AL.com college football staff picks for Week 8 of 2024
We’re at the midway point of the 2024 college football season, and also of AL.com’s college football staff picks.
The “second half” of the season is a doozy in the SEC, with Alabama at Tennessee only the second-biggest game on the docket. Texas hosts Georgia in a game that not only could shake up the top of the conference standings, but also the national rankings.
Among our in-state favorites, Auburn and UAB are both on the road for conference games on Saturday. Jacksonville State is on a bye, while Troy and South Alabama played Tuesday, and thus too early to make it into this week’s picks.
On our panel, shoutout to Mark Inabinett for an 8-2 showing last week, moving him into sole possession of first place. Patrick Greenfield and Andrew Hammond are nipping at his heels, a game back. (Full disclosure: due to an accounting error — actually, my inability to read an email font correctly — I misread one of Mark’s picks last week. We’ve corrected the mistake and the overall record.)
Scroll along below to find out how various AL.com sports staffers see this week’s games playing out. We’ve also given predicted scores for this week’s Alabama game.
A reminder that these picks are AGAINST THE SPREAD. That means that each person’s selection doesn’t necessarily mean he or she thinks that team will win outright, just that it will cover the point spread.
On with this week’s picks (all times Central and all games Saturday unless noted):
Miami quarterback Cam Ward (1) runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech , Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)AP
Miami (-4) at Louisville, 11 a.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Louisville
Michael Casagrande: Miami
Patrick Greenfield: Miami
Andrew Hammond: Miami
Mark Inabinett: Miami
Nick Kelly: Miami
Peter Rauterkus: Louisville
Creg Stephenson: Miami
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti yells to his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)AP
Nebraska (+6.5) at Indiana, 11 a.m., Fox
Thomas Ashworth: Nebraska
Michael Casagrande: Indiana
Patrick Greenfield: Nebraska
Andrew Hammond: Nebraska
Mark Inabinett: Nebraska
Nick Kelly: Indiana
Peter Rauterkus: Indiana
Creg Stephenson: Indiana
Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) celebrates after intercepting a Texas pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)AP
South Carolina (+2.5) at Oklahoma, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network
Thomas Ashworth: Oklahoma
Michael Casagrande: South Carolina
Patrick Greenfield: Oklahoma
Andrew Hammond: South Carolina
Mark Inabinett: Oklahoma
Nick Kelly: South Carolina
Peter Rauterkus: Oklahoma
Creg Stephenson: South Carolina
Notre Dame tight end Eli Raridon (9) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)AP
Notre Dame (-8.5) at Georgia Tech, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Thomas Ashworth: Notre Dame
Michael Casagrande: Notre Dame
Patrick Greenfield: Notre Dame
Andrew Hammond: Georgia Tech
Mark Inabinett: Notre Dame
Nick Kelly: Notre Dame
Peter Rauterkus: Notre Dame
Creg Stephenson: Notre Dame
Michigan place kicker Dominic Zvada (96) greets offensive lineman Jeffrey Persi (79) after making a field goal against Washington during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)AP
Michigan (-1.5) at Illinois, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Thomas Ashworth: Michigan
Michael Casagrande: Michigan
Patrick Greenfield: Illinois
Andrew Hammond: Michigan
Mark Inabinett: Illinois
Nick Kelly: Michigan
Peter Rauterkus: Illinois
Creg Stephenson: Michigan
LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson scores a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter of an SEC game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.(AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU (-3) at Arkansas, 6 p.m., ESPN
Thomas Ashworth: LSU
Michael Casagrande: LSU
Patrick Greenfield: LSU
Andrew Hammond: LSU
Mark Inabinett: Arkansas
Nick Kelly: LSU
Peter Rauterkus: LSU
Creg Stephenson: LSU
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) rolls out to pass during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Dallas. Texas won 34-3.AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter
Georgia (+3.5) at Texas, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Georgia
Michael Casagrande: Texas
Patrick Greenfield: Texas
Andrew Hammond: Texas
Mark Inabinett: Georgia
Nick Kelly: Texas
Peter Rauterkus: Texas
Creg Stephenson: Texas
UAB wide receiver Desmond Little catches a pass for a short gain against Army at Michie Stadium on October 12, 2024 in West Point, New York. (Photo by Edward Diller/Getty Images)Getty Images
UAB (+13.5) at South Florida, 2:30 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: South Florida
Michael Casagrande: South Florida
Patrick Greenfield: South Florida
Andrew Hammond: South Florida
Mark Inabinett: South Florida
Nick Kelly: South Florida
Peter Rauterkus: South Florida
Creg Stephenson: South Florida
Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (5) makes a catch as Georgia defensive back Daniel Harris (7) defends in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP
Auburn (+6.5) at Missouri, 11 a.m., ESPN
Thomas Ashworth: Missouri 31, Auburn 23
Michael Casagrande: Missouri 28, Auburn 19
Patrick Greenfield: Missouri 28, Auburn 21
Andrew Hammond: Missouri 35, Auburn 21
Mark Inabinett: Missouri 28, Auburn 24
Nick Kelly: Missouri 30, Auburn 20
Peter Rauterkus: Missouri 27, Auburn 24
Creg Stephenson: Missouri 31, Auburn 20
Alabama wide receivers Germie Bernard (5) and Ryan Williams (2) celebrate a touchdown by Bernard during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Alabama (-2.5) at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Alabama 34, Tennessee 31
Michael Casagrande: Tennessee 21, Alabama 20
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 24, Tennessee 21
Andrew Hammond: Tennessee 36, Alabama 31
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 28, Tennessee 27
Nick Kelly: Alabama 27, Tennessee 23
Peter Rauterkus: Tennessee 35, Alabama 31
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 23, Tennessee 21
Notre Dame cheerleaders flip during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Stanford, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)AP
Standings after Week 7
Mark Inabinett 39-31 (8-2 last week)
Patrick Greenfield 38-32 (5-5 last week)
Andrew Hammond 38-32 (4-6 last week)
Peter Rauterkus 37-33 (4-6 last week)
Michael Casagrande 36-34 (4-6 last week)
Nick Kelly 35-35 (5-5 last week)
Thomas Ashworth 33-37 (4-6 last week)
Creg Stephenson 33-37 (7-3 last week)