AL.com college football staff picks for Week 10 of 2023
Nailed it.
OK, I didn’t, but fellow AL.com college football staff picks panelist Evan Dudley did. He correctly predicted Auburn would beat Mississippi State 27-13 as part of a 7-3 week picking games, so shoutout to Evan.
We head into November with another interesting slate of games, including the “Battle for the Belt” between Troy and South Alabama on Thursday and the annual Alabama-LSU blood battle on Saturday night. Jacksonville State has a “show me” game at South Carolina on Saturday, UAB has a win-or-no-bowl game vs. FAU, while Auburn … plays Vanderbilt (four out of five ain’t bad, I guess).
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):
South Alabama hosts Troy in the “Battle for the Belt” football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com)
South Alabama (+6.5) at Troy, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, ESPN2
Michael Casagrande: South Alabama
Matt Cohen: Troy
Evan Dudley: Troy
Ben Flanagan: Troy
Patrick Greenfield: Troy
Andrew Hammond: Troy
Mark Inabinett: South Alabama
Ainslee Lee: Troy
Creg Stephenson: Troy
Notre Dame safety Ramon Henderson (11) recovers a fumbled ball in the end zone to score during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Michael Caterina)AP
Notre Dame (-2.5) at Clemson, 11 a.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Clemson
Matt Cohen: Clemson
Evan Dudley: Notre Dame
Ben Flanagan: Notre Dame
Patrick Greenfield: Notre Dame
Andrew Hammond: Clemson
Mark Inabinett: Notre Dame
Ainslee Lee: Notre Dame
Creg Stephenson: Notre Dame
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin, center, celebrates after a win over Auburn in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill )AP
Texas A&M (+4.5) at Ole Miss, 11 a.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Texas A&M
Matt Cohen: Ole Miss
Evan Dudley: Texas A&M
Ben Flanagan: Ole Miss
Patrick Greenfield: Ole Miss
Andrew Hammond: Ole Miss
Mark Inabinett: Texas A&M
Ainslee Lee: Ole Miss
Creg Stephenson: Ole Miss
Oklahoma takes the field before an NCAA college football game against Kansas, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley)AP
Oklahoma (-5.5) at Oklahoma State, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Oklahoma State
Matt Cohen: Oklahoma
Evan Dudley: Oklahoma
Ben Flanagan: Oklahoma
Patrick Greenfield: Oklahoma State
Andrew Hammond: Oklahoma
Mark Inabinett: Oklahoma
Ainslee Lee: Oklahoma
Creg Stephenson: Oklahoma
Georgia players, from left, tight end Lawson Luckie (7), offensive lineman Micah Morris (56) and tight end Oscar Delp (4) celebrate with running back Daijun Edwards (30) after he scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)AP
Missouri (+16.5) at Georgia, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Michael Casagrande: Missouri
Matt Cohen: Georgia
Evan Dudley: Georgia
Ben Flanagan: Missouri
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia
Andrew Hammond: Missouri
Mark Inabinett: Missouri
Ainslee Lee: Georgia
Creg Stephenson: Missouri
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Seattle. Washington won 15-7. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)AP
Washington (-4) at USC, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: USC
Matt Cohen: USC
Evan Dudley: USC
Ben Flanagan: USC
Patrick Greenfield: USC
Andrew Hammond: Washington
Mark Inabinett: USC
Ainslee Lee: USC
Creg Stephenson: USC
Jax State’s Ron Wiggins (26) scores a touchdown during a game vs. Florida International at FIU Stadium in Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Brandon Phillips/Jax State athletics)Brandon Phillips/Jax State athletics
Jacksonville State (+14.5) at South Carolina, 11 a.m., ESPNU
Michael Casagrande: Jacksonville State
Matt Cohen: South Carolina
Evan Dudley: South Carolina
Ben Flanagan: South Carolina
Patrick Greenfield: Jacksonville State
Andrew Hammond: South Carolina
Mark Inabinett: South Carolina
Ainslee Lee: Jacksonville State
Creg Stephenson: Jacksonville State
UAB running back Lee WItherspoon (5) takes a carry around the edge during the Blazers’ 45-21 loss to Memphis, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. (UAB Athletics)
Florida Atlantic (-2.5) at UAB, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Michael Casagrande: UAB
Matt Cohen: Florida Atlantic
Evan Dudley: UAB
Ben Flanagan: Florida Atlantic
Patrick Greenfield: Florida Atlantic
Andrew Hammond: Florida Atlantic
Mark Inabinett: UAB
Ainslee Lee: UAB
Creg Stephenson: Florida Atlantic
Auburn running back Jeremiah Cobb (23) catches a pass for a touchdown over Mississippi State defensive lineman Donterry Russell (36) during the first half an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP
Auburn (-13) at Vanderbilt, 3 p.m., SEC Network
Michael Casagrande: Auburn 28, Vanderbilt 14
Matt Cohen: Auburn 24, Vanderbilt 10
Evan Dudley: Auburn 37, Vanderbilt 13
Ben Flanagan: Auburn 34, Vanderbilt 19
Patrick Greenfield: Auburn 28, Vanderbilt 14
Andrew Hammond: Auburn 26, Vanderbilt 20
Mark Inabinett: Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 19
Ainslee Lee: Auburn 31, Vanderbilt 17
Creg Stephenson: Auburn 30, Vanderbilt 13
Alabama wide receiver Kendrick Law (19) runs the ball as Tennessee defensive back Tamarion McDonald (12) chases during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
LSU (+3.5) at Alabama, 6:45 p.m., CBS
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 31, LSU 30
Matt Cohen: Alabama 38, LSU 34
Evan Dudley: Alabama 31, LSU 24
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 29, LSU 24
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 28, LSU 21
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 28, LSU 16
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 33, LSU 30
Ainslee Lee: Alabama 28, LSU 21
Creg Stephenson: LSU 35, Alabama 30
A fan in costume as Elvis crowd surfs as the fans rush the field at Arizona Stadium following the Arizona Wildcats upset of Oregon State of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Tucson, Ariz. (Kelly Presnell/Arizona Daily Star via AP)AP
Standings after Week 9
| Name | Record |
|---|---|
| Mark Inabinett | 46-44 |
| Evan Dudley | 45-45 |
| Ainslee Lee | 44-46 |
| Creg Stephenson | 43-47 |
| Ben Flanagan | 43-47 |
| Patrick Greenfield | 41-49 |
| Michael Casagrande | 39-51 |
| Andrew Hammond | 37-53 |
| Matt Cohen | 36-54 |