AL.com college football staff picks for Week 5 of 2023
One of the best weeks of college football in recent years did not bring out the best in AL.com’s college football staff picks.
It was a down week for the panel, and it’s quite honestly been a down year. Only one of our prognosticators is at the .500 mark for the season, with the rest of us scrapping and clawing just to break even.
But onward we march. Still plenty of time to turn things around.
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):
Jacksonville State quarterback Logan Smothers looks to pass vs. Coastal Carolina at Brooks Stadium in Conway, S.C., on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (Brandon Phillips/Jacksonville State athletics)
Jax State (-6.5) at Sam Houston, 7 p.m. Thursday, ESPNU
Michael Casagrande: Jax State
Matt Cohen: Sam Houston
Evan Dudley: Jax State
Ben Flanagan: Jax State
Patrick Greenfield: Jax State
Andrew Hammond: Jax State
Mark Inabinett: Jax State
Ainslee Lee: Jax State
Creg Stephenson: Jax State
Kentucky defensive back Maxwell Hairston (31) celebrates with linebacker J.J. Weaver (13) after returning an interception for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.AP Photo/George Walker IV
Florida (+2.5) at Kentucky, 11 a.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Florida
Matt Cohen: Florida
Evan Dudley: Florida
Ben Flanagan: Florida
Patrick Greenfield: Florida
Andrew Hammond: Florida
Mark Inabinett: Florida
Ainslee Lee: Florida
Creg Stephenson: Florida
Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson (14) looks to pass against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP
Arkansas (+6.5) vs. Texas A&M (at Arlington, Texas), 11 a.m., SEC Network
Michael Casagrande: Arkansas
Matt Cohen: Arkansas
Evan Dudley: Arkansas
Ben Flanagan: Arkansas
Patrick Greenfield: Texas A&M
Andrew Hammond: Arkansas
Mark Inabinett: Texas A&M
Ainslee Lee: Arkansas
Creg Stephenson: Arkansas
LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) celebrates his first of two touchdown receptions in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. LSU won 34-31. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP
LSU (-2.5) at Ole Miss, 5 p.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: LSU
Matt Cohen: LSU
Evan Dudley: LSU
Ben Flanagan: LSU
Patrick Greenfield: LSU
Andrew Hammond: LSU
Mark Inabinett: Ole Miss
Ainslee Lee: LSU
Creg Stephenson: LSU
Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman (10) unloads a pass during first half action in the college football game between Ohio State and Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday, September 23, 2023. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.comDavid Petkiewicz, cleveland.com
Notre Dame (-5.5) at Duke, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Notre Dame
Matt Cohen: Notre Dame
Evan Dudley: Notre Dame
Ben Flanagan: Notre Dame
Patrick Greenfield: Notre Dame
Andrew Hammond: Notre Dame
Mark Inabinett: Duke
Ainslee Lee: Notre Dame
Creg Stephenson: Duke
South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack congratulates South Alabama place kicker Diego Guajardo after an extra-point against Central Michigan in the second half of a college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com)
South Alabama (+3.5) at James Madison, 11 a.m., ESPNU
Michael Casagrande: James Madison
Matt Cohen: South Alabama
Evan Dudley: James Madison
Ben Flanagan: James Madison
Patrick Greenfield: South Alabama
Andrew Hammond: James Madison
Mark Inabinett: James Madison
Ainslee Lee: James Madison
Creg Stephenson: South Alabama
UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno (4) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia , Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP
UAB (+21.5) at Tulane, 11 a.m., ESPN2
Michael Casagrande: Tulane
Matt Cohen: Tulane
Evan Dudley: UAB
Ben Flanagan: Tulane
Patrick Greenfield: UAB
Andrew Hammond: Tulane
Mark Inabinett: Tulane
Ainslee Lee: Tulane
Creg Stephenson: Tulane
Troy’s Chris Lewis catches a touchdown pass on the final play of the first half vs. Western Kentucky at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. (Joey Meredith/Troy athletics)
Troy (+3) at Georgia State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Michael Casagrande: Georgia State
Matt Cohen: Troy
Evan Dudley: Troy
Ben Flanagan: Troy
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia State
Andrew Hammond: Troy
Mark Inabinett: Georgia State
Ainslee Lee: Georgia State
Creg Stephenson: Troy
Alabama tight end Amari Niblack (84) runs the ball on a pass reception against Mississippi during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Alabama (-14.5) at Mississippi State, 8 p.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 33, Mississippi State 10
Matt Cohen: Alabama 35, Mississippi State 17
Evan Dudley: Alabama 38, Mississippi State 14
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 30, Mississippi State 19
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 35, Mississippi State 10
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 38, Mississippi State 20
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 33, Mississippi State 18
Ainslee Lee: Alabama 34, Mississippi State 13
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 36, Mississippi State 17
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze watches as his offense runs a play against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP
Georgia (-14.5) at Auburn, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Michael Casagrande: Georgia 31, Auburn 9
Matt Cohen: Georgia 28, Auburn 10
Evan Dudley: Georgia 42, Auburn 13
Ben Flanagan: Georgia 41, Auburn 17
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia 42, Auburn 18
Andrew Hammond: Georgia 45, Auburn 14
Mark Inabinett: Georgia 30, Auburn 21
Ainslee Lee: Georgia 31, Auburn 17
Creg Stephenson: Georgia 37, Auburn 10
Mississippi fans cheer during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Alabama and Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Standings after Week 4
| Name | Record |
|---|---|
| Mark Inabinett | 20-20 |
| Ainslee Lee | 19-21 |
| Creg Stephenson | 19-21 |
| Patrick Greenfield | 18-22 |
| Evan Dudley | 17-23 |
| Michael Casagrande | 15-25 |
| Ben Flanagan | 14-26 |
| Andrew Hammond | 12-28 |
| Matt Cohen | 11-29 |