AL.com college football staff picks for Week 1 of 2024
The 2024 season starts with a super-sized weekend of college football, with games beginning Thursday night and running through Monday.
However, it’s just a regular-sized edition of AL.com’s College Football Staff Picks, back once again to make its season debut. All your in-state favorites are in action this weekend, as well as several big regional and national games.
Three of the six in-state FBS teams have new coaches this year: Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, South Alabama’s Major Applewhite and Troy’s Gerad Parker. Jacksonville State’s Rich Rodriguez — entering Year 3 — is the “dean” of coaches in the state, while Auburn’s Hugh Freeze and UAB’s Trent Dilfer are set to begin their second seasons.
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 (7) looks for a receiver in a game vs. South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Brandon Phillips/Jax State athletics)Brandon Phillips/Jax State athletics
Coastal Carolina (+2.5) at Jax State, 7 p.m. Thursday, CBS Sports Network
Thomas Ashworth: Jax State
Michael Casagrande: Jax State
Patrick Greenfield: Jax State
Andrew Hammond: Jax State
Mark Inabinett: Jax State
Nick Kelly: Jax State
Peter Rauterkus: Coastal Carolina
Creg Stephenson: Jax State
UAB head coach Trent Dilfer shows approval during the Blazers’ 41-21 loss to Louisiana, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. (UAB Athletics)
Alcorn State (+26.5) at UAB, 7 p.m. Thursday, ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: UAB
Michael Casagrande: UAB
Patrick Greenfield: UAB
Andrew Hammond: Alcorn State
Mark Inabinett: Alcorn State
Nick Kelly: UAB
Peter Rauterkus: UAB
Creg Stephenson: UAB
FILE – Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) reacts after a touchdown against Mississippi during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)AP
Clemson (+13) vs. Georgia (Atlanta), 11 a.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Georgia
Michael Casagrande: Georgia
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia
Andrew Hammond: Georgia
Mark Inabinett: Georgia
Nick Kelly: Georgia
Peter Rauterkus: Georgia
Creg Stephenson: Clemson
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal calls out to players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Miami (-2.5) at Florida, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Miami
Michael Casagrande: Florida
Patrick Greenfield: Miami
Andrew Hammond: Miami
Mark Inabinett: Florida
Nick Kelly: Miami
Peter Rauterkus: Florida
Creg Stephenson: Florida
Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Denver. Texas A&M won 10-7. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)AP
Notre Dame (+2.5) at Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Notre Dame
Michael Casagrande: Texas A&M
Patrick Greenfield: Notre Dame
Andrew Hammond: Texas A&M
Mark Inabinett: Texas A&M
Nick Kelly: Notre Dame
Peter Rauterkus: Notre Dame
Creg Stephenson: Texas A&M
LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (4) works against Mississippi State offensive lineman Kameron Jones (58) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
LSU (-4.5) vs. USC (Las Vegas), 6:30 p.m. Sunday, ABC
Thomas Ashworth: LSU
Michael Casagrande: LSU
Patrick Greenfield: LSU
Andrew Hammond: LSU
Mark Inabinett: USC
Nick Kelly: LSU
Peter Rauterkus: USC
Creg Stephenson: LSU
South Alabama’s Gio Lopez carries the ball during a game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Thursday, November 2, 2023, in Troy, Ala. (Scott Donaldson/South Alabama athletics)Scott Donaldson/South Alabama At
North Texas (+5.5) at South Alabama, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: South Alabama
Michael Casagrande: South Alabama
Patrick Greenfield: South Alabama
Andrew Hammond: South Alabama
Mark Inabinett: North Texas
Nick Kelly: South Alabama
Peter Rauterkus: South Alabama
Creg Stephenson: South Alabama
Troy Head Coach Gerad Parker speaks during the 2024 Sun Belt Conference Media Days in New Orleans. (Photo by Jared Thomas/Sun Belt Conference)Jared Thomas
Nevada (+9.5) at Troy, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: Troy
Michael Casagrande: Troy
Patrick Greenfield: Nevada
Andrew Hammond: Troy
Mark Inabinett: Nevada
Nick Kelly: Nevada
Peter Rauterkus: Nevada
Creg Stephenson: Troy
Auburn running back Jarquez Hunter carries the ball against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Auburn, Ala.Butch Dill | The Associated Press
Alabama A&M (+46.5) at Auburn, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: Auburn 45, Alabama A&M 13
Michael Casagrande: Auburn 48, Alabama A&M 7
Patrick Greenfield: Auburn 38, Alabama A&M 10
Andrew Hammond: Auburn 48, Alabama A&M 3
Mark Inabinett: Auburn 50, Alabama A&M 3
Nick Kelly: Auburn 60, Alabama A&M 13
Peter Rauterkus: Auburn 52, Alabama A&M 7
Creg Stephenson: Auburn 52, Alabama A&M 3
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) looks to throw during the Rose Bowl against Michigan in Pasadena, California on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.Neil Blake | MLive.com
Western Kentucky (+30.5) at Alabama, 6 p.m., ESPN
Thomas Ashworth: Alabama 41, Western Kentucky 20
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 42, Western Kentucky 39
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 42, Western Kentucky 7
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 52, Western Kentucky 14
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 49, Western Kentucky 14
Nick Kelly: Alabama 45, Western Kentucky 14
Peter Rauterkus: Alabama 45, Western Kentucky 10
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 41, Western Kentucky 17