AL.com college football staff picks for Week 7 of 2023
Perhaps we’re starting to turn this thing around.
Five of our nine panelists in AL.com’s college football staff picks were at or above the .500 mark last week, which might not sound like much but was almost reason to celebrate the way things have gone this season. Week 7 brings with it another set of interesting games, so we’ll see if we can start to string together some good results.
Alabama and Auburn both face SEC West opponents, while UAB has a big road test in the AAC. There are also a number of highly important games around the country and in the SEC.
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):
Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (55) in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)AP
Oregon (+2.5) at Washington, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Washington
Matt Cohen: Washington
Evan Dudley: Washington
Ben Flanagan: Oregon
Patrick Greenfield: Oregon
Andrew Hammond: Washington
Mark Inabinett: Washington
Ainslee Lee: Washington
Creg Stephenson: Washington
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye (10) hands off to running back Omarion Hampton (28) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)AP
Miami (+3.5) at North Carolina, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: North Carolina
Matt Cohen: North Carolina
Evan Dudley: North Carolina
Ben Flanagan: North Carolina
Patrick Greenfield: North Carolina
Andrew Hammond: North Carolina
Mark Inabinett: North Carolina
Ainslee Lee: North Carolina
Creg Stephenson: North Carolina
Notre Dame’s Audric Estimé (7) carries the ball during an NCAA college football game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)AP
USC (+2.5) at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m., NBC
Michael Casagrande: USC
Matt Cohen: USC
Evan Dudley: USC
Ben Flanagan: Notre Dame
Patrick Greenfield: USC
Andrew Hammond: USC
Mark Inabinett: USC
Ainslee Lee: Notre Dame
Creg Stephenson: USC
Tennessee tight end Princeton Fant (88) celebrates a touchdown with running back Jaylen Wright (20) during the second half of the team’s NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP
Texas A&M (+3) at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Michael Casagrande: Texas A&M
Matt Cohen: Tennessee
Evan Dudley: Tennessee
Ben Flanagan: Texas A&M
Patrick Greenfield: Texas A&M
Andrew Hammond: Tennessee
Mark Inabinett: Tennessee
Ainslee Lee: Texas A&M
Creg Stephenson: Tennessee
South Carolina wide receiver Jalen Brooks (13) waves goodbye to the Tennessee sideline after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP
Florida (+2) at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m., SEC Network
Michael Casagrande: South Carolina
Matt Cohen: South Carolina
Evan Dudley: Florida
Ben Flanagan: South Carolina
Patrick Greenfield: Florida
Andrew Hammond: South Carolina
Mark Inabinett: Florida
Ainslee Lee: Florida
Creg Stephenson: Florida
Kentucky waits in the tunnel before an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Hakim Wright Sr.)AP
Missouri (+2.5) at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network
Michael Casagrande: Missouri
Matt Cohen: Missouri
Evan Dudley: Missouri
Ben Flanagan: Missouri
Patrick Greenfield: Kentucky
Andrew Hammond: Kentucky
Mark Inabinett: Kentucky
Ainslee Lee: Kentucky
Creg Stephenson: Missouri
Troy offensive tackle Derrick Graham (77) is shown in front of quarterback Gunnar Watson (18), vs. Arkansas State on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy. (Chip Dillard/Troy athletics photo)
Troy (-4) at Army, 2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Michael Casagrande: Army
Matt Cohen: Army
Evan Dudley: Army
Ben Flanagan: Troy
Patrick Greenfield: Troy
Andrew Hammond: Army
Mark Inabinett: Army
Ainslee Lee: Troy
Creg Stephenson: Troy
UAB safety Keondre Swoopes (0) celebrates a second turnover in the Blazers’ 56-35 win over South Florida, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. (UAB Athletics)
UAB (+9.5) at Texas-San Antonio, 7 p.m., ESPNU
Michael Casagrande: UAB
Matt Cohen: Texas-San Antonio
Evan Dudley: UAB
Ben Flanagan: Texas-San Antonio
Patrick Greenfield: Texas-San Antonio
Andrew Hammond: Texas-San Antonio
Mark Inabinett: UAB
Ainslee Lee: Texas-San Antonio
Creg Stephenson: Texas-San Antonio
Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson, center, is sacked by Alabama defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis (91) and Tim Keenan III (96) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP
Arkansas (+19.5) at Alabama, 11 a.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 33, Arkansas 16
Matt Cohen: Alabama 30, Arkansas 14
Evan Dudley: Alabama 34, Arkansas 14
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 34, Arkansas 24
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 34, Arkansas 14
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 35, Arkansas 16
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 33, Arkansas 15
Ainslee Lee: Alabama 34, Arkansas 14
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 41, Arkansas 16
Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne (1) scrambles for yardage against Georgia during the second half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill )AP
Auburn (+11) at LSU, 6 p.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: LSU 28, Auburn 14
Matt Cohen: LSU 38, Auburn 28
Evan Dudley: LSU 41, Auburn 20
Ben Flanagan: LSU 40, Auburn 27
Patrick Greenfield: LSU 40, Auburn 27
Andrew Hammond: LSU 36, Auburn 24
Mark Inabinett: LSU 34, Auburn 21
Ainslee Lee: LSU 28, Auburn 24
Creg Stephenson: LSU 44, Auburn 27
The North Carolina dance team performs before the start of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)AP
Standings after Week 6
| Name | Record |
|---|---|
| Mark Inabinett | 32-28 |
| Ainslee Lee | 29-31 |
| Evan Dudley | 27-33 |
| Creg Stephenson | 26-34 |
| Michael Casagrande | 25-35 |
| Patrick Greenfield | 24-36 |
| Ben Flanagan | 23-37 |
| Matt Cohen | 21-39 |
| Andrew Hammond | 20-40 |