Football Picks: Last week's record was 7-3. The overall record is 101-32 (76%).

The run is over for Tallassee. It was a good one. It was the best turnaround in program history. Last year's team had one win. This team reached the quarterfinals for just the fifth time in school history finishing 9-3.

Alabama's playoff hopes are gone. Too bad for that "Barstool" guy who wagered $100,000 on them to win the title. The bad Bama reared its ugly head again. We thought that they were past that. Wrong.

As for the performance, it was the worst I've seen by a Crimson Tide team since the national championship game against Clemson about five years ago. At least that was a good team. The defensive coordinator was current OU coach Brent Venables.

I guess Mike Elko's Freudian slip came back to bite him. Were the Aggies looking ahead to Texas after all? Maybe a little, but you've got to give some credit to Auburn.

Now, the complexion of the Iron Bowl looks much different. All of a sudden, it means more to Auburn than Bama other than simple bragging rights. The Tigers get bowl eligible with a win.

Highland Home at Reeltown: The Rebels had their first challenge in a while last week. It was a six-point game at halftime against Cottonwood, but Reeltown still won by 22.

Highland Home comes in with a similar resume of domination at 13-0. They've outscored their opponents 616-71.

The last few years, the Rebs and Flying Squadron were region foes. Reeltown won a couple of close games. Reeltown leads the series 10-1. Reeltown 27, Highland Home 22

Southside-Selma at Houston Academy: Southside Selma has put up double-digit wins in a single season for the first time in school history. They're on an 11-game win streak.

Charles Moody Jr. has impressed with no losing seasons in his five years in Selma. That is saying something because the Panthers were 0-10 the year prior to his arrival.

Houston Academy is having its best season since a guy named Rodney Dollar was their coach. Dollar led the Raiders to the semifinals in 2006. The next season he came to Tallassee. Houston Acad. 28, Southside 20

St. Michael at Jackson: Well Jackson is legit. The quarterback and running back tandem were as good as advertised. If there's a team good enough to beat them in 4A, I'd like to see it.

St. Michael's, coached by former NFL great Phillip Rivers, has seen the Aggies before. They lost to them in region play by 39. Rematches sometimes go the other way, but not this time. Jackson 43, St. Michael's 21

Vigor at Catholic: Catholic eliminated undefeated Clay Central last week extending the state's longest win streak to 27 games. Competitive balance has not had an impact on their dominance.

Vigor will have the athletes to match up with the Knights. Their only loss came in a one-point defeat to 7A Baker. To me, this looks like the title match is in the semis this week. Catholic 21, Vigor 20

Saraland at Pike Road: Saraland has now reached the semifinals four of the past five years. A win Friday would put them in the state championship game for the third straight season.

Last year, the Spartans beat Pike Road 46-7 in this same round. There have been no challengers through the first three rounds with the closest contest being 26 last week versus Spain Park.

Granger Shook has been really good since taking the job at the beginning of last season. This year should be closer, but still a major upset if the Patriots can pull it off. Saraland 35, Pike Road 27

Mississippi State at Ole Miss: The stars looked to be aligned for several of the two-loss SEC teams to make the 12-team playoff field. Like Alabama, Ole Miss couldn't hold up on their end of the deal.

It's tough to win in the mighty SEC. Is Ole Miss one of the 12 best teams? Like Alabama, on some weekends - yes. Would they be 11-1 at season's end playing Indiana's schedule? Probably. Now they're only playing for an egg. Ole Miss 38, Mississippi State 20

Notre Dame at USC: Notre Dame has done their job. They've beaten up on a weak slate of foes. Yes, they went down to College Station and took care of A&M. And they've beaten the armed service teams.

Are the Fighting Irish good enough to win it this year? Despite the early-season misstep with Northern Illinois, they might be. It's a wide-open race. But... be careful of this long road trip. Notre Dame 27, USC 23

Michigan at Ohio State: The Buckeyes are the Vegas favorite to win this year's natty. They had no trouble with previously unbeaten Indiana last week.

They will get another crack at Oregon in the Big Ten title game. Win or lose next week, the Buckeyes will make the CFP field, unless they choke here... Nah. Ohio State 33, Michigan 19

South Carolina at Clemson: South Carolina is one of the nation's hottest teams. The Gamecocks have won five straight since their narrow defeat at Alabama.

Do I believe Carolina is one of the nation's 12 best teams? Right now, probably. But, the whole season still matters. You can't lose three early and get right late. Although, if they had played Clemson's schedule they'd probably have at least one less loss. S. Carolina 26, Clemson 24

Auburn at Alabama: A week ago, the early point spread had Bama at 15.5. That has dropped with last week's surprises. Alabama has been a tough team to predict.

Up until last week, Auburn was very predictable. Play close and lose. They finally won a close one.

Overall, Alabama has still been the better team this season, but are we going to get last week's team or the one that had just won three straight to get themselves back in the playoff hunt?

Auburn has the playmakers to have success. Jarquez Hunter will be the best running back on the field. Lambert-Smith and Coleman are capable of big plays just like Williams and Bernard.

ESPN FPI gives Alabama an 87.7% chance of victory. It gave them an 80.6% chance last week in Norman.

There is one stat that might be the key difference. The home-field advantage. There is no denying that Jordan-Hare has been "haunted" as Nick Saban said on "Gameday" Saturday.

While Bryant-Denny may not have the same mistique, it is a place that Auburn hasn't won since 2010. That AU team was a national champ. Alabama 24, Auburn 20