AL.com college football staff picks for Week 11 of 2023
Our in-state college football teams are road-ready for Week 11, as is AL.com’s college football staff picks.
Alabama, Auburn, UAB and Troy all face conference opponents away from home this year, some favored by larger margins than others (and one is an underdog). South Alabama faces a do-or-die situation at home, while there are massive matchups in the Big Ten and Pac-12 (Jacksonville State has the week off).
In our picks panel, Evan Dudley has surged into the overall lead on the strength of back-to-back 7-3 weeks. With only three weeks left in the regular season, can the rest of us catch up, or at least get close to the .500 mark?
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):
Michigan Wolverines linebacker Grayson Dee (38) greets fans after Michigan defeated Purdue at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | [email protected]
Michigan (-4.5) at Penn State, 11 a.m., Fox
Michael Casagrande: Penn State
Matt Cohen: Michigan
Evan Dudley: Michigan
Ben Flanagan: Michigan
Patrick Greenfield: Michigan
Andrew Hammond: Michigan
Mark Inabinett: Penn State
Ainslee Lee: Michigan
Creg Stephenson: Michigan
Washington’s Zion Tupuola-Fetui is shown reacts during the first quarter against Oregon at Husky Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Getty Images
Utah (+9.5) at Washington, 2:30 p.m., Fox
Michael Casagrande: Washington
Matt Cohen: Washington
Evan Dudley: Washington
Ben Flanagan: Utah
Patrick Greenfield: Washington
Andrew Hammond: Utah
Mark Inabinett: Utah
Ainslee Lee: Utah
Creg Stephenson: Utah
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning talks with players during warm ups before an NCAA football game against California, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. Oregon won 63-19.(AP Photo/Amanda Loman)AP
USC (+14.5) at Oregon, 9:30 p.m., Fox
Michael Casagrande: Oregon
Matt Cohen: Oregon
Evan Dudley: Oregon
Ben Flanagan: USC
Patrick Greenfield: Oregon
Andrew Hammond: USC
Mark Inabinett: Oregon
Ainslee Lee: USC
Creg Stephenson: Oregon
A member of The Pride of the Southland Band marches before an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and UConn Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP
Tennessee (-1.5) at Missouri, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Michael Casagrande: Missouri
Matt Cohen: Missouri
Evan Dudley: Missouri
Ben Flanagan: Missouri
Patrick Greenfield: Missouri
Andrew Hammond: Missouri
Mark Inabinett: Missouri
Ainslee Lee: Missouri
Creg Stephenson: Missouri
Georgia fans cheer during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)AP
Ole Miss (+11.5) at Georgia, 6 p.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Ole Miss
Matt Cohen: Ole Miss
Evan Dudley: Ole Miss
Ben Flanagan: Ole Miss
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia
Andrew Hammond: Ole Miss
Mark Inabinett: Ole Miss
Ainslee Lee: Ole Miss
Creg Stephenson: Georgia
Troy’s Chris Lewis (6) scores a touchdown vs. South Alabama at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. (Troy athletics photo)Chip Dillard/Troy athletics
Troy (-21) at Louisiana-Monroe, 1 p.m., ESPN+
Michael Casagrande: Louisiana-Monroe
Matt Cohen: Troy
Evan Dudley: Troy
Ben Flanagan: Louisiana-Monroe
Patrick Greenfield: Louisiana-Monroe
Andrew Hammond: Louisiana-Monroe
Mark Inabinett: Troy
Ainslee Lee: Louisiana-Monroe
Creg Stephenson: Troy
UAB wide receiver TJ Jones (3) celebrates his 72-yard touchdown catch in UAB’s 45-42 win over Florida Atlantic, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. (UAB Athletics)UAB Athletics
UAB (-3.5) at Navy, 2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
Michael Casagrande: Navy
Matt Cohen: Navy
Evan Dudley: UAB
Ben Flanagan: Navy
Patrick Greenfield: Navy
Andrew Hammond: Navy
Mark Inabinett: UAB
Ainslee Lee: UAB
Creg Stephenson: UAB
South Alabama’s Caullin Lacy (4) runs away from Troy’s Richard Jibunor (9) 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
Arkansas State (+11) at South Alabama, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Michael Casagrande: Arkansas State
Matt Cohen: Arkansas State
Evan Dudley: Arkansas State
Ben Flanagan: South Alabama
Patrick Greenfield: Arkansas State
Andrew Hammond: Arkansas State
Mark Inabinett: South Alabama
Ainslee Lee: Arkansas State
Creg Stephenson: Arkansas State
Auburn cornerback Jaylin Simpson (36) and linebacker Jalen McLeod, right, celebrate the team’s win against Vanderbilt after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP
Auburn (+3) at Arkansas, 3 p.m., SEC Network
Michael Casagrande: Arkansas 21, Auburn 20
Matt Cohen: Auburn 27, Arkansas 24
Evan Dudley: Auburn 27, Arkansas 24
Ben Flanagan: Auburn 29, Arkansas 23
Patrick Greenfield: Auburn 21, Arkansas 17
Andrew Hammond: Auburn 20, Arkansas 16
Mark Inabinett: Arkansas 24, Auburn 20
Ainslee Lee: Auburn 28, Arkansas 24
Creg Stephenson: Auburn 13, Arkansas 10
Alabama running back Jam Miller (26) knocks LSU safety Sage Ryan (15) to the ground, allowing Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) to walk in for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
Alabama (-10.5) at Kentucky, 11 a.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 34, Kentucky 17
Matt Cohen: Alabama 38, Kentucky 17
Evan Dudley: Alabama 48, Kentucky 16
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 34, Kentucky 20
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 34, Kentucky 14
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 28, Kentucky 24
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 31, Kentucky 17
Ainslee Lee: Alabama 37, Kentucky 21
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 40, Kentucky 17
A young fan watches play during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Tennessee and UConn Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP
Standings after Week 10
| Name | Record |
|---|---|
| Evan Dudley | 50-50 |
| Mark Inabinett | 49-51 |
| Ainslee Lee | 49-51 |
| Ben Flanagan | 47-53 |
| Creg Stephenson | 47-53 |
| Michael Casagrande | 46-54 |
| Patrick Greenfield | 46-54 |
| Andrew Hammond | 42-58 |
| Matt Cohen | 40-60 |