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Stay hydrated with Joe’s free newsletter, SPORTS! Happy Hour. Here’s the link to sign up. Celebrated from coast to coast by sports fans, bag men, hippies, U.S. Senators, maybe Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, bartenders across the country, mafia Dons in New Jersey, radio jockeys, theoretical physicists and fighter pilots Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero is the greatest resource for college football shenanigans on the internet. This is the 16th season for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero in its various forms. This is the third season of the grand experiment for readers to get in on the action. Sign up for Joe’s newsletter, SPORTS! Happy Hour, to keep up with who wins the 6-0 Challenge each week. Make your picks and compare your wits against the experts (and Joe). Win the 6-0 Challenge and enjoy eternal glory. The newsletter comes out every Thursday afternoon at 4:20 p.m. Enter your email to subscribe. Joe subscribes to ol’ Billy Shakespeare’s philosophy of picking football games. “Jesters do oft prove prophets,” mused the Great Bard. What is Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero? Consider it a gift to society. THE GRAND EXPERIMENT Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for AL.com. What happens when a sportswriter picks some of the toughest games of the week and goes head-to-head against a sharp and a football expert with a Harvard education? It’s a gift for college football fans every week in the state where college football is like a religion. The Pro is Lee Sterling, a noted numbers man of national success. Sterling features his best picks on his website, ParamountSports.com, but The Pro fearlessly picks the most difficult college games of the week against Joe and the Hero. Joe is just a hack and a slacker who everyone loves to hate. No one works harder than Hero Ben Abercrombie. Ben played football at Hoover High School and Harvard, and he’s working every day to regain his ability to walk. He’s a recent graduate of Harvard University, and an inspiration to all. To thank him, we want everyone to stand up for Ben and show him some love. Show Joe no love at all. Besmirch his name at small dinner parties, and troll him with signs on ESPN College GameDay. GOODMAN: Fight like the Badger every day of your life 6-0 CHALLENGE Click the link here to make your picks for Week 9 of the 6-0 Challenge. We’re also embedding the picks form inside the post for Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero. Weekly winners of the 6-0 Challenge will be announced in Joe’s newsletter. Sign up for the FREE newsletter here. Winners will be announced on the newsletter every week. Remember, picks are against the spread. SURVEY SAYS!!! Who would you rather crack a beer with at a postseason baseball game? In an amazing upset, it’s golf legend Al Czervik of the Bushwood Country Club. The People’s Champ finally gets his respect! Meanwhile, I’ll be at the World Series with Dodgers fan Big Lebowski. LAST WEEK Joe: 5-1 straight up, 2-4 against the spread Pro: 5-1 straight up, 4-2 against the spread Hero: 4-2 straight up, 5-1 against the spread Notes: The Hero scored a huge week, picking winners all over the map. His only miss was going with Ole Miss to upset Georgia, but we know the Hero will never lose faith in Lane Kiffin. SEASON TOTALS Joe: 32-16, 25-23 Pro: 33-15, 28-20 Hero: 31-17, 27-21 Notes: We’ve never had a race this tight in the history of Joe vs. the Pro and the Hero. Everyone is in the black and we’re going into Week 9. We all know Joe can’t keep up, but he’s enjoying the topside view while he can. No.8 Ole Miss (6-1, 3-1) at No.13 Oklahoma (6-1, 2-1) When: 11 a.m., Sat. Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman, Okla. TV: ABC and ESPN App Series: Ole Miss leads 2-0. Spread: OU by 4.5 Total: 52.5 Trendy: Ole Miss is 0-2 against the spread as the away team this season. OLE MISS GAME NOTES: This is Ole Miss’ first game in Norman, Okla., in program history. Joe says: Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin started Week 9 off with a bang by accusing Oklahoma of stealing Auburn’s signs earlier in the season. The problem with Kiffin is that he’s beginning to build a reputation as a coach who doesn’t handle success very well. Last year, Ole Miss upset Georgia and then turned around the next week and lost at Florida. Since taking over at Ole Miss, Kiffin has never defeated a ranked team on the road. Riding that pattern here. Joe’s pick: Oklahoma 35, Ole Miss 28 Pro says: Ole Miss led Georgia by eight points with four minutes to go in the third quarter and then the roof caved in. Ole Miss failed to score another point and Georgia scored on every second-half drive to pull out an eight-point win and cover. The Rebels defense was on the field for 80 plays, which can’t be ignored as they’ll have to hit the road for a second-straight week. Now they’ll have to chase around an even better dual-threat quarterback in John Mateer. Throw in that Oklahoma has possibly the best defense in the SEC and I’ll be riding the Sooners. Pro’s pick: Oklahoma 30, Ole Miss 23 Hero says: The Sooner defense has been one of the most consistent and stout defenses in the country, allowing a national-best 213 yards per game and only 9.4 points per game. But if you look back at the offenses Oklahoma has faced, each has operated this season at best with one-third of the firepower of what the Rebels possess. If the Sooners can get after Trinidad Chambliss, they will have a great chance to win this game, but I think the Rebels will find a way to win in a close one. Hero’s pick: Ole Miss 27, Oklahoma 24 Auburn (3-4, 0-4) at Arkansas (2-5, 0-3) When: 11:45 a.m., Sat. Where: Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Ark. TV: SEC Network and ESPN App Series: Auburn leads 20-13-1. Spread: Arkansas by 2.5. Total: 57.5 Trendy: Auburn is 2-0-1 against the spread as the away team this season. AUBURN GAME NOTES: Auburn has lost four straight games to begin conference play in each of the past three years. Joe says: Auburn started out as a slight 1.5-point favorite in this game and then the line flipped. The reason is because no one in their right mind would back a team that finds new and unusual ways to lose every game. Arkansas interim coach Bobby Petrino wants to be the permanent guy and we all know that he has the ability to out-coach Auburn’s Hugh Freeze. Joe’s pick: Arkansas 28, Auburn 21 Pro says: This is a classic case of a great offense in Arkansas against a super defense in Auburn. Auburn has lost four straight SEC games by 10 points or less while scoring 17 points in all four games. Scoring hasn’t been the problem for Arkansas as they’ve scored 31 or more points in four of their five straight losses. They can’t stop a Pop Warner offense. I’ll side with the home Razorbacks, who at least seem to be playing hard for their interim coach, Bobby Petrino. Auburn coach Hugh Freeze seems to be as good as out the door come November 30th, the day after the Iron Bowl. Pro’s pick: Arkansas 34, Auburn 27 Hero says: This looks like the SEC’s battle for the basement with both teams on four- and five-game losing streaks. The Razorbacks have already fired Sam Pittman while Hugh Freeze has been feeling the heat since last year. The Tigers’ defense has been playing at a championship level but leaves each game let down by an offense that ranks 122nd in rushing yards per game, 241st in passing yards per game, 203rd in total yards per game, and 94th in points per game. However, Arkansas’ defense is just as bad. The Hogs have played against some of the nation’s top offenses in Ole Miss, Memphis, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Texas A&M one after the other. The Razorbacks still fight behind impressive quarterback Taylen Green and interim coach Bobby Petrino, so I’ll take the home team. Hero’s pick: Arkansas 31, Auburn 27 No.4 Alabama (6-1, 4-0) at South Carolina (3-4, 1-4) When: 2:30 p.m., Sat. Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C. TV: ABC and ESPN App Series: Alabama leads 12-4. Spread: Alabama by 13.5. Total: 47.5 Trendy: Alabama is 4-0-1 against the spread this season after a victory. ALABAMA GAME NOTES: The Crimson Tide is the first team in SEC history to defeat four ranked opponents in consecutive weeks without a bye week. Joe says: This is a big test for Alabama coach Kalen “Big Game” DeBoer. How is the Tide going to respond on the road after winning four straight games against ranked opponents? South Carolina isn’t a terrible team, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers could cause some problems, but I’m not hopping off the Alabama train. The scenario last year against teams like Vanderbilt and Oklahoma were different. The loss against FSU has turned into a positive. Alabama still remembers that game and should take care of business here. Joe’s pick: Alabama 36, South Carolina 18 Pro says: The Gamecock O-line, which already stinks, took another blow last Saturday when they lost right tackle Cason Henry for the season. They spent heavily in NIL to keep quarterback LaNorris Sellers and edge Dylan Stewart, but whiffed on every other offseason transfer. They’re averaging only 3.0 yards per carry this season and have put up 10 points or less in three of their five SEC games. Alabama has weapons on offense led by quarterback Ty Simpson, who has a sterling ratio of 18 touchdowns to one interception. It’s Bama or pass for me here! Pro’s pick: Alabama 34, South Carolina 10 Hero says: Is it bad that South Carolina students have organized a protest to fire offensive coordiantor Mike Shula? It’s certainly not good, and while Alabama tends to struggle on the road against unranked opponents under Kalen DeBoer, the mentality and leadership of this Crimson Tide team has felt different since the FSU game. If the home crowd isn’t behind this South Carolina team, I like the Tide to cover. Hero’s pick: Alabama 31, South Carolina 16 No.15 Missouri (6-1, 2-1) at No.10 Vanderbilt (6-1, 2-1) When: 2:30 p.m., Sat. Where: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, Tenn. TV: ESPN Series: Mizzou leads 12-4-1. Spread: Vandy by 2.5 Total: 52.5 Trendy: Vanderbilt is 3-1 against the spread as the favored team this season. VANDY GAME NOTES: The Commodores are a Top 10 team in the AP Poll for the first time since 1947 and just the fifth time in program history. Week 9 marks the sixth consecutive appearance in the AP Poll this season. It is the first time in program history the Dores have been ranked for more than four weeks in a single season. Joe says: You know college football is in a strange new world when Vanderbilt is favored against a ranked opponent for the second week in a row. I heard Diego Pavia had a little too much fun after the victory against LSU. I’m beginning to question this guy’s ability to remain focused amid all of his new fame. Classic bounce-back scenario here for the Tigers and its balanced offense. Skeptical of Pavia in two big games in a row. Joe’s pick: Missouri 24, Vanderbilt 21 Pro says: This is the, “I came so close to beating Alabama game.” Anything Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula can do, throwing for 11 touchdowns and running for 210 yards, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia can do better, throwing for 15 touchdowns and rushing for 438 yards. The reason Pribula wasn’t a starter until he transferred from Penn State is he has trouble reading defenses as evidenced by his seven interceptions. Mizzou running back Ahmad Hardy, who led the nation in rushing after five weeks, has slowed down rushing for only 52 and 58 yards the last two weeks. Tigers were 0-3 straight up as a road underdog last season. Some things don’t change. Vanderbilt is now a football school. Pro’s pick: Vanderbilt 31, Missouri 25 Hero says: The new Vanderbilt is fun to watch whether you’re a Diego Pavia fan or not. They play fast, hard, physical, execute their game plans and have been deserving of their wins. Vandy has dominated every game this year with exception of the last three quarters of the Alabama game. Offensively, they control the clock and create explosive plays while doing enough on defense to pull away from teams. Missouri, since stepping up in competition, hasn’t been as dominant on the ground and Beau Pribula in the last five games and has thrown six touchdowns to seven interceptions. Pribula has to protect the ball for Mizzou to win this game, but I think Vandy will have a plan and execute it while Pavia does Pavia things with the ball in his hands. Hero’s pick: Vanderbilt 28, Missouri 24 No.22 Texas (5-2, 2-1) at Mississippi State (4-3, 0-3) When: 3:15 p.m., Sat. Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Miss. TV: SEC Network and ESPN App Series: Texas leads 3-2. Spread: Texas by 6.5 Total: 46.5 Trendy: Texas is 0-3 against the spread this season when playing on the road. Meanwhile, Stat is 4-0 against the spread as a home team. STATE GAME NOTES: After creating just 12 turnovers last season, State’s defense has been among the best nationally in creating turnovers this season, with 13 in seven games (10 interceptions and three fumble recoveries). MSU’s 13 takeaways in 2025 are tied for the 12th most nationally, and tied for first in the SEC with Texas. Joe says: Mississippi State can tie the all-time series, which is pretty interesting when you consider Alabama is 2-8-1 all-time against the Longhorns. Texas has fallen all the way to the SEC Network. That’s a bad beat for the Longhorns, which started the season ranked No.1 in the country. Mississippi State isn’t without talent. Quarterback Blake Shapen passed 324 yards last week against the Gators. I trust Arch Manning about as far as I can kick a cowbell. Joe’s pick: Mississippi State 20, Texas 18 Pro says: Last year, Texas was a 37-point favorite over the Bulldogs. They won 35-13 but never came close to covering. This line shows you how much Texas has regressed and Mississippi State has improved. The Longhorns offense is a disaster and they are now outside the top 100 in passing success rate. It’s almost impossible to fix an offense midseason. Most coaches would have already benched Arch Manning. Coach Steve Sarkisian and most of the experts sure missed the mark on Arch so far. Pro’s pick: Texas 20, Mississippi State 17 Hero says: How can a team win a game despite having only 179 total yards on offense, giving up 395 total yards on defense, and losing the time of possession by 19 minutes? Texas did! Arch is still learning, and Texas continues to struggle finding success on the ground, while defense and special teams have found ways to save them. However, the Bulldogs struggle defensively and have turned the ball over consistently on offense this season, which plays to favor Texas. But those cowbells … give me State in an upset. Hero’s pick: Mississippi State 23, Texas 20 No.3 Texas A&M (7-0, 4-0) at No.20 LSU (5-2, 2-2) When: 6:30 p.m., Sat. Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge TV: ABC and ESPN App Series: LSU leads 36-24-3. Spread: TAMU by 2.5. Total: 48.5 Trendy: Texas A&M is 2-4 against the spread this season as the favored team. TAMU GAME NOTES: The 45-42 road win over Arkansas improved the Aggies to 7-0 for the first time this century as they matched R.C. Slocum’s 1994 team that won its first seven games on the way to Texas A&M’s ninth unbeaten campaign in program history (10-0-1). Joe says: The Aggies are the surprise team of the SEC, but this is a rivalry game filled with bad blood. No one is going through the SEC unscathed this season and Tiger Stadium at night after a loss to Vanderbilt is going to be rowdy. It’s also a revenge-game scenario for LSU. I like the Bayou Tigers to bounce back here even if I think coach Brian Kelly is itching to bounce for the Big Ten. Joe’s pick: LSU 30, Texas A&M 28 Pro says: Last season’s game was Marcel Reed’s coming out party. Inserted at halftime, he scored three touchdowns in route to the Aggies’ 38-23 win. LSU’s defense had no answer last week for Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia and Reed is bigger, faster and has a better arm than Pavia. The heat is on Tigers coach Brian Kelly who never seemed like the right fit for the job. The reality is LSU just isn’t that good. Pro’s pick: Texas A&M 33, LSU 23 Hero says: Texas A&M is the lone undefeated team in the SEC, and their offense has been dominant. The Aggies dual-threat quarterback Marcel Reed has improved each game while dynamic receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion are borderline impossible to stop. The Aggies blitz-heavy defense looks stout at home and like Swiss cheese on the road, but the two road games were against athletic quarterbacks who excel at escaping pressure. That’s not Garrett Nussmeier’s game.
