After going 5-0 last week, Rich Barak is tied with Jason Frakes for first place in The Courier Journal sports staff college football picks.
Sports director Natalie Pierre also went 5-0 and moved from the bottom of the leaderboard to a three-way tie with C.L. Brown and Alexis Cubit in third place.
For Week 10, all eight members of our sports staff predicted Clemson to top Louisville, Indiana to remain unbeaten with a victory over Michigan State and Tennessee to hand Kentucky its fourth-straight loss.
The staff was split on Ohio State vs. Penn State and Pitt vs. SMU.
Here’s a look at this week’s picks. As is our custom, predictions are straight-up winners and losers (not against the spread), with rankings based on the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. All times listed are ET.
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 3 Penn State
How to watch: Noon Saturday, FOX
The picks: Five for Ohio State and three for Penn State (Frakes, Cubit, Brooks Holton)
For the second time in history, Ohio State and Penn State will face each other as top-five teams. The Buckeyes have won seven straight against the Nittany Lions and lead the all-time series, 25-14. Penn State is off to a 7-0 start for the 20th time in program history and is 4-0 in conference play for the first time since 2019.
C.L. Brown: College football Week 10 picks against the spread
No. 13 Indiana at Michigan State
How to watch: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Peacock
The picks: Eight for Indiana
Indiana is 5-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1967. If the Hoosiers win on Saturday, they will advance to 9-0 overall, the best start in program history. Curt Cignetti, who last season led a James Madison team that finished 11-1, is the first Football Bowl Subdivision coach to lead two different programs to 8-0 starts in back-to-back years. Michigan State’s defense ranks in the top 25 and has held five opponents to fewer than 300 yards of total offense this season.
Louisville at No. 8 Clemson
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ESPN
The picks: Eight for Clemson
Louisville rallied to erase a 20-point deficit in the second half to defeat Boston College, 31-27. This week, the Cardinals are looking for their first-ever win over Clemson. The Cardinals are 0-4 in Death Valley. Clemson has won six straight after losing to Georgia in Week 1. The Tigers are one of four ACC teams still undefeated in conference play. Their offense ranks among the top five nationally in total yards and points scored.
Kentucky at No. 7 Tennessee
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, SEC Network
The picks: Eight for Tennessee
Wide receivers Dane Key and Barion Brown have been bright spots for a Kentucky offense that has been one of the worst in the SEC. Meanwhile, Tennessee is among the top 10 in the country in total yards allowed, points allowed and red zone defense. And the Vols’ offense ranks in the top 10 nationally in total yards and rushing yards. That doesn’t bode well for a UK team that’s lost three in a row.
No. 17 Pittsburgh at No. 20 SMU
How to watch: 8 p.m. Saturday, ACC Network
The picks: Five for SMU and three for Pitt (Brown, Holton and Cubit)
Pitt is 7-0 for the first time since 1982. Running back Desmond Reid is first in the ACC and third nationally in all-purpose yards per contest (160.17). He leads an offense that’s averaging 40.9 points per game, which ranks fifth in the nation. SMU, in its first season as a member of the ACC, is still unbeaten in conference play. Its run defense is first in the ACC (88.4 yards per game) and fifth in the country while rankings second in the FBS for defensive touchdowns and among the top 10 nationally for turnovers gained. SMU leads the all-time series, 3-2-1.
The standings
1 (tie) – Jason Frakes (last week 4-1), 33-12
1 (tie) – Rich Barak (last week 5-0), 33-12
3 (tie) – C.L. Brown (last week 4-1), 29-16
3 (tie) – Natalie Pierre (last week 5-0), 29-16
3 (tie) – Alexis Cubit (last week 4-1), 29-16
6 – Prince James Story (last week 3-2), 28-17
8 (tie) -– Brooks Holton (last week 3-2), 27-18
8 (tie) – Ryan Black (last week 4-1), 27-18
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: IU vs Michigan State prediction, Ohio State vs Penn State picks
