are among the Top 30 in the nation in rush defense, and will stop the run and force Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed to win the game. Reed has struggled in the pass game since last year's CFP first round loss to Miami. This won't be any different. -- Matt Hayes
SEC cannibalism continues with Missouri next victim
There’s a weird trend of SEC teams getting emotional wins and then following it up with an ugly loss. It happened to Ole Miss with Florida then the Gators to Missouri. This week, the Tigers get humbled by a Texas A&M team in desperate need to prove itself following a rocky start to the conference slate. The win over Arkansas gave Marcel Reed his swagger back and he’ll be able to make plays all day against the Missouri defense, sending the Tigers tumbling down and throwing another wrench in the battle of the SEC hierarchy. The Aggies just have to hope they don’t become a victim afterward. -- Jordan Mendoza
North Carolina surprises wounded Pittsburgh
After a closer than expected loss last week against Notre Dame, Bill Belichick’s North Carolina scores an upset by knocking off unbeaten Pitt. The Panthers are more of an unknown without quarterback Mason Heintschel, who is out for the year with a knee injury. That gives UNC's defense a shot, though the offense has to carry over last week's effective passing game against the Irish. -- Paul Myerberg
Oklahoma pulls of Red River Rivalry stunner against Texas
Everything points toward a blowout by Texas against Oklahoma in the middle of the State Fair of Texas. But followers of this rivalry will note that the series has produced it's fair share of upsets - often by teams in similar situation as the Sooners. This is a make-or-break game for Oklahoma's season. It will take better play from John quarterback Mateer - notably in reducing turnovers - and the offensive line. That said, the defense is good enough to slow down the Longhorns and make this a tight game. If the the Sooners force a few mistakes from Arch Manning, they will leave the Cotton Bowl with the Golden Hat. -- Erick Smith
Kentucky falls out of rankings after LSU loss
The SEC hangover is real, and it will claim another victim this week. No, not Missouri. The Tigers might have a tough time putting away a desperate Texas A&M bunch that is at least coming off a get-right game against Arkansas, but Mizzou will successfully defend its home turf. No, it’s going to be Kentucky that won’t be able to follow up a tough win. The Wildcats needed everything in the bag to get past a subpar South Carolina team, and other than winning at underachieving Texas A&M their most significant accomplishment was hanging with Alabama for a half. LSU might or might not actually live up to its top-10 ranking, but the Bayou Bengals are talented enough to deal a dose of reality to UK, even in Lexington. -- Eddie Timanus
Keelon Russell powers Alabama past Georgia
With a hurricane rumbling toward the Alabama coast and the Florida Panhandle and continuing into inland Alabama on Saturday, you might expect Georgia-Alabama to become a battle of handoffs amid wet, windy conditions. But, not so fast. Famed Alabama-based meteorologist James Spann has forecasted that the worst of the storm will be through Tuscaloosa by evening kickoff, making for decent game conditions. Never mind three yards and a cloud of mist, here comes some more dart throwing from Keelon Russell. Alabama’s quarterback is coming off a career-best performance against Mississippi State, and he’s shooting up the list of Heisman Trophy contenders. Gunner Stockton will be good for Georgia, but Russell will be better, and after this game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, we’ll be asking two questions: Should Alabama be ranked No. 1? And, can Russell catch Jeremiah Smith for the Heisman? -- Blake Toppmeyer
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas, Tennessee on upset alert in college football bold predictions for Week 6 schedule
