T he AP’s Ralph D. Russo picks this week’s games, and the biggest game on the agenda is the Alabama Crimson Tide facing the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Russo writes, “Joe Paterno, who broke Bear Bryant’s record on the way to becoming the winningest coach in the history of major college football, brings Penn State to Tuscaloosa to face No. 1 Alabama. The Nittany Lions and Crimson Tide routinely squared off in the 1970s and early ’80s, when Bear Bryant was stalking Alabama’s sideline. The Bear is gone now, but the Tide’s stadium is named after him. Meanwhile, the 83-year-old Paterno has 395 victories. Even if Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram (knee) can’t play Saturday, beating Nick Saban’s defending national champions would rank as one of Paterno’s most surprising victories.”
So, who wins the game?
Saturday
No. 18 Penn State (plus 11 1/2) at No. 1 Alabama.
Saban on one side, frosh QB playing first road game on the other … ALABAMA 24-10.
One more pick for the readers:
No. 21 Auburn (minus 2) at Mississippi State.
Matchup of spread offenses and promising QBs … MISSISSIPPI STATE 31-24
Read all of the AP’s picks for this week in the story below:
