PRESS PICKS (Bowl Season): Passing of Leach brings different perspective to game we love

STAFF REPORT

The arrival of Christmas and the New Year comes with sadness this bowl season.

Mike Leach is gone.

Leach was a breath of fresh air in his time with us. He gave us reasons to laugh and to take note of the levity that comes with a game that so many of us unfortunately use to remove joy from our lives.

It is a million-dollar diversion to the reality of what is, basically, a child’s game.

But Mike Leach would have none of that and made it a habit to remind us what this was all about.

He found opportunities to make it innocent with post-game suggestions of wedding decisions and Halloween candy, allowing us to take a step back and celebrate the idea that this is a game and we must do a better job of keeping it in perspective.

He even faced a daunting task of talking politics but still made it worthwhile to listen, even if you disagreed with his sentiment.

In most cases, it wasn’t a ploy. It was just his nature. And that made it most refreshing.

It is unfortunate that we as fans and members of the media cannot find that joy when we discuss football in what should be an anomaly. So much is taken too seriously that it infects our judgement and we can’t see football (at any level) for what it is.

We watch as parents chastise coaches, officials and, worst of all, their own children during a game. We see fans become inebriated with hatred and bitterness and when you throw in alcohol, it removes any vacillation before bellowing our thoughts and indignation.

Leach made football fun, but with an escapade featuring bright lights and pomp usually reserved for official matters.

He could revel in a victory while providing commentary on subject matter that could be contrived as peculiar or erratic but he, somehow, make it fit. He could tell a joke and allow it to muddle around before it burst his audience into laughter. Yes, it might take a minute to find meaning in what he said. Eventually, it would come around and tap you on the shoulder and make you laugh.

Other times, it was just sheer departure from the subject matter and we would be entertained, even if that wasn’t his intent.

He made his post-game press conferences can’t-miss-TV. Even in defeat when he could find that demur and call out his team for lack of effort or inadequacy, he did so in a way that we all appreciated.

It’s hard to forget his comments after his team lost to Alabama this season when he stated that “We got some guys that are afraid of the Alabama jerseys… you wanna scare some of the guys on our team, put an Alabama jersey on them and it will scare the hell outta them.”

It was poetic but truthful, something few coaches apply to their PCs. The quirkiness was his calling card but not something everybody could pull off, at least among those who must show a severe aristocratic nature.

Leach left a legacy usually reserved for entertainers but in a way, that’s what he aspired to be. He just happened to be a  pretty good football coach on top of it.

Good bye, Coach. God bless you.

We enter bowl season with a tie at the top with Doug Amos and Tim Gayle leading the pack. Last year’s champ, Graham Dunn, is close behind. The champion will be decided on the 30 bowls games selected plus who is chosen as the national champion.

2022 Overall Standings (Last Week) 

1. Doug Amos  162-68 (10-5) .704

    Tim Gayle  162-68 (11-4) .704

3. Graham Dunn  160-70 (13-2) .695

4. Michael Butler  158-72 (11-4).687

5. Wesley Lyle  155–75 (8-7) .674

6.. Mike Peacock  152-78 (9-6) .661

7. Rick Hendrick  150-80 (11-4) .652

8. Rosie Langello 146-84 (9-6) .634

9. Barry McKnight  143-87 (9-6) .622

Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Fox 20)  
162-68 (10-5) .704

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - UAB
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Louisville
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - South Alabama
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Wake Forest
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Oklahoma St
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - East Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - UCF
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Arkansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Syracuse
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - Maryland
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - South Carolina
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Clemson
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Kentucky
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Kansas St
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Miss St
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Utah
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia

Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
162-68 (11-4) .704

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - UAB
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Cincinnati
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - South Alabama
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Missouri
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Oklahoma St
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - East Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - UCF
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Arkansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Minnesota
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - Maryland
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - South Carolina
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Tennessee
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Kentucky
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Alabama
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Illinois
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Utah
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia

Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)  
160-70 (13-2) .695

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - UAB
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Cincinnati
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Missouri
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Wisconsin
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - East Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Buffalo
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - Duke
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Arkansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Minnesota
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - NC State
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - South Carolina
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Tennessee
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Iowa
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Alabama
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Miss St
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Penn St
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Michigan

Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)  
158-72 (11-4).687

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - UAB
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Cincinnati
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - South Alabama
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Missouri
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Wisconsin
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - East Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - UCF
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Arkansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Minnesota
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - Maryland
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - Notre Dame
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Clemson
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Kentucky
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Alabama
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Miss St
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Utah
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia

Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)  
155–75 (8-7) .674

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - UAB
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Louisville
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - South Alabama
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Wake Forest
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Wisconsin
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - East Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - Duke
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Arkansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Minnesota
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - Maryland
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - Notre Dame
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Tennessee
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Iowa
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Alabama
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Miss St
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Utah
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia

Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
152-78 (9-6) .661

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - UAB
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Florida
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Cincinnati
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Wake Forest
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Oklahoma St
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - Coastal Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - UCF
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Arkansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Syracuse
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - NC State
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - South Carolina
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Clemson
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Kentucky
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Alabama
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Miss St
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Utah
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - TCU
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia

Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA for Montgomery Biscuits)
 150-80 (11-4) .652

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - Miami
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Louisville
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - South Alabama
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Wake Forest
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Oklahoma St
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - Coastal Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - UCF
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Arkansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Syracuse
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - Maryland
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - South Carolina
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Clemson
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Kentucky
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Alabama
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Miss St
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Penn St
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia

Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
146-84 (9-6) .634

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - Miami, Ohio
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Louisville
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - South Alabama
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Missouri
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Oklahoma St
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - Coastal Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - UCF
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Kansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - North Carolina
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Syracuse
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Washington
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - NC State
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - Notre Dame
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Tennessee
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Kentucky
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Alabama
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Miss St
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Penn St
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia

Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
143-87 (9-6) .622

Cure Bowl (Dec. 16) Troy vs. UTSA - Troy
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 16) UAB vs. Miami, Ohio - UAB
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 17) Florida vs. Oregon St - Oregon St
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 17) Cincinnati vs. Louisville - Cincinnati
Lending Tree Bowl (Dec. 17) Rice vs. Southern Miss - Southern Miss
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 21) South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22) Air Force vs. Baylor - Baylor
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23) Missouri vs. Wake Forest - Wake Forest
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 27) Oklahoma St vs. Wisconsin - Wisconsin
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 27) Coastal Carolina vs East Carolina - East Carolina
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 27) Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern  - Georgia Southern
Military Bowl (Dec. 28) Duke vs. UCF - Duke
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28) Arkansas vs. Kansas - Kansas
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28) North Carolina vs Oregon - Oregon
Texas Bowl (Dec. 28) Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss - Ole Miss
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29) Minnesota vs. Syracuse - Syracuse
Cheeze-It Bowl (Dec. 29) Oklahoma vs. Florida St - Florida St
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29) Texas vs. Washington - Texas
Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30) NC St vs. Maryland - NC State
Gator Bowl (Dec. 30) Notre Dame vs. South Carolina - South Carolina
Sun Bowl (Dec. 30) Pitt vs. UCLA - UCLA
Orange Bowl (Dec. 30) Clemson vs. Tennessee - Tennessee
Music City Bowl (Dec. 31) Kentucky vs. Iowa - Kentucky
Sugar Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs. Kansas St  - Kansas St
Relia Quest Bowl (Jan. 2) Illinois vs. Miss St - Illinois
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 2) Tulane vs. Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2) LSU vs. Purdue - LSU
Rose Bowl (Jan. 2) Utah vs. Penn St - Utah
CFP - Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) Michigan vs. TCU - Michigan
CFP - Peach Bowl (Dec. 30) Georgia vs. Ohio St - Georgia

National Champion (Jan 9): Georgia