We’re officially past the halfway point of the 2024 college football season, and things are tightening up in the various conference races and in staff picks.
Five of our six in-state favorites are in action this week, though Jacksonville State played on Wednesday, and thus too early to make this list. UAB on a bye week.
Alabama, Auburn, Troy and South Alabama all have conference games, with the Crimson Tide and Jaguars trying to stay in the race. The Trojans and Tigers, meanwhile, are just hoping for something good to happen.
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):
Boise State (-3.5) at UNLV, 9:30 p.m. Friday, CBS Sports Network
Thomas Ashworth: Boise State
Michael Casagrande: Boise State
Patrick Greenfield: Boise State
Andrew Hammond: Boise State
Mark Inabinett: UNLV
Nick Kelly: Boise State
Peter Rauterkus: Boise State
Creg Stephenson: Boise State
Notre Dame (-11.5) vs. Navy (East Rutherford, N.J.), 11 a.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Notre Dame
Michael Casagrande: Navy
Patrick Greenfield: Notre Dame
Andrew Hammond: Navy
Mark Inabinett: Notre Dame
Nick Kelly: Notre Dame
Peter Rauterkus: Navy
Creg Stephenson: Notre Dame
Illinois (+21.5) at Oregon, 2:30 p.m., CBS
Thomas Ashworth: Oregon
Michael Casagrande: Oregon
Patrick Greenfield: Illinois
Andrew Hammond: Illinois
Mark Inabinett: Illinois
Nick Kelly: Oregon
Peter Rauterkus: Illinois
Creg Stephenson: Oregon
Texas (-18.5) at Vanderbilt, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network
Thomas Ashworth: Texas
Michael Casagrande: Texas
Patrick Greenfield: Vanderbilt
Andrew Hammond: Vanderbilt
Mark Inabinett: Texas
Nick Kelly: Vanderbilt
Peter Rauterkus: Texas
Creg Stephenson: Vanderbilt
Texas A&M wide receiver Jabre Barber, No. 1, and Texas A&M tight end Tre Watson, No. 84, celebrates with Texas A&M wide receiver Noah Thomas, No. 3, during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)AP
LSU (+3) at Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: LSU
Michael Casagrande: LSU
Patrick Greenfield: LSU
Andrew Hammond: LSU
Mark Inabinett: Texas A&M
Nick Kelly: Texas A&M
Peter Rauterkus: LSU
Creg Stephenson: LSU
Penn State (-6.5) at Wisconsin, 6:30 p.m., NBC
Thomas Ashworth: Penn State
Michael Casagrande: Penn State
Patrick Greenfield: Penn State
Andrew Hammond: Wisconsin
Mark Inabinett: Wisconsin
Nick Kelly: Penn State
Peter Rauterkus: Penn State
Creg Stephenson: Penn State
Louisiana-Monroe (+7.5) at South Alabama, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: South Alabama
Michael Casagrande: Louisiana-Monroe
Patrick Greenfield: South Alabama
Andrew Hammond: Louisiana-Monroe
Mark Inabinett: Louisiana-Monroe
Nick Kelly: Louisiana-Monroe
Peter Rauterkus: Louisiana-Monroe
Creg Stephenson: South Alabama
Troy (+7) at Arkansas State, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: Troy
Michael Casagrande: Arkansas State
Patrick Greenfield: Arkansas State
Andrew Hammond: Arkansas State
Mark Inabinett: Troy
Nick Kelly: Arkansas State
Peter Rauterkus: Arkansas State
Creg Stephenson: Arkansas State
Auburn (+2.5) at Kentucky, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
Thomas Ashworth: Kentucky 24, Auburn 20
Michael Casagrande: Kentucky 14, Auburn 13
Patrick Greenfield: Kentucky 28, Auburn 21
Andrew Hammond: Kentucky 23, Auburn 20
Mark Inabinett: Kentucky 24, Auburn 20
Nick Kelly: Kentucky 24, Auburn 20
Peter Rauterkus: Auburn 14, Kentucky 10
Creg Stephenson: Kentucky 3, Auburn 2
Missouri (+14) at Alabama, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Alabama 31, Missouri 20
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 21, Missouri 19
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 34, Missouri 21
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 36, Missouri 23
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 35, Missouri 15
Nick Kelly: Alabama 34, Missouri 24
Peter Rauterkus: Alabama 31, Missouri 24
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 28, Missouri 19
Standings after Week 8
Mark Inabinett 45-35 (6-4 last week)
Peter Rauterkus 43-37 (6-4 last week)
Michael Casagrande 42-38 (6-4 last week)
Patrick Greenfield 42-38 (4-6 last week)
Andrew Hammond 42-38 (4-6 last week)
