This weekend marks the “Third Saturday in October,” which can mean only one thing — Alabama vs. Tennessee.
The Crimson Tide hosts the Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium for their annual SEC showdown. Elsewhere in the SEC, Auburn welcomes Missouri, Georgia greets Ole Miss and Vanderbilt welcomes LSU. The biggest non-SEC game nationally is USC at Notre Dame.
Among the state’s Group of 5 programs, UAB also tries to get back on track under interim coach Alex Mortensen when it hosts Memphis in the annual “Battle for the Bones.” Troy also has a big Sun Belt road trip to face Louisiana-Monroe. (South Alabama played Tuesday and Jax State Wednesday, so they’re not included in this week’s picks.)
In our “off-field” standings, Andrew Hammond continues to lead the way, now by two games over a hard-charging Michael Casagrande. Scroll along below to find out how the various AL.com sports staffers see this week’s big games playing out, along with predicted scores for the 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 these week’s picks (all games Saturday and all times Central):
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 04: Diego Pavia #2 of the Vanderbilt Commodores throws a pass during the first quarter of a football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 4, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)Getty ImagesLSU (+2.5) at Vanderbilt, 11 a.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: LSU
Michael Casagrande: Vanderbilt
Ben Flanagan: LSU
Izzy Gould: Vanderbilt
Patrick Greenfield: LSU
Andrew Hammond: Vanderbilt
Jerry Humphrey: Vanderbilt
Mark Inabinett: LSU
Nick Kelly: Vanderbilt
Peter Rauterkus: LSU
Creg Stephenson: Vanderbilt
Oklahoma fans look on dejectedly during the second half of an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Dallas. Texas won 23-6. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)APOklahoma (-4.5) at South Carolina, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network
Thomas Ashworth: South Carolina
Michael Casagrande: Oklahoma
Ben Flanagan: South Carolina
Izzy Gould: Oklahoma
Patrick Greenfield: Oklahoma
Andrew Hammond: Oklahoma
Jerry Humphrey: Oklahoma
Mark Inabinett: South Carolina
Nick Kelly: Oklahoma
Peter Rauterkus: Oklahoma
Creg Stephenson: Oklahoma
Georgia running back Nate Frazier carries the ball against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)APOle Miss (+6.5) at Georgia, 2:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Ole Miss
Michael Casagrande: Georgia
Ben Flanagan: Ole Miss
Izzy Gould: Georgia
Patrick Greenfield: Georgia
Andrew Hammond: Georgia
Jerry Humphrey: Georgia
Mark Inabinett: Georgia
Nick Kelly: Georgia
Peter Rauterkus: Georgia
Creg Stephenson: Georgia
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) passes downfield against Texas A&M during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)APMississippi State (+10) at Florida, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network
Thomas Ashworth: Mississippi State
Michael Casagrande: Florida
Ben Flanagan: Florida
Izzy Gould: Florida
Patrick Greenfield: Mississippi State
Andrew Hammond: Mississippi State
Jerry Humphrey: Florida
Mark Inabinett: Mississippi State
Nick Kelly: Mississippi State
Peter Rauterkus: Mississippi State
Creg Stephenson: Mississippi State
Notre Dame wide receiver Will Pauling (2) celebrates with teammates Billy Schrauth, left, and Malachi Fields (0) after catching a touchdown pass during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)APUSC (+7.5) at Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m., NBC
Thomas Ashworth: Notre Dame
Michael Casagrande: Notre Dame
Ben Flanagan: USC
Izzy Gould: USC
Patrick Greenfield: USC
Andrew Hammond: USC
Jerry Humphrey: Notre Dame
Mark Inabinett: Notre Dame
Nick Kelly: Notre Dame
Peter Rauterkus: USC
Creg Stephenson: Notre Dame
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier dives for a touchdown in the second overtime against Arizona during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)APUtah (-3.5) at BYU, 7 p.m., Fox
Thomas Ashworth: Utah
Michael Casagrande: Utah
Ben Flanagan: Utah
Izzy Gould: Utah
Patrick Greenfield: BYU
Andrew Hammond: BYU
Jerry Humphrey: BYU
Mark Inabinett: BYU
Nick Kelly: Utah
Peter Rauterkus: BYU
Creg Stephenson: BYU
Troy quarterback Tucker Kilcrease is shown during a 48-41 overtime win over Texas State at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos, Texas, on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (Photo by Joey Meredith/Troy athletics)Joey Meredith/Troy athleticsTroy (-6) at Louisiana-Monroe, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Thomas Ashworth: Troy
Michael Casagrande: Troy
Ben Flanagan: Troy
Izzy Gould: Troy
Patrick Greenfield: Troy
Andrew Hammond: Troy
Jerry Humphrey: Troy
Mark Inabinett: Louisiana-Monroe
Nick Kelly: Louisiana-Monroe
Peter Rauterkus: Troy
Creg Stephenson: Troy
UAB center Adam Lepkowski snaps the ball during a game against Army on Oct. 4, 2025, inside Protective Stadium.UAB AthleticsMemphis (-21.5) at UAB, 3 p.m., ESPN2
Thomas Ashworth: Memphis
Michael Casagrande: Memphis
Ben Flanagan: Memphis
Izzy Gould: Memphis
Patrick Greenfield: Memphis
Andrew Hammond: Memphis
Jerry Humphrey: Memphis
Mark Inabinett: UAB
Nick Kelly: Memphis
Peter Rauterkus: Memphis
Creg Stephenson: Memphis
Quarterback Ty Simpson #15 of the Alabama Crimson Tide hands off to Jamarion Miller #26 during the first half of the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on October 11, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)Getty ImagesTennessee (+8.5) at Alabama, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Thomas Ashworth: Alabama 41, Tennessee 37
Michael Casagrande: Alabama 34, Tennessee 28
Ben Flanagan: Alabama 27, Tennessee 20
Izzy Gould: Alabama 31, Tennessee 20
Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 34, Tennessee 24
Andrew Hammond: Alabama 27, Tennessee 17
Jerry Humphrey: Alabama 35, Tennessee 21
Mark Inabinett: Alabama 30, Tennessee 22
Nick Kelly: Alabama 35, Tennessee 20
Peter Rauterkus: Alabama 38, Tennessee 31
Creg Stephenson: Alabama 38, Tennessee 30
Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) reacts after running for first down during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)APMissouri (+1.5) at Auburn, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
Thomas Ashworth: Missouri 24, Auburn 20
Michael Casagrande: Missouri 17, Auburn 10
Ben Flanagan: Missouri 20, Auburn 17
Izzy Gould: Auburn 28, Missouri 21
Patrick Greenfield: Missouri 24, Auburn 21
Andrew Hammond: Auburn 24, Missouri 21
Jerry Humphrey: Missouri 28, Auburn 24
Mark Inabinett: Auburn 23, Missouri 21
Nick Kelly: Missouri 23, Auburn 20
Peter Rauterkus: Auburn 21, Missouri 17
Creg Stephenson: Missouri 20, Auburn 19
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake talks with the officials in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)APStandings After Week 7
Andrew Hammond — 39-31 (7-3 last week)
Michael Casagrande — 37-33 (8-2 last week)
Patrick Greenfield — 36-34 (6-4 last week)
Mark Inabinett — 36-34 (6-4 last week)
Thomas Ashworth — 35-35 (5-5 last week)
Izzy Gould — 34-36 (6-4 last week)
Jerry Humphrey — 33-37 (7-3 last week)
Nick Kelly — 32-38 (7-3 last week)
Creg Stephenson — 31-39 (7-3 last week)
Peter Rauterkus — 29-41 (5-5 last week)
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