PRESS PICKS (Week 13): Who has a 'Monopoly' on a playoff bid
STAFF REPORT
When is the last time you played the board game Monopoly? We all remember the great properties you could buy with your fake money and hope that someone landed and owed you rent. Or avoiding the Luxury Tax or the Electric Company, or, perish the thought, the income tax and have to do the math.
Watching Tuesday’s announcement of the new CFP poll, it created some thoughts using the board game metaphorically to describe where the teams sit heading into the final two weeks.
The committee may have sent a few teams a hint as to its chances to reach the bracket come early December.
Just like racing around the board, teams are looking to avoid the larger rentals and not “going directly to jail.”
Alabama moved up to No. 7, which the message might actually be - win and you are in. That’s like owning Boardwalk. Owning the most expensive property on the board gives them a better than excellent shot at being in the playoffs… but beat Oklahoma and Auburn first.
Georgia also moved up after the win over Tennessee. They got a “Get out of Jail Free” card with the win. A week ago, Chances look good that the Dogs are in if they win their last two, having already completed their SEC schedule. And, the chances that they are in the championship game are smaller than a couple of teams ahead of them, meaning one less game to play.
Meanwhile, Tennessee landed on “Community Chest” and received the card “Go Directly to Jail, do not pass Go and do not collect $200.” It seems as though the committee sent the message to the Big Orange that they will need help in order to reach the bracket. The Vols would need Alabama, Georgia and/or Ole Miss to lose and Texas A&M to fall to Texas.
BYU, Miami and SMU each got a message too - win or else. Each of those teams, along with upstart Colorado, have to win their conference championship to get in. That’s the old mortgaging your properties to stay alive ploy and only a few of those have a lot of cards to turn over.
Unless Indiana and Notre Dame suffer embarrassing losses, they are sitting pretty, as well. Indiana plays at Ohio State this week. Avoid the blowout and they are in. Notre Dame has two teams that can beat them but its doubtful Army or USC will pull off the upset. That give the Irish a pot of gold… sorry wrong board game… the railroad into the playoff. Reading, Shortline, B&O… any of them should work.
The top four teams have stood pat - Oregon, Ohio State, Texas and Penn State - are playing with the kitty laying in the middle of the board, a.k.a. “house money.” Unless a major upset happens or if any of the teams fall hard in their respective championship games, they are set for a playoff bid.
2024 Standings (Last Week)
1. Michael Butler 143-52 (11-4) .733
2. Tim Gayle 139-56 (9-6) .713
3. Doug Amos 137-58 (10-5) .703
4. Graham Dunn 136-59 (11-4) .697
5. Rosie Langello 134-61 (10-5) .687
6. Wesley Lyle 130-65 (10-5) .667
7. Mike Peacock 128-67 (12-3) .656
8. Lindsey Bonner 116- 64 (10-5) .644
9. Barry McKnight 120-75 (10-5) .615
10. Rick Hendrick 119-76 (10-5) .610
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
143-52 (11-4) .733
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Cornerstone
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - La LaFayette
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - USC
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
139-56 (9-6) .713
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Cornerstone
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - La LaFayette
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - USC
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
137-58 (10-5) .703
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Macon East
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - La LaFayette
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - USC
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
136-59 (11-4) .697
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Cornerstone
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - La LaFayette
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St - Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - UCLA
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
134-61 (10-5) .687
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Macon East
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - La LaFayette
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - Vanderbilt
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - USC
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
130-65 (10-5) .667
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Cornerstone
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - Troy
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - USC
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
128-67 (12-3) .656
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Cornerstone
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Auburn
Troy at La.-LaFayette - La LaFayette
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Indiana
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - USC
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
116- 64 (10-5) .644
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Macon East
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Pike Road
Tallassee at Jackson - Tallassee
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - La LaFayette
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Notre Dame
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - USC
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
120-75 (10-5) .615
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Macon East
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Hueytown
Tallassee at Jackson - Jackson
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Texas A&M
Troy at La.-LaFayette - Troy
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Missouri
Indiana at Ohio St- Indiana
Army at Notre Dame - Army
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - UCLA
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
119-76 (10-5) .610
AISA Class A Champ: Macon East vs. Cornerstone - Macon East
AISA Class AA Champ: Lowndes Aca vs. South Choctaw Aca - Lowndes
Central-Clay Co. at Catholic - Catholic
Hueytown at PIke Road - Hueytown
Tallassee at Jackson - Tallassee
Alabama at Oklahoma - Alabama
Texas A&M at Auburn -Auburn
Troy at La.-LaFayette - Troy
Ole Miss at Florida - Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at LSU - LSU
Missouri at Miss St -Miss St
Indiana at Ohio St- Ohio State
Army at Notre Dame - Army
Colorado at Kansas - Colorado
USC at UCLA - UCLA