AL.com college football staff picks for Week 3
We’re getting started with conference play in college football in 2023, and AL.com’s college football staff picks is here to sort it all out.
Though Alabama and Auburn have one last non-conference date before we get into the meat of the schedule, there are three SEC vs. SEC games on the docket. Troy also has a massive Sun Belt Conference game at home this week, while South Alabama and UAB face well-regarded non-conference opponents (Jax State has the week off).
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 and Auburn games.
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):
LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith (0) warms up during an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)AP
LSU (-9.5) at Mississippi State, 11 a.m., ESPN
Patrick Bird: LSU
Michael Casagrande: LSU
Matt Cohen: LSU
Evan Dudley: LSU
Ben Flanagan: LSU
Patrick Greenfield: LSU
Andrew Hammond: LSU
Mark Inabinett: Mississippi State
Ainslee Lee: LSU
Creg Stephenson: Mississippi State
Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (18) throws against Troy during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed HoffmannAP
Kansas State (-5.5) at Missouri, 11 a.m., SEC Network
Patrick Bird: Missouri
Michael Casagrande: Kansas State
Matt Cohen: Kansas State
Evan Dudley: Kansas State
Ben Flanagan: Missouri
Patrick Greenfield: Kansas State
Andrew Hammond: Kansas State
Mark Inabinett: Kansas State
Ainslee Lee: Missouri
Creg Stephenson: Kansas State
Georgia wide receiver Rara Thomas is shown against the Ball State in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP
South Carolina (+27.5) at Georgia, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Patrick Bird: South Carolina
Michael Casagrande: Georgia
Matt Cohen: Georgia
Evan Dudley: Georgia
Ben Flanagan: Georgia
Patrick Greenfield: South Carolina
Andrew Hammond: South Carolina
Mark Inabinett: South Carolina
Ainslee Lee: South Carolina
Creg Stephenson: South Carolina
Austin Peay quarterback Mike DiLiello (12) is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Jaylen McCollough (2) and others during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP
Tennessee (-7.5) at Florida, 6 p.m., ESPN
Patrick Bird: Tennessee
Michael Casagrande: Tennessee
Matt Cohen: Tennessee
Evan Dudley: Florida
Ben Flanagan: Tennessee
Patrick Greenfield: Florida
Andrew Hammond: Tennessee
Mark Inabinett: Tennessee
Ainslee Lee: Florida
Creg Stephenson: Tennessee
Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann (5) directs his team against Wake Forest during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)AP
Vanderbilt (-3.5) at UNLV, 6 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Patrick Bird: Vanderbilt
Michael Casagrande: Vanderbilt
Matt Cohen: Vanderbilt
Evan Dudley: Vanderbilt
Ben Flanagan: Vanderbilt
Patrick Greenfield: Vanderbilt
Andrew Hammond: Vanderbilt
Mark Inabinett: Vanderbilt
Ainslee Lee: Vanderbilt
Creg Stephenson: Vanderbilt
Troy cornerback Reddy Steward (2) celebrates his interception of Kansas State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)AP
James Madison (+1.5) at Troy, 6 p.m., NFL Network
Patrick Bird: James Madison
Michael Casagrande: Troy
Matt Cohen: James Madison
Evan Dudley: James Madison
Ben Flanagan: Troy
Patrick Greenfield: Troy
Andrew Hammond: James Madison
Mark Inabinett: James Madison
Ainslee Lee: Troy
Creg Stephenson: James Madison
South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack and the Jaguars celebrate the 35-17 win over Southeastern Louisiana in a college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com)
South Alabama (+7.5) at Oklahoma State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Patrick Bird: Oklahoma State
Michael Casagrande: Oklahoma State
Matt Cohen: Oklahoma State
Evan Dudley: Oklahoma State
Ben Flanagan: Oklahoma State
Patrick Greenfield: Oklahoma State
Andrew Hammond: Oklahoma State
Mark Inabinett: Oklahoma State
Ainslee Lee: Oklahoma State
Creg Stephenson: Oklahoma State
UAB tight end Bryce Damous (48) celebrates his first touchdown of the season in UAB’s 49-35 loss to Georgia Southern, Sept. 9, 2023, at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Ga. (UAB Athletics)
Louisiana (+0.5) at UAB, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Patrick Bird: UAB
Michael Casagrande: UAB
Matt Cohen: UAB
Evan Dudley: UAB
Ben Flanagan: UAB
Patrick Greenfield: UAB
Andrew Hammond: UAB
Mark Inabinett: UAB
Ainslee Lee: Louisiana
Creg Stephenson: UAB
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman on the sidelines against Kent State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept.9, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP
BYU (+10.5) at Arkansas, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Patrick Bird: Arkansas
Michael Casagrande: Arkansas
Matt Cohen: Arkansas
Evan Dudley: Arkansas
Ben Flanagan: BYU
Patrick Greenfield: BYU
Andrew Hammond: BYU
Mark Inabinett: BYU
Ainslee Lee: Arkansas
Creg Stephenson: Arkansas
Auburn safety Donovan Kaufman (5) recovers a fumble by California running back Isaiah Ifanse (22) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)AP
Samford (no line) at Auburn, 6 p.m., ESPN+/SECN+
Patrick Bird: Auburn 42, Samford 21
Michael Casagrande: Auburn 42, Samford 21
Matt Cohen: Auburn 38, Samford 14
Evan Dudley: Auburn 52, Samford 20
Ben Flanagan: Auburn 38, Samford 10
Patrick Greenfield: Auburn 42, Samford 17
Andrew Hammond: Auburn 35, Samford 17
Mark Inabinett: Auburn 49, Samford 7
Ainslee Lee: Auburn 42, Samford 3
Creg Stephenson: Auburn 44, Samford 24
Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson (32) slams Texas running back CJ Baxter (4) to the ground during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Alabama (-31.5) at South Florida, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Patrick Bird: Alabama 51, South Florida 7
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 38, South Florida 10
Matt Cohen: Alabama 47, South Florida 10
Evan Dudley: Alabama 45, South Florida 7
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 48, South Florida 17
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 31, South Florida 10
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 45, South Florida 10
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 46, South Florida 14
Ainslee Lee: Alabama 48, South Florida 10
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 48, South Florida 10
Alabama fans wave their shakers during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Standings after Week 2
| Name | Record |
|---|---|
| Mark Inabinett | 15-5 |
| Michael Casagrande | 11-9 |
| Creg Stephenson | 11-9 |
| Patrick Bird | 9-11 |
| Patrick Greenfield | 9-11 |
| Ainslee Lee | 9-11 |
| Evan Dudley | 8-12 |
| Ben Flanagan | 7-13 |
| Andrew Hammond | 6-14 |
| Matt Cohen | 4-16 |