AL.com college football staff picks for Week 14 of 2023
We’ve reached championship week for the 2023 college football season, where trophies will be awarded and postseason berths will be secured.
The championship of AL.com’s college football staff picks is nearly in the bag, as Ainslee Lee has a 5-game lead in the standings with only one week remaining. The race for second place is pretty tight, as is the “race” for last.
In the real college football world, there are exactly 10 FBS conference championship games on either Friday or Saturday. So we’ve picked them all.
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 the SEC championship game between Alabama and Georgia.
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):
Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter (7) runs for yardage past the UTEP defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)AP
Conference USA: New Mexico State (+10.5) at Liberty, 6 p.m. Friday, CBS Sports Network
Michael Casagrande: Liberty
Matt Cohen: New Mexico State
Evan Dudley: Liberty
Ben Flanagan: New Mexico State
Patrick Greenfield: New Mexico State
Andrew Hammond: Liberty
Mark Inabinett: Liberty
Ainslee Lee: Liberty
Creg Stephenson: Liberty
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix throws a pass against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Mark Ylen)AP
Pac-12 (at Las Vegas): Oregon (-9.5) vs. Washington, 7 p.m. Friday, Fox
Michael Casagrande: Washington
Matt Cohen: Washington
Evan Dudley: Washington
Ben Flanagan: Washington
Patrick Greenfield: Washington
Andrew Hammond: Washington
Mark Inabinett: Oregon
Ainslee Lee: Oregon
Creg Stephenson: Washington
Cheerleaders wave a Texas Longhorns flag during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Dallas. Oklahoma won 34-30. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)AP
Big 12 (at Arlington, Texas): Oklahoma State (+14) vs. Texas, 11 a.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Texas
Matt Cohen: Oklahoma State
Evan Dudley: Oklahoma State
Ben Flanagan: Texas
Patrick Greenfield: Oklahoma State
Andrew Hammond: Oklahoma State
Mark Inabinett: Texas
Ainslee Lee: Oklahoma State
Creg Stephenson: Texas
Toledo running back Peny Boone (13) and offensive lineman Devan Rogers (56) celebrate Boone’s touchdown against Central Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)AP
MAC (at Detroit): Toledo (-8.5) vs. Miami, Ohio, 11 a.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Miami
Matt Cohen: Miami
Evan Dudley: Toledo
Ben Flanagan: Toledo
Patrick Greenfield: Toledo
Andrew Hammond: Toledo
Mark Inabinett: Miami
Ainslee Lee: Toledo
Creg Stephenson: Toledo
Air Force running back Owen Burk (26) is tackled by UNLV defensive back Cameren Jenkins (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP)AP
Mountain West: Boise State (-3) at UNLV, 2 p.m., Fox
Michael Casagrande: UNLV
Matt Cohen: Boise State
Evan Dudley: Boise State
Ben Flanagan: Boise State
Patrick Greenfield: Boise State
Andrew Hammond: UNLV
Mark Inabinett: Boise State
Ainslee Lee: UNLV
Creg Stephenson: UNLV
Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt (7) celebrates his touchdown pass in the second half of an NCAA college football game against UTSA in New Orleans, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Tulane won 29-16. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP
AAC: SMU (+3.5) at Tulane, 3 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Tulane
Matt Cohen: SMU
Evan Dudley: SMU
Ben Flanagan: Tulane
Patrick Greenfield: Tulane
Andrew Hammond: SMU
Mark Inabinett: SMU
Ainslee Lee: SMU
Creg Stephenson: Tulane
Troy head coach Jon Sumrall talks with an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)AP
Sun Belt: Appalachian State (+6.5) at Troy, 3 p.m., ESPN
Michael Casagrande: Troy
Matt Cohen: Troy
Evan Dudley: Troy
Ben Flanagan: Appalachian State
Patrick Greenfield: Troy
Andrew Hammond: Troy
Mark Inabinett: Appalachian State
Ainslee Lee: Troy
Creg Stephenson: Troy
Florida State quarterback Tate Rodemaker (18) runs against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla.John Raoux | The Associated Press
ACC (at Charlotte): Florida State (-3) vs. Louisville, 7 p.m., ABC
Michael Casagrande: Florida State
Matt Cohen: Louisville
Evan Dudley: Louisville
Ben Flanagan: Louisville
Patrick Greenfield: Florida State
Andrew Hammond: Florida State
Mark Inabinett: Florida State
Ainslee Lee: Florida State
Creg Stephenson: Louisville
Michigan’s offense including offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson (73), offensive lineman Trevor Keegan (77), offensive lineman Zak Zinter (65) and offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart huddle up during the game against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)Neil Blake | MLive.com
Big Ten (at Indianapolis): Iowa (+23.5) vs. Michigan, 7 p.m., Fox
Michael Casagrande: Michigan
Matt Cohen: Michigan
Evan Dudley: Iowa
Ben Flanagan: Iowa
Patrick Greenfield: Iowa
Andrew Hammond: Iowa
Mark Inabinett: Michigan
Ainslee Lee: Iowa
Creg Stephenson: Iowa
Alabama wide receiver Kendrick Law (19) runs the ball against Auburn during the first half of the Iron Bowl Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett | [email protected])Julie Bennett | [email protected]
SEC (at Atlanta): Alabama (+5.5) vs. Georgia, 3 p.m., CBS
Michael Casagrande: Georgia 28, Alabama 21
Matt Cohen: Alabama 31, Georgia 28
Evan Dudley: Alabama 24, Georgia 21
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 36, Georgia 32
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 31, Georgia 28
Andrew Hammond: Georgia 26, Alabama 20
Mark Inabinett: Georgia 30, Alabama 24
Ainslee Lee: Alabama 34, Georgia 28
Creg Stephenson: Georgia 30, Alabama 25
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An Oregon fan dances in the stands as the No. 6 Ducks face the No. 16 Oregon State Beavers in a college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2023. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Standings after Week 13
| Name | Record |
|---|---|
| Ainslee Lee | 72-58 |
| Mark Inabinett | 67-63 |
| Evan Dudley | 66-64 |
| Patrick Greenfield | 66-64 |
| Ben Flanagan | 65-65 |
| Creg Stephenson | 65-65 |
| Andrew Hammond | 59-71 |
| Michael Casagrande | 58-72 |
| Matt Cohen | 57-73 |