We’re in the final month of the 2024 college football regular season (or at least we will be by Saturday) and AL.com’s staff picks.
Auburn, UAB, Troy and South Alabama all have important conference home games, while Alabama has an open date (Jacksonville State played Wednesday night, so they didn’t make our picks this week). There are also some crucial games across the country, including a titanic Top 5 showdown in the Big Ten and a very important battle atop the ACC.
It wasn’t a great week for our panel, as only two of us finished above the .500 mark. (One of those was your author, who is pleased to no longer be in last place.)
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 game.
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):
Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) celebrates with Abdul Carter (11) after sacking Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in State College, Pa.AP
Ohio State (-4) at Penn State, 11 a.m., Fox
Thomas Ashworth: Ohio State
Michael Casagrande: Ohio State
Patrick Greenfield: Penn State
Andrew Hammond: Ohio State
Mark Inabinett: Penn State
Nick Kelly: Ohio State
Peter Rauterkus: Ohio State
Creg Stephenson: Ohio State
Mississippi linebacker Suntarine Perkins (4) reacts after tackling Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Oxford, Miss. Kentucky won 20-17. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)AP
Ole Miss (-6.5) at Arkansas, 11 a.m., ESPN
Thomas Ashworth: Ole Miss
Michael Casagrande: Ole Miss
Patrick Greenfield: Arkansas
Andrew Hammond: Ole Miss
Mark Inabinett: Arkansas
Nick Kelly: Ole Miss
Peter Rauterkus: Ole Miss
Creg Stephenson: Arkansas
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) hands the ball off to Georgia running back Trevor Etienne (1) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)AP
Florida (+16.5) vs. Georgia (Jacksonville), 2:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Georgia
Michael Casagrande: Georgia
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia
Andrew Hammond: Georgia
Mark Inabinett: Georgia
Nick Kelly: Florida
Peter Rauterkus: Georgia
Creg Stephenson: Georgia
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning cheers on wide receiver Tez Johnson (15) during Johnson’s touchdown punt return in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.AP
Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Thomas Ashworth: Michigan
Michael Casagrande: Oregon
Patrick Greenfield: Oregon
Andrew Hammond: Oregon
Mark Inabinett: Oregon
Nick Kelly: Michigan
Peter Rauterkus: Oregon
Creg Stephenson: Michigan
Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York, No. 21, reacts after intercepting a pass thrown by LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, No. 13, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP
Texas A&M (-3.5) at South Carolina, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: South Carolina
Michael Casagrande: Texas A&M
Patrick Greenfield: Texas A&M
Andrew Hammond: Texas A&M
Mark Inabinett: South Carolina
Nick Kelly: Texas A&M
Peter Rauterkus: South Carolina
Creg Stephenson: Texas A&M
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee reacts after a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)AP
Pittsburgh (+7) at SMU, 7 p.m., ACC Network
Thomas Ashworth: SMU
Michael Casagrande: SMU
Patrick Greenfield: Pittsburgh
Andrew Hammond: SMU
Mark Inabinett: Pittsburgh
Nick Kelly: SMU
Peter Rauterkus: Pittsburgh
Creg Stephenson: Pittsburgh
WEST POINT, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 12: Bryson Daily #13 of the Army Black Knights is tackled by members of the UAB Blazers during the first quarter of the game at Michie Stadium on October 12, 2024 in West Point, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)Getty Images
Tulsa (+3.5) at UAB, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: Tulsa
Michael Casagrande: Tulsa
Patrick Greenfield: Tulsa
Andrew Hammond: Tulsa
Mark Inabinett: Tulsa
Nick Kelly: UAB
Peter Rauterkus: Tulsa
Creg Stephenson: Tulsa
Troy tight end Brody Dalton scores a touchdown vs. Arkansas State at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Ark., on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2024. (Joey Meredith/Troy athletics)Joey Meredith/Troy athletics
Coastal Carolina (-4.5) at Troy, 3 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: Coastal Carolina
Michael Casagrande: Coastal Carolina
Patrick Greenfield: Coastal Carolina
Andrew Hammond: Troy
Mark Inabinett: Troy
Nick Kelly: Coastal Carolina
Peter Rauterkus: Troy
Creg Stephenson: Coastal Carolina
South Alabama running back Fluff Bothwell (24) scores against Louisiana-Monroe defense in the second half of a NCAA football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com)
Mike Kittrell/AL.com
Georgia Southern (+5.5) at South Alabama, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU
Thomas Ashworth: South Alabama
Michael Casagrande: South Alabama
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia Southern
Andrew Hammond: South Alabama
Mark Inabinett: Georgia Southern
Nick Kelly: South Alabama
Peter Rauterkus: South Alabama
Creg Stephenson: South Alabama
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – OCTOBER 26: Jarquez Hunter #27 of the Auburn Tigers runs for a touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field on October 26, 2024 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)Getty Images
Vanderbilt (+6.5) at Auburn, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network
Thomas Ashworth: Vanderbilt 27, Auburn 23
Michael Casagrande: Auburn 24, Vanderbilt 21
Patrick Greenfield: Auburn 26, Vanderbilt 19
Andrew Hammond: Vanderbilt 31, Auburn 17
Mark Inabinett: Auburn 24, Vanderbilt 20
Nick Kelly: Vanderbilt 23, Auburn 17
Peter Rauterkus: Vanderbilt 27, Auburn 20
Creg Stephenson: Auburn 17, Vanderbilt 15
Oregon fans sing to “Shout” during a break between quarters of a Big Ten college football game between the No. 1 Ducks and No. 20 Illinois at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday Oct. 26, 2024. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian
Standings after Week 9
Mark Inabinett 49-31 (4-6 last week)
Patrick Greenfield 47-43 (5-5 last week)
Nick Kelly 47-43 (6-4 last week)
Michael Casagrande 46-44 (4-6 last week)
Creg Stephenson 46-44 (7-3 last week)
Peter Rauterkus 45-39 (2-8 last week)
Andrew Hammond 44-46 (2-8 last week)
Thomas Ashworth 42-48 (6-4 last week)
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
