AL.com college football staff picks for Week 12 of 2023
The SEC East and West Division championships might have already been decided, but things are still up in the air in AL.com’s college football staff picks.
With two weeks left in the regular season, there’s a tie at the top of our standings. And four other members of our panel are within two games of the lead.
In the actual football world, Alabama and Auburn take a break from SEC competition to play (probably overmatched) non-conference competition. The other in-state teams are all playing key conference games, however, and there are a number other big games around the country.
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):
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reacts on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP
Georgia (-7.5) at Tennessee, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Michael Casagrande: Georgia
Matt Cohen: Georgia
Evan Dudley: Georgia
Ben Flanagan: Georgia
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia
Andrew Hammond: Georgia
Mark Inabinett: Georgia
Ainslee Lee: Georgia
Creg Stephenson: Georgia
Kansas State quarterback Will Howard looks to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AP
Kansas State (-6.5) at Kansas, 6 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Michael Casagrande: Kansas State
Matt Cohen: Kansas
Evan Dudley: Kansas State
Ben Flanagan: Kansas
Patrick Greenfield: Kansas
Andrew Hammond: Kansas State
Mark Inabinett: Kansas State
Ainslee Lee: Kansas
Creg Stephenson: Kansas State
Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on from the sideline during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Seattle. Washington won 35-28. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)AP
Washington (-1) at Oregon State, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Washington
Matt Cohen: Washington
Evan Dudley: Oregon State
Ben Flanagan: Washington
Patrick Greenfield: Oregon State
Andrew Hammond: Washington
Mark Inabinett: Oregon State
Ainslee Lee: Washington
Creg Stephenson: Oregon State
Texas director of football performance Torre Becton warms up the team in the hallway before taking the field to compete against TCU in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)AP
Texas (-7.5) at Iowa State, 7 p.m., Fox
Michael Casagrande: Iowa State
Matt Cohen: Texas
Evan Dudley: Texas
Ben Flanagan: Texas
Patrick Greenfield: Texas
Andrew Hammond: Iowa State
Mark Inabinett: Iowa State
Ainslee Lee: Texas
Creg Stephenson: Iowa State
Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez is unhappy with an intentional grounding penalty during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP
Louisiana Tech (+9.5) at Jacksonville State, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Michael Casagrande: Louisiana Tech
Matt Cohen: Jacksonville State
Evan Dudley: Jacksonville State
Ben Flanagan: Louisiana Tech
Patrick Greenfield: Jacksonville State
Andrew Hammond: Jacksonville State
Mark Inabinett: Jacksonville State
Ainslee Lee: Jacksonville State
Creg Stephenson: Jacksonville State
UAB safety Keondre Swoopes (0) celebrates a first-quarter interception in the Blazers’ 31-6 loss to Navy, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland. (UAB Athletics)UAB Athletics
Temple (+7) at UAB, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Michael Casagrande: Temple
Matt Cohen: Temple
Evan Dudley: UAB
Ben Flanagan: Temple
Patrick Greenfield: Temple
Andrew Hammond: Temple
Mark Inabinett: UAB
Ainslee Lee: UAB
Creg Stephenson: UAB
Troy’s Richard Jibunor (9) celebrates a sack vs. Louisiana-Monroe during a game at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La., on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (Joey Meredith/Troy athletics)Joey Meredith/Troy athletics
Louisiana (+15.5) at Troy, 2:30 p.m., NFL Network
Michael Casagrande: Louisiana
Matt Cohen: Troy
Evan Dudley: Troy
Ben Flanagan: Troy
Patrick Greenfield: Troy
Andrew Hammond: Louisiana
Mark Inabinett: Troy
Ainslee Lee: Louisiana
Creg Stephenson: Troy
South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack and the Jaguars celebrate the 21-14 win over Arkansas State in a NCAA football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com) Mike Kittrell/AL.com
Marshall (+10) at South Alabama, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Michael Casagrande: Marshall
Matt Cohen: Marshall
Evan Dudley: Marshall
Ben Flanagan: South Alabama
Patrick Greenfield: South Alabama
Andrew Hammond: South Alabama
Mark Inabinett: South Alabama
Ainslee Lee: South Alabama
Creg Stephenson: Marshall
Alabama running back Jase McClellan (2) dives for the end zone with Kentucky defensive back Ty Bryant (14) hanging on during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Michelle Haas Hutchins)AP
Chattanooga (no line) at Alabama, 11 a.m., ESPN+/SEC Network+
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 48, Chattanooga 3
Matt Cohen: Alabama 45, Chattanooga 10
Evan Dudley: Alabama 63, Chattanooga 3
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 52, Chattanooga 3
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 45, Chattanooga 10
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 49, Chattanooga 14
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 49, Chattanooga 7
Ainslee Lee: Alabama 56, Chattanooga 3
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 49, Chattanooga 3
Auburn wide receiver Koy Moore (0) celebrates with teammate Kam Stutts, bottom, after returning a punt for a touchdown against Arkansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP
New Mexico State (+22.5) at Auburn, 3 p.m., SEC Network
Michael Casagrande: Auburn 35, New Mexico State 10
Matt Cohen: Auburn 45, New Mexico State 20
Evan Dudley: Auburn 41, New Mexico State 13
Ben Flanagan: Auburn 40, New Mexico State 17
Patrick Greenfield: Auburn 42, New Mexico State 10
Andrew Hammond: Auburn 38, New Mexico State 10
Mark Inabinett: Auburn 38, New Mexico State 10
Ainslee Lee: Auburn 45, New Mexico State 10
Creg Stephenson: Auburn 37, New Mexico State 14
An Oregon fan holds up a sign reading “Boseph Nixon for president” during a college football game between the No. 6 Ducks and USC Trojans at Autzen stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Standings after Week 10
| Name | Record |
|---|---|
| Evan Dudley | 56-54 |
| Ainslee Lee | 56-54 |
| Creg Stephenson | 55-55 |
| Ben Flanagan | 54-56 |
| Patrick Greenfield | 54-56 |
| Mark Inabinett | 54-56 |
| Michael Casagrande | 51-59 |
| Andrew Hammond | 49-61 |
| Matt Cohen | 47-63 |