PRESS PICKS (Week 15): Penultimate CFP poll is out and the Bama bump proves real
STAFF REPORT
They’re howling again…. You knew it would happen…. Bama gets ‘em every time.
The latest College Football Playoff poll came out Tuesday and the ink wasn’t dry before folks were already on social media dogging the committee about dropping Miami below Alabama. The Bama fatigue is alive and well. No matter how many fan boys (and girls - Heather Dinich) previously tried to explain away Bama’s existence in the playoff, they couldn’t wait to call foul.
Here are some samples…
Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports
“In the history of the BCS/CFP Alabama has gotten EVERY benefit of the doubt from the computers/humans. No judgement, just fact.”
Chris Vannini - The Athletic
“It's hard to overstate how much brand damage the CFP committee did to itself by keeping Florida State out last year.
“Just fueled every SEC/ESPN conspiracy imaginable and and negated the purpose of playing and winning games. Still hate it.”
David Hale, ESPN
“Is Alabama a good football team? Sure. If the Tide get in, could they win a game or two or the whole darn thing? Absolutely. But if that's the criteria, then there was no need for Alabama's players to suit up 12 times this year and go to battle, and that's an insult to them -- even if it means handing them a gift in the process.”
But did committee chair Warde Manuel talk himself into a corner with these comments on ESPN after the reveal:
“Those teams who are not playing (in championship games) cannot be adjusted in terms of where they are compared to other teams that are not playing."
In other words, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Miami can’t jump the Tide. Another point to ponder for the cry babies.
Despite all the vitriol, this maybe the biggest statement of the night. It almost seals the deal for the teams in top top 12. Not completely, but close.
Fact: Alabama is in with a win by SMU and could quite possibly get in even if SMU loses, depending on how bad that loss to Clemson might be..
The college football world doesn’t like it. But the Bama boost is real and will carry them back to the playoffs.
2024 Standings (Last Week)
1. Michael Butler 166-59 (13-2) .737
2. Tim Gayle 160-65 (11-4) .711
3. Doug Amos 158-67 (12-3) .702
Graham Dunn 158-67 (13-2) .702
5. Rosie Langello 154-71 (12-3) .684
6. Wesley Lyle 151-74 (12-3) .671
7. Mike Peacock 150-75 (12-3) .667
8. Lindsey Bonner 136- 74 (12-3) .647
9. Barry McKnight 135-90 (11-4) .600
10. Rick Hendrick 132-93 (9-6) .586
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
166-59 (13-2) .737
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Mars Hill
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Wadley
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Texas
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -SMU
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Tulane
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
160-65 (11-4) .711
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Mars Hill
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Wadley
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Georgia
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Iowa St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -Clemson
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Tulane
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Jax State
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
158-67 (12-3) .702
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Houston Academy
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Wadley
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Georgia
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -Clemson
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Tulane
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Jax State
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
158-67 (13-2) .702
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Mars Hill
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Maplesville
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Texas
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -SMU
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Army
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Jax State
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
154-71 (12-3) .684
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible -Houston Academy
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Wadley
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Georgia
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -SMU
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Tulane
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Jax State
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - Marshall
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
151-74 (12-3) .671
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Houston Academy
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Maplesville
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Georgia
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -SMU
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Tulane
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Jax State
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette -Marshall
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
150-75 (12-3) .667
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Mars Hill
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Wadley
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Georgia
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -SMU
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Army
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Jax State
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
136- 74 (12-3) .647
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Cherokee County
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Houston Academy
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Wadley
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Georgia
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -SMU
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Tulane
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
135-90 (11-4) .600
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Houston Academy
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Reeltown
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Wadley
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Texas
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Penn St
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Arizona St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -SMU
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Tulane
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky -Jax Dtate
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
132-93 (9-6) .586
7A: Central-PC vs. Thompson - Thompson
6A: Saraland vs. Parker - Saraland
5A: Catholic vs. Moody - Catholic
4A: Jackson vs Cherokee County - Jackson
3A: Houston Academy vs Mars Hill Bible - Houston Academy
2A: Reeltown vs Tuscaloosa Academy - Tuscaloosa Academy
1A: Maplesville vs Wadley - Maplesville
SEC: Georgia vs Texas - Georgia
Big 10: Oregon vs Penn St- Oregon
Big 12: Arizona St vs Iowa St - Iowa St
ACC: SMU vs. Clemson -Clemson
American Athletic: Army vs Tulane - Army
CUSA: Jacksonville St vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Mountian West: UNLV vs Boise St - Boise St
SunBelt: Marshall vs. Louisiana-LaFayette - La-LaFeyette