For most teams, it’s a final four stretch of games going into November football. Here at The Alabama Take, it’s time to make money. Join us on the site each Friday afternoon during the season as four writers make the best (and worst) predictions on college and NFL games. They’ll lose a lot, cry some, and make plenty of friends along the way. On Mondays and Tuesdays, be sure to check out Takin’ On Sports, a weekly sports show with a focus on Alabama and the rest of the SEC.
2026 Results
Blaine Duncan: 13-22 (Week Nine: 3-1)
TD Wood: 17-17-1 (Week Nine: 1-3)
Mallory McCormack: 15-18-2 (Week Nine: 3-1)
Greg Bosworth: 19-15-1 (Week Nine: 2-2)
Blaine Duncan
Would you look at that? I pieced together a decent Week Nine, but I only took twenty-four hours to celebrate before I started watching the lines again.
Texas at Missouri (+3) – Home dogs! These Tigers ran into a hot Gamecocks team and were outmatched against the Rebels, both in SEC play, but here against a Longhorns team that has questionable quarterback play, I like Missouri to get an outright win.
Texas A&M at South Carolina (-7) – South Carolina is the most improved team in the SEC since the start of the season and I don’t see them slowing down against a meddling Aggies crew.
Kentucky (+6.5) at Tennessee – The Volunteers do things well, especially on defense, but I like that the Wildcats are on a streak, seem fired up, and want to hold on to that playoff spot. Give me the road dogs here in an upset that should end Tennessee’s playoff chances.
NFL Game of the Week
Texans (-4.5) at Chargers – The Texans have a good enough road record at 3-1 to take on a miserable Chargers team who haven’t won a game all year, much less on their home field.
TD Wood
I’m in a bit of a slump, need a good showing this week to get back in the black. This is the weekend we all had circled before the season even began, and with seven games between ranked teams (using the CFP rankings), it certainly has quite the card. Let’s hope it lives up to the hype.
New Mexico (-10) at Nevada (Friday Night) – The Lobos are ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time in school history, and I like them to celebrate by putting a hurting on the Wolfpack. New Mexico boasts the nation’s top scoring defense, and they love to run the ball – something Nevada struggles to stop.
Oregon at Ohio State (Under 46.5) – Oregon isn’t having the season it had hoped for, and without Dante Moore their offense has become wildly inconsistent. The Buckeyes’ offense looks lost without Julian Sayin, but their defense is still one of the nation’s best. This is looking like an old fashioned Big Ten rock fight.
Rice at North Texas (-16.5) – The Mean Green lost basically their entire team when 20 players followed coach Eric Morris to Stillwater to play for Oklahoma State, but that hasn’t slowed them down a bit. They’re undefeated in league play and poised to make a run to the American title game, and the Owls shouldn’t pose much of a threat.
NFL Game of the Week
Lions (-7) at Dolphins – Detroit is on a roll of late, having won three straight and starting to look like the team that fell just short of the Super Bowl a couple of seasons ago. Miami has been scrappy, but they struggle to get to the QB, and that doesn’t bode well against a team with weapons like the Lions have.
Mallory McCormack
Somehow we’re in November. I’m not sure where time has gone but damn, it sure feels good outside and the skies (and a few states) are a little bluer. Does life get much better? I don’t think so. So to keep life good, please take my picks with a grain of salt.
Texas at Missouri (+3) – MIZ-ZOU!! Texas away from home isn’t the same. Let’s go Mizzou!!
Arkansas at Auburn (-10) – Arkansas inside Jordan Hare. Halloween still happens as it’s gonna be scary how much Auburn comes out swinging.
Kentucky (+6.5) at Tennessee – I think Kentucky will continue to give Georgia a run for the SEC title.
NFL Game of the Week
Broncos (-2.5) at Panthers – The Broncos are hot. Beating the Chiefs was a great boost.
Greg Bosworth
Crazy how quickly we’ve reached the blockbuster weekend everybody has been talking about since the preseason. This arguably has been the most exciting season in my lifetime and potential playoff elimination Saturday for quite a few teams should live up to the billing.
Texas at Mizzou (+3) – Surprisingly this is only the second time Texas has left the state all season, and Columbia can be a weird place. This is one of the most interesting games of the week that isn’t getting much attention from the media, and I’ve gone back and forth on how this game will go all week. This spot seems to benefit the home team that has the better quarterback and running game. I expect a very close one and wouldn’t be surprised if the Tigers give the Longhorns their third loss of the season.
UCLA at Minnesota (+5) – The Gophers have another huge opportunity to knock off a highly ranked team after last week’s heartbreak, and I think they’ll be ready. The Bruins have already overachieved on the season and are looking to continue the magical run in a tough spot. Expect a low-scoring, very physical game that comes down to a late FG to decide the winner in Minneapolis.
Michigan State (+14) at Michigan – It’s a rivalry game that has seen some weird ones over the years. Despite the Wolverines making the QB change to Carr, I’m still not a believer in their offense, and this seems like a big spread.
NFL Game of the Week
Broncos (-2.5) at Panthers – This is a battle of two teams seemingly going in different directions, and good defense travels on the road. As wild as every week has been, this seems like the most likely lock of the week if that is even possible to say this season.
Note: All games are against the spread. Odds are taken from MGM Grand Sportsbook.
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