PRESS PICKS (BOWL EDITION): Naysayers get their way but it's not enough
STAFF REPORT
Did we get what we want?
Are the semifinal games to your liking?
Can we stop complaining now?
That’s doubtful. It’s what we do.
We can’t help ourselves. We spend the last seven years griping about shunning the Group of Five members of the FBS. The committee only cares about “the brands.”
Cincinnati is in, breaking that glass ceiling… yet, it ain’t good enough.
But it’s a natural response, at least for those who can never be satisfied. Something is always wrong.
They make Archie Bunker sound like the world’s great motivational speaker (if you are too young to know who that is, Google it)
These clowns already had the built-in excuse had Oklahoma State found that extra foot to score on Baylor and jump Cincinnati for the final spot. The naysayers were sitting on ready, looking to pounce.
When the Pokes came up short and Bama whopped Georgia, the immediate complaint turned to… are you ready? – Georgia.
Georgia?
Yep. The Dogs didn’t play anybody and when they did, they choked. Masterful.
Do these people work for political campaigns?
As absurd as that sounds, you can add the idea that Michigan should have been the top seed, in their eyes.
When the playoff committee adds more teams, the complaints will get louder. We can’t even get to 12 without criticism already building… “it’s all about getting the SEC what it wants.” Or, “the non-Power 5 teams will get screwed.”
Yep, and if they keep this up and we quote the famous Judge Smails of Caddyshack, “you’ll get nothing and like it!”
A word to the malcontents…. Be happy for Cincinnati. Celebrate the fact that a team did something no one expected a non-Power 5 to do. The Bearcats are in the playoffs; nevermind if they deserve it.
You got what you wanted. Live with it.
Doug Amos leads as the panel heads into the final picks with a select list of bowls and the national champion to choose… the panel expects Alabama to repeat as champions and beat Georgia to do it.
2021 Standings (Previous Week)
1. Doug Amos 160-70 (10-5) .696
2. Graham Dunn 158-72 (11-4) .687
3. Mike Peacock 155-75 (8-7) .687
Tim Gayle 155-75 (9-6) .674
5. Michael Butler 151-79 (8-7) .652
Rick Hendrick 151-79 (10-5) .652
7. Barry McKnight 143-87 (6-9) .622
8. Dylan Hurst 144-86 (9-6) .626
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
160-70 (10-5) .696
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – BYU
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – UTSA
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Army
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - Florida
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Houston
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Louisville
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA - UCLA
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - W Virginia
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Iowa St
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Tennessee
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Pitt
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Texas A&M
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St - Washington St
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St - Arkansas
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Kentucky
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St - Oklahoma St
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Ohio St
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Ole Miss
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St - LSU
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan - Michigan
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Alabama
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
158-72 (11-4) .687
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – BYU
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – SDS
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Army
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - Florida
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Auburn
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Air Force
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA – NC State
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - Minnesota
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Clemson
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Tennessee
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Michigan St
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Texas A&M
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St – Washington St
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St - Arkansas
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Kentucky
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St - Oklahoma St
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Utah
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Ole Miss
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St – Kansas St
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan - Georgia
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Georgia
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
155-75 (8-7) .687
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – BYU
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – UTSA
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Missouri
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - UCF
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Auburn
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Air Force
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA – NC State
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - W Virginia
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Clemson
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Tennessee
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Pitt
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Texas A&M
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St – Miami, Fla
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St – Penn St
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Kentucky
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St – Notre Dame
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Utah
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Ole Miss
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St - LSU
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan – Georgia
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Georgia
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
155-75 (9-6) .674
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – BYU
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – UTSA
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Missouri
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - Florida
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Auburn
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Air Force
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA - UCLA
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - Minnesota
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Iowa St
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Tennessee
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Michigan St
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Texas A&M
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St – Miami, Fla
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St - Arkansas
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Kentucky
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St – Notre Dame
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Ohio St
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Ole Miss
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St - LSU
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan - Georgia
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Alabama
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
151-79 (8-7) .652
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – BYU
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – SDS
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Army
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - Florida
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Auburn
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Air Force
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA - UCLA
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - Minnesota
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Clemson
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Tennessee
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Pitt
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Texas A&M
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St – Miami, Fla
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St - Arkansas
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Kentucky
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St – Notre Dame
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Ohio St
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Ole Miss
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St - LSU
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan - Georgia
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Alabama
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
151-79 (10-5) .652
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – BYU
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – UTSA
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Missouri
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - Florida
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Auburn
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Louisville
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA - UCLA
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - Minnesota
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Clemson
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Tennessee
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Michigan St
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Texas A&M
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St – Miami, Fla
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St - Arkansas
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Iowa
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St - Oklahoma St
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Ohio St
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Ole Miss
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St - LSU
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan - Michigan
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Alabama
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
143-87 (6-9) .622
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – BYU
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – SDS
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Missouri
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - Florida
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Auburn
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Louisville
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA – NC State
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - West Va
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Clemson
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Tennessee
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Michigan St
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Wake Forest
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St – Miami, Fla
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St – Penn St
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Kentucky
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St – Notre Dame
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Ohio St
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Baylor
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St - LSU
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan - Georgia
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Georgia
Dylan Hurst (River Region Sports)
144-86 (9-6) .626
INDEPENDENCE BOWL: BYU vs. UAB – UAB
FRISCO BOWL: San Diego St vs. UTSA – UTSA
ARMED FORCES BOWL: Army vs. Missouri – Army
GASPARILLA BOWL: Florida vs. UCF - UCF
CAMILLIA BOWL: Georgia St vs. Ball St - Georgia St
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: Auburn vs. Houston – Auburn
FIRST RESPONDER BOWL: Air Force vs. Louisville – Air Force
LIBERTY BOWL: Miss St vs. Texas Tech – Miss St
HOLIDAY BOWL: NC State vs. UCLA - UCLA
GUARANTEED RATE BOWL: Minnesota vs. West Virginia - Minnesota
CHEEZE-IT BOWL: Clemson vs. Iowa St. – Iowa St
ALAMO BOWL: Oklahoma vs. Oregon – Oklahoma
MAYO BOWL: South Carolina vs. North Carolina – North Carolina
MUSIC CITY BOWL: Purdue vs. Tennessee – Purdue
PEACH BOWL: Michigan St vs. Pitt – Michigan St
GATOR BOWL: Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest – Texas A&M
SUN BOWL: Miami, Fla vs. Washington St – Washington St
OUTBACK BOWL: Arkansas vs. Penn St - Arkansas
CITRUS BOWL: Iowa vs. Kentucky – Kentucky
FIESTA BOWL: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
ROSE BOWL: Ohio St. vs. Utah - Utah
SUGAR BOWL: Ole Miss vs. Baylor – Ole Miss
TEXAS BOWL: LSU vs. Kansas St - LSU
CFP SEMIS- ORANGE BOWL: Georgia vs. Michigan - Michigan
CFP SEMIS – COTTON BOWL: Alabama vs. Cincinnati - Alabama
NATIONAL CHAMPION - Alabama