The Mount: Week 6 Previews and Predictions

Week six brings an exciting lineup of meets as top teams continue to battle for supremacy. From powerhouse programs like Florida and LSU facing off against ranked rivals, to intriguing matchups like Penn State at Maryland and Georgia at Auburn, there’s no shortage of action. With the rankings heating up, every performance is crucial as teams jockey for position on the road to nationals. Stay tuned as we break down the upcoming action and what’s at stake for these programs.

Must-Watch Meets

Kentucky at Oklahoma

Friday, Feb. 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET | SECN

Prediction: 99.1% Oklahoma, 0.9% Kentucky

The Wildcats are set to take on the Sooners in Norman for the first SEC matchup between these two teams. While upsetting the top-ranked Sooners at home is a tall order, there’s still plenty on the line for Kentucky. Fresh off a 197.050 win against Auburn, the Wildcats will be aiming for another 197-plus performance to stay competitive in the top half of the SEC, especially as the conference championship looms.

Oklahoma, still holding the No. 1 spot, has consistently dominated this season. At week six, the Sooners have yet to break the coveted 198 mark—a milestone they’ll certainly have in their sights Friday night. 

Notes about the predictions: Oklahoma’s dominance is expected to continue, with 40% of simulations showing the Sooners winning by a margin of one point or more. However, if Oklahoma stumbles and counts a fall, Kentucky’s chances of pulling off the upset increase to 20%, making this an exciting meet to watch.

Arizona at Utah

Friday, Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Prediction: 98.7 % Utah, 1.3% Arizona

In a clash of the Big 12 undefeated, Arizona and Utah are set to face off in what could be a preview of the conference championship come March. Despite injuries and lineup changes, Utah remains a powerhouse, with Makenna Smith stepping up as a key all-arounder in Avery Neff’s absence. Competing at home gives the Utes a clear edge. However, Arizona shouldn’t be underestimated. The Wildcats have emerged as legitimate contenders in their debut Big 12 season, with vault being their only notable weak spot. If Utah falters and Arizona delivers a top-tier performance, this meet could come down to the final dismount. 

Notes about the predictions: While Arizona is on the rise, beating Utah on its home turf will be a challenge. In half of our simulations, the Utes win by a margin of at least a point. If Arizona wins vault and bars, its chances increase to 28%, but realistically, it’ll need to win a third event to pull off the upset.

LSU at Alabama

Friday, Feb. 7 at 9 p.m. ET | ESPN2

Prediction: 90.6% LSU, 9.4% Alabama

With both teams needing every remaining SEC win, the stakes are high in this storied rivalry. LSU is battling to defend its NCAA title and maintain its place at the top of the conference while Alabama is fighting to avoid the basement, as the lowest-ranked team this year won’t participate in the SEC championship meet. For LSU, star gymnast Haleigh Bryant remains limited to beam and floor, but freshman standout Kailin Chio is improving week after week, having scored a season-best 39.650 in the all-around last time out. She and Aleah Finnegan will be key in taking on Alabama’s top all-arounders Gabby Gladieux and Lilly Hudson.

Notes about the predictions: At the start of the season, Alabama had a 20% chance of winning this matchup, but a slow start has slashed those odds. For the Crimson Tide to boost its chances above 50%, it’ll need to post higher scores than LSU on both beam and floor. The pressure is on and every routine will count in this critical SEC showdown.

Stanford at California

Friday, Feb. 7 at 10 p.m. ET | ACCNx

Prediction: 89.9% California, 10.1% Stanford

This Bay Area rivalry heats up Friday night as the top two teams in the ACC face off. Stanford scored a season-high last week at home but has shown a significant difference between its home and away performances. With NQS approaching, the Cardinal still lacks a strong away score—making this meet an ideal chance to secure one. Meanwhile, California delivered one of the most heartwarming moments of the season when senior Abbey Scanlon made her career debut in the anchor spot on beam, scoring a 9.950 to win the event. That performance propelled California to its second 197-plus of the season, and the Golden Bears will be aiming for a third, along with the win, Friday.

Notes about the predictions: Though Stanford is just a short drive from Berkeley, the home-floor advantage for California increases its win chances from 79% to 90%. However, Stanford’s season-high 49.500 on bars last week could be the game-changer. If the Cardinal can replicate that score and win bars and floor, its chances jump to 25%, making it a real threat to take the meet.

Minnesota at Michigan State

Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. ET | B1G+

Prediction: 90.2% Michigan State, 9.8% Minnesota

After a narrow loss to UCLA, Michigan State heads into this meet with heightened pressure to secure a win against an undefeated Minnesota team. The Spartans, led by experienced veterans and coming off a program-record vault score of 49.600, are well-positioned to solidify their standing as a top Big Ten team and nationals contender. But Minnesota is no easy opponent. The Gophers have shown they can break 197, and when gymnasts like Ava Stewart and Mya Hooten are at their best, they can push Michigan State to the limit, keeping this meet tight until the end.

Notes about the predictions: For Minnesota to boost its win chances to over 50%, it will need to claim bars and one other event, with beam being the most probable. However, with three freshmen in the bar lineup, that’s a tall order. A mistake from Michigan State could be the opening Minnesota needs, as the Spartans’ win chances drop to 41% if they count a fall.

Upset Alert

Florida at Arkansas

Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. ET | SECN

Prediction: 96.2% Florida, 3.8% Arkansas

The Gators are riding high after a big win over Utah and West Virginia last week. If they replicate that performance, it should be more than enough to secure the win. However, this meet carries much higher stakes for Arkansas, as it currently sits at the bottom of the SEC standings by average score. A disappointing showing against Oklahoma last week dropped the Razorbacks behind Alabama in the conference race. While there’s still time before NQS kicks in and the conference championships arrive, Arkansas will view this meet as a crucial opportunity to climb out of the ninth-place “danger zone” and avoid being the team left out of the SEC championship in March.

Notes about the predictions: Arkansas has struggled with consistency on bars and beam, hovering around 49 in most meets this season. If the Razorbacks can hit season highs of 49.300 on both events, their win chances improve to 26%. Achieving those season highs while also outscoring Florida on at least one of those events turns this matchup into a 50/50 contest.

Georgia at Auburn

Friday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. ET | SECN+

Prediction: 56.6% Auburn, 43.3% Georgia

Fresh off a victory over longtime rival Alabama, the GymDogs continue their state tour with a highly anticipated No. 11 vs. No. 12 showdown at Auburn. The Tigers will be adjusting their lineups following Olivia Hollingsworth’s injury last week but are expected to welcome back Sophia Groth. Auburn will need to be at full strength to defend its home floor against a surging Georgia team that’s steadily putting the pieces together. Kara Eaker’s beam debut for Georgia last week was a standout performance and will be one to watch.

Notes about the predictions: Auburn’s home advantage gives it a slight edge. If this meet were in Athens, Georgia would have a 64% chance of winning. This is expected to be a close contest, with 30% of simulations showing a margin of two-tenths or less. Both teams have been improving their consistency on beam, which will be the key event. The team that scores the highest on beam has a 73% chance of winning the meet.

Empire State Collegiate Championship

with Brockport, Cortland, Ithaca, LIU, and Utica at Cornell

Sunday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. ET | ESPN+

Prediction: 75.2% Cornell, 14.9% Brockport, 9.6% LIU, 0.1% Ithaca, 0.1% Cortland, 0.1% Utica

It’s rare to see these New York teams face off, but this in-state rivalry is sure to bring excitement. Brockport, typically the top dog on the mat, faces a bigger challenge this time around, as Cornell enters as the top team in the rankings. Utica may not be in the mix for the team title, but all-arounder Emmy Graff has been impressive this season and could put pressure on Cornell’s Sydney Beers and Avery Byun. If the Big Red falters on bars, it could open the door for Brockport or LIU to steal the win. LIU’s vault consistency has been a factor, and a tight meet could come down to the final rotation. While seeding isn’t crucial for the NCGA-East, Cornell will want to keep posting strong scores to stay in the top three of the GEC.

Notes about the predictions: Despite this being a six-team meet, data shows only two teams—Cornell and Brockport—are strong contenders for the win. It could be a close contest, with just a few tenths separating them, but 90% of our simulations show the duo pulling ahead of the rest by more than a point. Cornell is favored, largely thanks to the all-around performances of Sydney Beers and Avery Byun. Without them, Cornell’s chances drop to 55%. Brockport’s best shot at an upset lies in winning bars, though its season high is still lower than Cornell’s season low through five weeks. A more likely path to victory for Brockport, which gives it a 43% chance of winning, would be taking both beam and floor.

Clemson at North Carolina

Sunday, Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. ET | ACCN

Prediction: 62.5% Clemson, 37.5% North Carolina

Clemson and North Carolina are neck and neck in the rankings, with North Carolina currently ranked higher despite predictions favoring Clemson. North Carolina has been consistent, posting similar team totals over the last three weeks—enough to hold its spot in the rankings for now but potentially not high enough to count when NQS comes into play. While the Tar Heels have maintained steady scores, Clemson has shown more upside, with multiple 10.0 start value vaults and team totals over 196 already in 2025.

This conference matchup is as tight as they come, and both teams will need to play to their strengths: vault for Clemson and beam for North Carolina. Capitalizing on these key events will likely determine the winner in this closely contested meet.

Notes about the predictions: Clemson is favored to win this meet, largely due to having an edge on floor. However, if North Carolina can score higher on that event, its chances of winning jump to 60%. A key factor to watch is the status of Lali Dekanoidze, who was missing from the Tar Heels’ lineups last week. If she’s absent again, North Carolina’s win probability decreases to 30%. Keep an eye on this pivotal detail as it could significantly impact the outcome.

Wondering how we came up with the predictions for each meet? Read more about our methodology.

There’s Other Stuff Happening Too

We’d be remiss to let a preview for week six go by without bringing up these additional areas of interest.

• Arizona State lost to Arizona two weekends ago and was nearly upset by a surging Iowa State squad last weekend. Texas Woman’s is no slouch, so the Sun Devils will have to be back on point this week to avoid another result that falls below their expectations. They’ll be home for the meet, so chances at a win are good, but it will be a result to watch nevertheless. 
• Missouri and Illinois, whose states border each other, have an underrated but strong rivalry in other sports, so it’s fun to see the tradition continue in gymnastics with the Zou to the Lou meet. The competition will see Missouri fifth-year Abby Mueller return to face her old team, and classmate Helen Hu seek to take her fourth straight SEC Specialist of the Week award with yet another 9.95-plus beam score. 

Fantasy Corner

If you’re playing fantasy gymnastics this year, you want to do the best you can, right? We have you covered with tips and tricks all season long in Fantasy Central. Managing editor Emily Minehart and data editor Dara Tan will be bringing you the latest updates on injuries, scoring statistics, sneaky waiver wire targets, and more.

CGN Pick’em

Brandis (Last Week: 4-1; Overall: 16-9)

• LSU at Alabama: LSU
• Stanford at California: California
• Georgia at Auburn: Georgia
• Empire State: Cornell
• Clemson at North Carolina: Clemson

Elizabeth (Last Week: 3-2; Overall: 19-6)

• LSU at Alabama: LSU
• Stanford at California: California
• Georgia at Auburn: Auburn
• Empire State: Cornell
• Clemson at North Carolina: North Carolina

Emily M (Last Week: 5-0; Overall: 19-6)

• LSU at Alabama: LSU
• Stanford at California: California
• Georgia at Auburn: Georgia
• Empire State: Cornell
• Clemson at North Carolina: North Carolina

Jenna (Last Week: 3-2; Overall: 17-8)

• LSU at Alabama: LSU
• Stanford at California: California
• Georgia at Auburn: Auburn
• Empire State: Cornell
• Clemson at North Carolina: North Carolina

Rebecca (Last Week: 3-2; Overall: 18-7)

• LSU at Alabama: LSU
• Stanford at California: California
• Georgia at Auburn: Auburn 
• Empire State: Cornell
• Clemson at North Carolina: North Carolina

Week 6 Guest: Tara

• LSU at Alabama: LSU
• Stanford at California: California
• Georgia at Auburn: Auburn
• Empire State: Cornell
• Clemson at North Carolina: North Carolina

Want to join in on the predictions? Tag us on social media with your picks then tune into the meets to see how well you do!

How to Watch

Looking for more info on how to watch your favorite gymnasts and teams in action? Head to our master schedule for all the scoring, video, and live blog links, or head to our annual “How to Watch” article to see what platforms you have access to with various streaming services.

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Article by the editors of College Gym News