Happy Friday, TOC Nation. Game 6 is tomorrow and the feeling is that the fate of the 2025 season rests on its outcome. One-win UCLA, whose first win came last weekend in an upset of Penn State, comes to East
Lansing to see if they can’t turn their win into some momentum. The Spartans, on the other hand, are trying to hit the brakes on a two-game losing streak. Hopefully, being back home will help. Here is the 411.
Michigan State Vs. UCLA
When: Saturday, October 11 @ Noon ET
Where: Spartan Stadium; East Lansing, MI
TV: BTN
Radio: Local listings, online or on the app
Betting: MSU -8.5; Over/Under 53.5 (FanDuel)
If you would like to read more about the UCLA Bruins, check out Mike’s Preview.
Predictions:
Mike: If MSU loses, we might as well just start in on basketball and hockey. All of the talk around football will be about Smith’s hot seat, will Batt buy him out, and will Marsh transfer. It will be unpleasant, to say the least, to deal with all that at just the halfway point of the season. UCLA will still be riding high from their upset of Penn State but the Spartans have to get this done. It won’t be as comfortable as we’d like but MSU produces just enough consistent play in all three phases for a 27-23 win.
Steve: The entire season ends if this game is lost. I hope that the coaching staff is aware of this and has them prepared. MSU 24-UCLA 20.
Lucas: Spartans get a bounce back performance from Aidan Chiles and Nick Marsh who combine for two touchdowns early. Despite a close game at half, the MSU defense comes up with a big turnover late to ice the game. MSU 28- UCLA 17.
O: This comes down to finding out who is the real UCLA. My money is that it is the team that lost to UNLV and New Mexico on the way to an 0-4 start, and not the team that defeated Penn State. Bounce back game for the Spartans as they win 31-20.
Game Thread: Will go live 3 hours before kickoff.
Onto the rest of our picks, we are going heavy this week with a number of noteworthy games, including one from the NFL.
1. #1 OSU @ #17 Illinois
- Mike – OSU
- Steve – OSU
- Lucas – OSU
- O – OSU (Dammit, it’s unanimous)
2. #8 Alabama @ #14 Missouri
- Mike – Bama
- Steve – Bama
- Lucas – Bama
- O – Bama (Dammit, it’s unanimous)
3. #7 Indiana @ #3 Oregon
- Mike – Oregon
- Steve – Oregon
- Lucas – Indiana
- O – Oregon (Thank you Lucas)
4. #6 Oklahoma vs. Texas (neutral site)
- Mike – Texas
- Steve – Oklahoma
- Lucas – Oklahoma
- O – Texas (I still believe in Arch Manning)
5. #15 u*m @ USC
- Mike – USC
- Steve – um
- Lucas – USC
- O – USC (You kidding me, Steve?)
6. Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs
- Mike – Lions
- Steve – Chiefs
- Lucas – Lions
- O – Lions
Through 6 weeks, here are the standing.
Mike (Week 6: 2-2; Season: 11-13). Steve (4-0; 14-10). Lucas (3-1; 12-12). O (2-2; 13-11)
Steve with the first perfect weekend to snag the lead.
