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We’re soon to be in November, which is the beginning of the home stretch for college football, and for AL.com’s staff picks. The biggest games in the country this week take place in the SEC, with Vanderbilt at Texas Oklahoma at Tennessee and Georgia vs. Florida in their annual “Cocktail Party” showdown in Jacksonville, Fla. Alabama has an open date this week, but Auburn, Troy, South Alabama and UAB all play key conference games (Jacksonville State played on Wednesday night, so the Gamecocks are not included in this week’s picks). In our “off-field” standings, Andrew Hammond continues to lead the way, though Michael Casagrande and Patrick Greenfield are closing in fast. 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 Auburn 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 these week’s picks (all games Saturday and all times Central): Vanderbilt (+2.5) at Texas, 11 a.m., ABC Thomas Ashworth: Vanderbilt Michael Casagrande: Vanderbilt Ben Flanagan: Texas Izzy Gould: Texas Patrick Greenfield: Vanderbilt Andrew Hammond: Vanderbilt Jerry Humphrey: Vanderbilt Mark Inabinett: Texas Nick Kelly: Vanderbilt Peter Rauterkus: Texas Creg Stephenson: Vanderbilt Miami (-10) at SMU, 11 a.m., ESPN Thomas Ashworth: Miami Michael Casagrande: Miami Ben Flanagan: SMU Izzy Gould: Miami Patrick Greenfield: Miami Andrew Hammond: SMU Jerry Humphrey: SMU Mark Inabinett: Miami Nick Kelly: Miami Peter Rauterkus: SMU Creg Stephenson: SMU Navy (+6.5) at North Texas, 11 a.m., ESPN2 Thomas Ashworth: North Texas Michael Casagrande: North Texas Ben Flanagan: Navy Izzy Gould: Navy Patrick Greenfield: North Texas Andrew Hammond: North Texas Jerry Humphrey: Navy Mark Inabinett: North Texas Nick Kelly: North Texas Peter Rauterkus: North Texas Creg Stephenson: Navy Georgia (-7.5) vs. Florida (Jacksonville), 2:30 p.m., ABC Thomas Ashworth: Georgia Michael Casagrande: Georgia Ben Flanagan: Georgia Izzy Gould: Georgia Patrick Greenfield: Georgia Andrew Hammond: Georgia Jerry Humphrey: Georgia Mark Inabinett: Georgia Nick Kelly: Georgia Peter Rauterkus: Georgia Creg Stephenson: Georgia Oklahoma (+3.5) at Tennessee, 6:30 p.m., ABC Thomas Ashworth: Tennessee Michael Casagrande: Tennessee Ben Flanagan: Tennessee Izzy Gould: Oklahoma Patrick Greenfield: Tennessee Andrew Hammond: Tennessee Jerry Humphrey: Oklahoma Mark Inabinett: Tennessee Nick Kelly: Tennessee Peter Rauterkus: Tennessee Creg Stephenson: Tennessee Cincinnati (+7.5) at Utah, 9:15 p.m., ESPN Thomas Ashworth: Utah Michael Casagrande: Utah Ben Flanagan: Utah Izzy Gould: Cincinnati Patrick Greenfield: Utah Andrew Hammond: Utah Jerry Humphrey: Cincinnati Mark Inabinett: Utah Nick Kelly: Utah Peter Rauterkus: Cincinnati Creg Stephenson: Cincinnati UAB (+11.5) at Connecticut, 11 a.m., CBS Sports Network Thomas Ashworth: UAB Michael Casagrande: Connecticut Ben Flanagan: UAB Izzy Gould: UAB Patrick Greenfield: UAB Andrew Hammond: UAB Jerry Humphrey: UAB Mark Inabinett: UAB Nick Kelly: UAB Peter Rauterkus: UAB Creg Stephenson: UAB Louisiana (+4.5) at South Alabama, 2:30 p.m., ESPN+ Thomas Ashworth: South Alabama Michael Casagrande: South Alabama Ben Flanagan: Louisiana Izzy Gould: Louisiana Patrick Greenfield: South Alabama Andrew Hammond: Louisiana Jerry Humphrey: South Alabama Mark Inabinett: Louisiana Nick Kelly: South Alabama Peter Rauterkus: South Alabama Creg Stephenson: Louisiana Arkansas State (+7) at Troy, 7 p.m., ESPNU Thomas Ashworth: Troy Michael Casagrande: Troy Ben Flanagan: Arkansas State Izzy Gould: Troy Patrick Greenfield: Troy Andrew Hammond: Troy Jerry Humphrey: Troy Mark Inabinett: Arkansas State Nick Kelly: Arkansas State Peter Rauterkus: Arkansas State Creg Stephenson: Troy Kentucky (+10) at Auburn, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network Thomas Ashworth: Auburn 27, Kentucky 20 Michael Casagrande: Auburn 19, Kentucky 7 Ben Flanagan: Auburn 26, Kentucky 17 Izzy Gould: Auburn 31, Kentucky 17 Patrick Greenfield: Auburn 21, Kentucky 10 Andrew Hammond: Auburn 36, Kentucky 17 Jerry Humphrey: Auburn 28, Kentucky 14 Mark Inabinett: Auburn 31, Kentucky 17 Nick Kelly: Auburn 25, Kentucky 10 Peter Rauterkus: Auburn 23, Kentucky 10 Creg Stephenson: Auburn 17, Kentucky 13 Standings After Week 9 Andrew Hammond — 52-38 (6-4 last week) Michael Casagrande — 51-39 (8-2 last week) Patrick Greenfield — 50-40 (7-3 last week) Thomas Ashworth — 47-43 (8-2 last week) Jerry Humphrey — 47-43 (6-4 last week) Nick Kelly — 47-43 (8-2 last week) Mark Inabinett — 46-44 (5-5 last week) Izzy Gould — 44-46 (5-5 last week) Creg Stephenson — 44-46 (5-5 last week) Peter Rauterkus — 42-48 (6-4 last week) Ben Flanagan — 34-56 (5-5 last week)
