PRESS PICKS (Bowl edition): This is the end and what a strange one it is
STAFF REPORT
Like everything else, bowl season has a different look.
With 10 games already cancelled, numerous teams playing with losing records (South Carolina – 2-8 – is “bowl eligible”), these next two weeks will probably look a lot like the season has – weird and unconventional.
This is not a complaint. We all are happy to have these games. And there are some intriguing matchups, including an early one between BYU and Central Florida.
But it does seem strange to see so many losing records included. There are eight teams under .500 and most are from the SEC.
But the case has been made that several of these teams, had they played a normal schedule, would have had a winning record. As an example, chances are pretty good that Kentucky, which finished 4-6, very well could have won eight games this season. Remove Alabama and Ole Miss, two unscheduled losses, and put back the Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Eastern Illinois and Louisville games, and you are looking at a much better record.
That’s the irony. The 10-game all-SEC schedule provided a look at the cracks in everybody’s armor. Instead of hearing how Mark Stoops is a dark horse for Coach of the Year, we really see just what kind of job he has done (which is pretty good considering the COVID cases he dealt with all year).
Remember all the talk of how good a job Sam Pittman and Eli Drinkwitz were doing about midway through the season and how their matchup on Dec. 5 would all but determine the “Coach of the Year” award in the conference?
Are we still having that debate?
It’s not a shot at either program. The talking heads were too quick to make judgment on either case, although Pittman was better than anticipated.
In each case, the final record would have been better. But 2020 was a better model of where these teams were.
Don’t expect a change in the schedules anytime soon. The coaches are nervous based on a failing grade due to a tougher schedule. They would rather not go through that again.
The irony to the schedule is the cream did rise to the top. The top four teams were picked prior to the season. Even if Ohio State was given a pass thanks to the conference all but paving the way for their arrival in the playoff, the Buckeyes are probably one of the four best teams, even if they didn’t look like it all the time.
This is the final set of picks for the season. Congratulations to all the media members who have participated and thanks for the job done in bringing the masses coverage of football in 2020.
See you next year – we hope!
2020 Standings (Last Week)
1. Doug Amos 183-65 (10-3) .738
2. Graham Dunn 178-70 (10-3) .718
3. Michael Butler 175-73 (9-4) .706
4. Tim Gayle 174-74 (9-4) .702
5. Rick Hendrick 172-76 (12-1) .694
6. Mike Peacock 167-81 (7-6) .673
7. Barry McKnight 165-83 (7-6) .665
8. Darrell Puckett 162-86 (8-5) .653
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
183-65 (10-3) .738
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - BYU
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Buffalo
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina - UAB
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Coastal Carolina
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St - Miami
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Texas
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Iowa
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St - Tulsa
Liberty: Army vs West Va – West Va
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – TCU
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Auburn
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – NC State
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Ole Miss
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Georgia
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Iowa St
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Clemson
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
178-70 (10-3) .718
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - UCF
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Marshall
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina - UAB
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Coastal Carolina
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St – Okla St
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Texas
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Iowa
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St – Miss St
Liberty: Army vs West Va – West Va
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – TCU
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Northwestern
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – NC State
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Indiana
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Georgia
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Iowa St
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Alabama
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)
175-73 (9-4) .706
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - BYU
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Marshall
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina – South Carolina
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Liberty
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St – Okla St
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Texas
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Iowa
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St – Miss St
Liberty: Army vs West Va – Army
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – TCU
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Auburn
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – NC State
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Ole Miss
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Georgia
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Iowa St
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Alabama
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
174-74 (9-4) .702
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - BYU
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Buffalo
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina - UAB
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Coastal Carolina
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St – Miami
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Texas
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Iowa
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St – Miss St
Liberty: Army vs West Va – West Va
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – TCU
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Northwestern
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – Kentucky
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Ole Miss
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Georgia
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Iowa St
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Alabama
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
172-76 (12-1) .694
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - BYU
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Marshall
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina - UAB
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Coastal Carolina
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St – Okla St
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Texas
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Iowa
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St – Miss St
Liberty: Army vs West Va – West Va
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – Arkansas
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Auburn
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – Kentucky
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Ole Miss
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Georgia
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Iowa St
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Alabama
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
167-81 (7-6) .673
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - BYU
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Marshall
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina - UAB
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Liberty
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St – Miami
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Texas
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Missouri
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St – Tulsa
Liberty: Army vs West Va – Army
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – Arkansas
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Auburn
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – Kentucky
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Indiana
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Georgia
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Oregon
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Alabama
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
165-83 (7-6) .665
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - BYU
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Buffalo
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina - UAB
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Liberty
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St – Miami
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Colorado
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Iowa
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St – Miss St
Liberty: Army vs West Va – West Va
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – TCU
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Northwestern
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – NC State
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Indiana
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Iowa St
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Alabama
Darrell Puckett (formerly of WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)
162-86 (8-5) .653
Boca Raton Bowl: UCF vs BYU - UCF
Mgy Bowl: Memphis vs FAU – Memphis
Camellia Bowl: Marshall vs Buffalo – Marshall
Gasparilla: UAB vs South Carolina - UAB
Cure: Coastal Carolina vs Liberty – Liberty
Cheez-It: Miami, Fla vs. Okla St – Okla St
Alamo: Texas vs Colorado - Texas
Music City: Iowa vs Missouri - Iowa
Armed Forces: Tulsa vs Miss St – Miss St
Liberty: Army vs West Va – West Va
Texas: TCU vs Arkansas – TCU
Citrus: Auburn vs Northwestern – Northwestern
Gator: NC State vs Kentucky – Kentucky
Orange: Texas A&M vs. North Carolina – Texas A&M
Gator: Indiana vs Ole Miss – Indiana
Peach: Georgia vs Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Cotton: Oklahoma vs Florida – Florida
Fiesta: Oregon vs Iowa St – Iowa St
Sugar: Clemson vs Ohio St - Clemson
Rose: Alabama vs Notre Dame - Alabama
National Champion - Alabama