AL.com college football staff picks for Week 13 of 2023

As we head into the Iron Bowl, a new champion has emerged.

Ainslee Lee is now dominating AL.com ’s college football staff picks, having gone 9-1 last week to open up a four-game lead in the standings after 12 weeks. There are just two more weeks left in our picks “season,” beginning with the biggest football weekend on our calendar.

It’s Rivalry Week in college football, which not only includes the Iron Bowl, but the Egg Bowl, the (former) Civil War, Ohio State-Michigan and Florida-Florida State, among others. South Alabama, Troy and Jacksonville State also play their final regular-season games, getting tune-ups before learning their own postseason destinations.

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 the Iron Bowl.

A reminder that these picks are hat 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):

Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) releases a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana Monroe in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Thomas Graning)AP

Ole Miss (-11.5) at Mississippi State, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, ESPN

Michael Casagrande: Ole Miss

Matt Cohen: Ole Miss

Evan Dudley: Mississippi State

Ben Flanagan: Ole Miss

Patrick Greenfield: Mississippi State

Andrew Hammond: Ole Miss

Mark Inabinett: Ole Miss

Ainslee Lee: Ole Miss

Creg Stephenson: Mississippi State

Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt (7) throws the ball as he warms up during the first half of an NCAA football game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 in Boca Raton, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)AP

Texas-San Antonio (+3) at Tulane, 2:30 p.m. Friday, ABC

Michael Casagrande: Texas-San Antonio

Matt Cohen: Texas-San Antonio

Evan Dudley: Texas-San Antonio

Ben Flanagan: Tulane

Patrick Greenfield: Tulane

Andrew Hammond: Texas-San Antonio

Mark Inabinett: Tulane

Ainslee Lee: Tulane

Creg Stephenson: Texas-San Antonio

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix (10) runs during the second half on an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz.AP Photo/Matt York

Oregon State (+14) at Oregon, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Fox

Michael Casagrande: Oregon State

Matt Cohen: Oregon State

Evan Dudley: Oregon

Ben Flanagan: Oregon State

Patrick Greenfield: Oregon State

Andrew Hammond: Oregon State

Mark Inabinett: Oregon State

Ainslee Lee: Oregon

Creg Stephenson: Oregon State

Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards (7) runs the ball as Michigan faces Purdue at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.Jacob Hamilton |

Ohio State (+3.5) at Michigan, 11 a.m., Fox

Michael Casagrande: Michigan

Matt Cohen: Michigan

Evan Dudley: Ohio State

Ben Flanagan: Ohio State

Patrick Greenfield: Ohio State

Andrew Hammond: Ohio State

Mark Inabinett: Michigan

Ainslee Lee: Michigan

Creg Stephenson: Michigan

Florida State's Caziah Holmes (26) runs for a touchdown after getting a handoff from Tate Rodemaker during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against North Alabama, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)AP

Florida State (-6.5) at Florida, 6 p.m., ESPN

Michael Casagrande: Florida State

Matt Cohen: Florida

Evan Dudley: Florida State

Ben Flanagan: Florida State

Patrick Greenfield: Florida State

Andrew Hammond: Florida

Mark Inabinett: Florida State

Ainslee Lee: Florida

Creg Stephenson: Florida

Troy tight end Clayton Ollendieck (89) makes a touchdown catch against the Louisiana-Lafayette during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Troy, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)AP

Troy (-16.5) at Southern Miss, 11 a.m., ESPNU

Michael Casagrande: Southern Miss

Matt Cohen: Troy

Evan Dudley: Southern Miss

Ben Flanagan: Troy

Patrick Greenfield: Troy

Andrew Hammond: Southern Miss

Mark Inabinett: Troy

Ainslee Lee: Troy

Creg Stephenson: Troy

UAB wide receiver Tejhaun Palmer (19) works his way through traffic during the Blazers' 34-24 win over Temple, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. (UAB Athletics)UAB Athletics

UAB (+3) at North Texas, 1 p.m., ESPN+

Michael Casagrande: UAB

Matt Cohen: UAB

Evan Dudley: UAB

Ben Flanagan: North Texas

Patrick Greenfield: North Texas

Andrew Hammond: UAB

Mark Inabinett: North Texas

Ainslee Lee: North Texas

Creg Stephenson: North Texas

Jax State's Anwar Lewis (25) carries the ball vs. Louisiana Tech at Burgess-Snow Field in Jacksonville on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023. (Brandon Phillips/Jax State athletics)Brandon Phillips/Jax State athletics)

Jacksonville State (+2.5) at New Mexico State, 3 p.m., ESPN+

Michael Casagrande: Jacksonville State

Matt Cohen: Jacksonville State

Evan Dudley: New Mexico State

Ben Flanagan: New Mexico State

Patrick Greenfield: New Mexico State

Andrew Hammond: New Mexico State

Mark Inabinett: New Mexico State

Ainslee Lee: New Mexico State

Creg Stephenson: New Mexico State

South Alabama special teams players try to wave the ball forward after a punt against Marshall in the first half of a NCAA football game Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell/AL.com)Mike Kittrell /AL.com

South Alabama (-5.5) at Texas State, 6 p.m., NFL Network

Michael Casagrande: South Alabama

Matt Cohen: South Alabama

Evan Dudley: South Alabama

Ben Flanagan: South Alabama

Patrick Greenfield: South Alabama

Andrew Hammond: Texas State

Mark Inabinett: Texas State

Ainslee Lee: Texas State

Creg Stephenson: South Alabama

Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford (9) carries the ball for a touchdown against Alabama during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)AP

Alabama (-14.5) at Auburn, 2:30 p.m., CBS

Michael Casagrande: Alabama 38, Auburn 10

Matt Cohen: Alabama 38, Auburn 24

Evan Dudley: Alabama 41, Auburn 13

Ben Flanagan: Alabama 37, Auburn 20

Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 31, Auburn 10

Andrew Hammond: Alabama 28, Auburn 27

Mark Inabinett: Alabama 28, Auburn 22

Ainslee Lee: Alabama 42, Auburn 31

Creg Stephenson: Alabama 27, Auburn 17

A Georgia Tech fan throws up his hands on the lack of a call against Syracuse defense after stopping Yellowjacket run as the Syracuse Orange football team battled the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets Saturday, November 18, 2023.N. Scott Trimble |

Standings after Week 12

NameRecordAinslee Lee65-55Evan Dudley61-59Ben Flanagan60-60Patrick Greenfield60-60Mark Inabinett59-61Creg Stephenson59-61Michael Casagrande55-65Andrew Hammond55-65Matt Cohen53-67