PRESS PICKS (Championship week): A lesson in how the playoff game is played - at least off the field

STAFF REPORT

Before the championship games are played, the debate on the top four teams in the final CFP poll has begun.

Didn’t we learn anything from last week?

Apparently not. The discussion centers on what happens if TCU and/or USC falter in their respective conference championship games.

If you aren’t sure of how this works, the “eye test” matters. If either one looks bad in a loss, their chances go down the drain.

Look at Tennessee. The Vols are out of contention not only because of their two losses but how bad they looked in each. Tennessee fans are upset their beloved Big Orange is behind Alabama but they fail to realize that losing by a large margin to a little-better-than average South Carolina team means a lot to the committee.

Head to head? Yeah it matters if it’s the only criterion. But in their world, it is the only criterion. Of course, that would mean South Carolina should be ranked ahead of them but we know that’s not pertinent.

So, what does happen if the Trojans lose? Pretty simple - the Ohio State Buckeyes take their place. If TCU loses, some believe they have enough staying power but if you study how the committee has worked in the past, it will penalize the Frogs for not having a marquee name.

That means - wait for it - Alabama will become the first team to make the semifinals with two losses. If that happens, there will be mass hysteria in the college football world. Tim Brando, a vociferous opponent of the playoff, might make a pilgrimage to Arlington and start a protest.

The Internet will break down. Elon Musk will be asked to intervene and make all of this “fair.”

But we all see this however we choose. Everyone has a dog in the fight, whether it’s our favorite team or our most hated team and in this case that’s the mighty Crimson Tide.

Does Alabama belong? That’s another debate but there is a reason why the committee has it No. 6 - they did enough in the other 10 games in the nation’s best conference to earn the spot.

Like it or not, that’s where we are with one more poll to go.

After 14 weeks, Doug Amos stays on top of the standings, holding the lead over Tim Gayle with two sets of picks left in the season.

2022 Overall Standings (Last Week)

1. Doug Amos 152-63 (8-7) .707

2. Tim Gayle 151-64 (8-7) .702

3. Graham Dunn 147-68 (5-10) .683

Michael Butler 147-68 (6-9).683

Wesley Lyle 147–68 (7-8) .683

6.. Mike Peacock 143-72 (6-9) .665

7. Rick Hendrick 139-76 (8-7) .647

8. Rosie Langello 137-78 (5-10) .637

9. Barry McKnight 134-81 (10-5) .623

Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Fox 20)
152-63 (8-7) .707

1A: Leroy vs. Pickens County - Leroy
2A: Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer - Fyffe
3A:St. James vs. Piedmont -St. James
4A: Andalusia vs. Cherokee Co - Andalusia
5A: Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson - Charles Henderson
6A: Saraland vs. Mountain Brook - Mountain Brook
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn - Thompson

SEC: Georgia vs. LSU– Georgia
SUN BELT: Coastal Carolina at Troy- Troy
PAC 12: USC vs. Utah (Fri) - USC
ACC: Clemson vs. North Carolina - Clemson
BIG 12: Kansas St vs. TCU – TCU
BIG 10: Michigan vs. Purdue- Michigan
AAC: UCF at Tulane - Tulane
MTN WEST:Fresno St at Boise St - Boise St

Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
151-64 (8-7) .702

Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
147-68 (5-10) .683

1A: Leroy vs. Pickens County - Leroy
2A: Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer - Fyffe
3A:St. James vs. Piedmont -St. James
4A: Andalusia vs. Cherokee Co - Andalusia
5A: Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson - Ramsay
6A: Saraland vs. Mountain Brook - Saraland
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn - Auburn

SEC: Georgia vs. LSU– Georgia
SUN BELT: Coastal Carolina at Troy- Troy
PAC 12: USC vs. Utah (Fri) - USC
ACC: Clemson vs. North Carolina - Clemson
BIG 12: Kansas St vs. TCU – Kansas St
BIG 10: Michigan vs. Purdue- Michigan
AAC: UCF at Tulane - Tulane
MTN WEST:Fresno St at Boise St - Fresno St

Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
147-68 (6-9).683

1A: Leroy vs. Pickens County - Leroy
2A: Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer - Fyffe
3A:St. James vs. Piedmont -St. James
4A: Andalusia vs. Cherokee Co - Andalusia
5A: Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson - Ramsay
6A: Saraland vs. Mountain Brook - Mountain Brook
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn - Thompson

Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
147–68 (7-8) .683

1A: Leroy vs. Pickens County - Pickens Co
2A: Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer - Fyffe
3A:St. James vs. Piedmont -St. James
4A: Andalusia vs. Cherokee Co - Andalusia
5A: Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson - Charles Henderson
6A: Saraland vs. Mountain Brook - Mountain Brook
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn - Auburn

Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
143-72 (6-9) .665

1A: Leroy vs. Pickens County - Pickens Co
2A: Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer - Fyffe
3A:St. James vs. Piedmont -Piedmont
4A: Andalusia vs. Cherokee Co - Andalusia
5A: Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson - Charles Henderson
6A: Saraland vs. Mountain Brook - Saraland
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn - Thompson

Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA for Montgomery Biscuits)
139-76 (8-7) .647

1A: Leroy vs. Pickens County - Leroy
2A: Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer - B.B. Comer
3A:St. James vs. Piedmont -St. James
4A: Andalusia vs. Cherokee Co - Andalusia
5A: Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson - Ramsay
6A: Saraland vs. Mountain Brook - Mountain Brook
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn - Thompson

SEC: Georgia vs. LSU– Georgia
SUN BELT: Coastal Carolina at Troy- Troy
PAC 12: USC vs. Utah (Fri) - Utah
ACC: Clemson vs. North Carolina - Clemson
BIG 12: Kansas St vs. TCU – Kansas St
BIG 10: Michigan vs. Purdue- Michigan
AAC: UCF at Tulane - Central Florida
MTN WEST:Fresno St at Boise St - Boise St

Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
137-78 (5-10) .637

1A: Leroy vs. Pickens County - Leroy
2A: Fyffe vs. B.B. Comer - Fyffe
3A:St. James vs. Piedmont -Piedmont
4A: Andalusia vs. Cherokee Co - Andalusia
5A: Ramsay vs. Charles Henderson - Charles Henderson
6A: Saraland vs. Mountain Brook - Saraland
7A: Thompson vs. Auburn - Thompson

SEC: Georgia vs. LSU– Georgia
SUN BELT: Coastal Carolina at Troy- Troy
PAC 12: USC vs. Utah (Fri) - USC
ACC: Clemson vs. North Carolina - Clemson
BIG 12: Kansas St vs. TCU – TCU
BIG 10: Michigan vs. Purdue- Michigan
AAC: UCF at Tulane - Central Florida
MTN WEST:Fresno St at Boise St - Boise St

Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
134-81 (10-5) .623

SEC: Georgia vs. LSU– Georgia
SUN BELT: Coastal Carolina at Troy- Troy
PAC 12: USC vs. Utah (Fri) - USC
ACC: Clemson vs. North Carolina - North Carolina
BIG 12: Kansas St vs. TCU – Kansas St
BIG 10: Michigan vs. Purdue- Michigan
AAC: UCF at Tulane - Tulane
MTN WEST:Fresno St at Boise St - Fresno St

College, CommunityGraham DunnNovember 29, 2022St. James HS, SEC, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers