PRESS PICKS (Week 10): Oh, boy! Another year of CFP polls followed by constant whining
STAFF REPORT
Get ready for the whiners’ convention.
It’s coming in the form of coaches’ press conferences, post game and otherwise, where somebody earns a big victory and expects to be catapulted in the rankings. Then, the team doesn’t get the ranking it deserves and therefore begin the politics.
Typically, under the four-team format, only about two or three has a gripe.
This time, the number of teams in that category will be a record high, thanks in part to good teams playing mediocre schedules.
Yes fans, here we are again, touting teams that have stellar records but built on less-than-impressive opponents.
Next week, the first College Football Playoff poll will be revealed and there will be immediate grievances. “We’re 8-0,” says the team with a schedule strength of 101.
“We beat (fill in the blank),” as the only team, at the time, that was ranked when they played and now have an even 4-4 record.
The same grumbles but in larger numbers… that’s where we will be come next Tuesday.
It will get worse and worse and worse.
And, eventually, the committee will decide “12’s not enough. Let’s do 16 teams.”
And we will play the same song and dance and hear the same grumbling as we did when it was four. And now, when at 12.
One certainty…. At least one or two teams with gaudy records will sneak in the tourney. Maybe an SMU with one loss (to BYU) might get the nod over a two-loss Tennessee, which will have played a much tougher schedule.
Or how about a team like Iowa State, which has played one ranked team (Iowa) and earned a one-point win back in early September when the Hawkeyes were actually ranked (haven’t been since that loss).
The list of teams is endless with one or no losses that have yet to play anyone with a pulse. Yet, they will be screaming from the rafters how they have been screwed by the committee because “Alabama is in the running with two losses!”
It’s too early to tell who will be in that category. But count on at least three or four teams that will be pulling a “Seminole” and daring people to challenge them on their right to be in the playoff.
At least we have a name for the behavior now.
2024 Standings (Last Week)
1. Michael Butler 108-42 (11-4) .720
2. Tim Gayle 105-45 (13-2) .700
3. Rosie Langello 103-47 (12-3) .687
4. Doug Amos 102-48 (12-3) .680
5. Wesley Lyle 100-50 (10-5) .667
6. Graham Dunn 99-51 (11-4) .660
7. Mike Peacock 95-55 (12-3) .633
8. Lindsey Bonner 82- 53 (11-4) .607
Barry McKnight 92-58 (13-2) .613
10. Rick Hendrick 88-62 (10-5) .586
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
108-42 (11-4) .720
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - ACA
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Wisconsin
Pitt at SMU - SMU
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
105-45 (13-2) .700
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Wetumpka
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - ACA
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Penn St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Pitt at SMU - SMU
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
103-47 (12-3) .687
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - Maplesville
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Vandy
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina -Texas A&M
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Wisconsin
Pitt at SMU - Pitt
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
102-48 (12-3) .680
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - Maplesville
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Vandy
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Penn St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Pitt at SMU - Pitt
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
101-49 (11-4) .673
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - ACA
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Pitt at SMU - SMU
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
99-51 (11-4) .660
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Wetumpka
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - Maplesville
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina - South Carolina
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Pitt at SMU - Pitt
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
95-55 (12-3) .633
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - Maplesville
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Arkansas
Texas A&M at South Carolina - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Penn St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Wisconsin
Pitt at SMU - SMU
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
82- 53 (11-4) .607
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - Maplesville
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Stanhope Elmore
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Vandy
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Penn St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Pitt at SMU - SMU
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
91-59 (12-3) .607
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - ACA
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera -Calera
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alabama St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Florida
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Arkansas
Texas A&M at South Carolina - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Wisconsin
Pitt at SMU - Pitt
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
87-63 (9-6) .580
Charles Henderson at Pike Road - Pike Road
Wetumpka at Demoopolis - Demopolis
Alabama Christian at Maplesville - Maplesville
Holtville at Tallassee - Tallassee
Stanhope Elmore at Calera - Calera
Vanderbilt at Auburn - Auburn
Alabama St vs Alcorn St (Mobile) - Alcorn St
Georgia vs. Florida (J’Ville) - Georgia
Ole Miss at Arkansas - Ole Miss
Texas A&M at South Carolina - Texas A&M
Kentucky at Tennessee - Tennessee
Ohio St at Penn St - Ohio St
Wisconsin at Iowa - Iowa
Pitt at SMU - SMU
Oregon at Michigan - Oregon