AL.com college football staff picks for Week 14 of 2023

We’ve reached championship week for the 2023 college football season, where trophies will be awarded and postseason berths will be secured.

The championship of AL.com ’s college football staff picks is nearly in the bag, as Ainslee Lee has a 5-game lead in the standings with only one week remaining. The race for second place is pretty tight, as is the “race” for last.

In the real college football world, there are exactly 10 FBS conference championship games on either Friday or Saturday. So we’ve picked them all.

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 SEC championship game between Alabama and Georgia.

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):

Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter (7) runs for yardage past the UTEP defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton)AP

Conference USA: New Mexico State (+10.5) at Liberty, 6 p.m. Friday, CBS Sports Network

Michael Casagrande: Liberty

Matt Cohen: New Mexico State

Evan Dudley: Liberty

Ben Flanagan: New Mexico State

Patrick Greenfield: New Mexico State

Andrew Hammond: Liberty

Mark Inabinett: Liberty

Ainslee Lee: Liberty

Creg Stephenson: Liberty

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix throws a pass against Oregon State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Mark Ylen)AP

Pac-12 (at Las Vegas): Oregon (-9.5) vs. Washington, 7 p.m. Friday, Fox

Michael Casagrande: Washington

Matt Cohen: Washington

Evan Dudley: Washington

Ben Flanagan: Washington

Patrick Greenfield: Washington

Andrew Hammond: Washington

Mark Inabinett: Oregon

Ainslee Lee: Oregon

Creg Stephenson: Washington

Cheerleaders wave a Texas Longhorns flag during an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Dallas. Oklahoma won 34-30. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)AP

Big 12 (at Arlington, Texas): Oklahoma State (+14) vs. Texas, 11 a.m., ABC

Michael Casagrande: Texas

Matt Cohen: Oklahoma State

Evan Dudley: Oklahoma State

Ben Flanagan: Texas

Patrick Greenfield: Oklahoma State

Andrew Hammond: Oklahoma State

Mark Inabinett: Texas

Ainslee Lee: Oklahoma State

Creg Stephenson: Texas

Toledo running back Peny Boone (13) and offensive lineman Devan Rogers (56) celebrate Boone's touchdown against Central Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)AP

MAC (at Detroit): Toledo (-8.5) vs. Miami, Ohio, 11 a.m., ESPN

Michael Casagrande: Miami

Matt Cohen: Miami

Evan Dudley: Toledo

Ben Flanagan: Toledo

Patrick Greenfield: Toledo

Andrew Hammond: Toledo

Mark Inabinett: Miami

Ainslee Lee: Toledo

Creg Stephenson: Toledo

Air Force running back Owen Burk (26) is tackled by UNLV defensive back Cameren Jenkins (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (Parker Seibold/The Gazette via AP)AP

Mountain West: Boise State (-3) at UNLV, 2 p.m., Fox

Michael Casagrande: UNLV

Matt Cohen: Boise State

Evan Dudley: Boise State

Ben Flanagan: Boise State

Patrick Greenfield: Boise State

Andrew Hammond: UNLV

Mark Inabinett: Boise State

Ainslee Lee: UNLV

Creg Stephenson: UNLV

Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt (7) celebrates his touchdown pass in the second half of an NCAA college football game against UTSA in New Orleans, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Tulane won 29-16. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)AP

AAC: SMU (+3.5) at Tulane, 3 p.m., ABC

Michael Casagrande: Tulane

Matt Cohen: SMU

Evan Dudley: SMU

Ben Flanagan: Tulane

Patrick Greenfield: Tulane

Andrew Hammond: SMU

Mark Inabinett: SMU

Ainslee Lee: SMU

Creg Stephenson: Tulane

Troy head coach Jon Sumrall talks with an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)AP

Sun Belt: Appalachian State (+6.5) at Troy, 3 p.m., ESPN

Michael Casagrande: Troy

Matt Cohen: Troy

Evan Dudley: Troy

Ben Flanagan: Appalachian State

Patrick Greenfield: Troy

Andrew Hammond: Troy

Mark Inabinett: Appalachian State

Ainslee Lee: Troy

Creg Stephenson: Troy

Florida State quarterback Tate Rodemaker (18) runs against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla.John Raoux | The Associated Press

ACC (at Charlotte): Florida State (-3) vs. Louisville, 7 p.m., ABC

Michael Casagrande: Florida State

Matt Cohen: Louisville

Evan Dudley: Louisville

Ben Flanagan: Louisville

Patrick Greenfield: Florida State

Andrew Hammond: Florida State

Mark Inabinett: Florida State

Ainslee Lee: Florida State

Creg Stephenson: Louisville

Michigan’s offense including offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson (73), offensive lineman Trevor Keegan (77), offensive lineman Zak Zinter (65) and offensive lineman Karsen Barnhart huddle up during the game against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Neil Blake | MLive.com)Neil Blake | MLive.com

Big Ten (at Indianapolis): Iowa (+23.5) vs. Michigan, 7 p.m., Fox

Michael Casagrande: Michigan

Matt Cohen: Michigan

Evan Dudley: Iowa

Ben Flanagan: Iowa

Patrick Greenfield: Iowa

Andrew Hammond: Iowa

Mark Inabinett: Michigan

Ainslee Lee: Iowa

Creg Stephenson: Iowa

Alabama wide receiver Kendrick Law (19) runs the ball against Auburn during the first half of the Iron Bowl Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett | Bennett |

SEC (at Atlanta): Alabama (+5.5) vs. Georgia, 3 p.m., CBS

Michael Casagrande: Georgia 28, Alabama 21

Matt Cohen: Alabama 31, Georgia 28

Evan Dudley: Alabama 24, Georgia 21

Ben Flanagan: Alabama 36, Georgia 32

Patrick Greenfield: Alabama 31, Georgia 28

Andrew Hammond: Georgia 26, Alabama 20

Mark Inabinett: Georgia 30, Alabama 24

Ainslee Lee: Alabama 34, Georgia 28

Creg Stephenson: Georgia 30, Alabama 25

An Oregon fan dances in the stands as the No. 6 Ducks face the No. 16 Oregon State Beavers in a college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2023. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

Standings after Week 13

NameRecord Ainslee Lee72-58 Mark Inabinett67-63 Evan Dudley66-64 Patrick Greenfield66-64 Ben Flanagan65-65 Creg Stephenson65-65 Andrew Hammond59-71 Michael Casagrande58-72 Matt Cohen57-73