PRESS PICKS: Debate begins on playoffs after six weeks of play
STAFF REPORT
We watch this play out almost every year. The debates begin well before the season opens.
The idea of which team will breeze through the season right into the playoffs.
It’s easy pickins’. No one will question the idea of Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Ohio State as the choice for the semifinals.
But in June, that’s what everybody had with Georgia right behind.
Now that Clemson is out of the picture and the other frontrunners have a loss (save Oklahoma, of course), we’ve moved on to the next set of absolutes.
Yes, Georgia is a shoo in. Iowa is unbeatable, unless the one of the Big 10’s other unbeatens gets a hold of them, aka Michigan.
And Cincinnati is an automatic since no one left on their schedule has a chance of dethroning them.
We can’t seem to help it. We live and die with the current situation as though it will not change. Yet, we know it will.
How disappointed will the pundits be when Alabama, Ohio State and Oregon end up in the semis? Since they are already buried, the thought is probably devastating.
But there is a good chance that happens. It’s true that Georgia should finish the regular season unbeaten but a loss to the Tide in the SEC Championship game would put both in (assuming Alabama finishes the rest of its games unscathed and if it doesn’t it will not meet Georgia). That would leave Cincinnati out, and with good reason. Their win over Notre Dame is nice but the remainder of their schedule is not too challenging. That will probably show up when the first playoff poll comes out in a few weeks.
Apparently a new playoff proposal is on the table that will basically let everybody in and that’s the main directive the media has given those in charge. We want fairness and we’ll stop at nothing to get it.
In the meantime, let’s reward those that are less fortunate and start with the Bearcats, who deserves a spot in the playoff no matter what.
(But what about Coastal Carolina?)
Mike Peacock kept his lead on the panel while Tim Gayle moved into second.
2021 Standings (Week)
1. Mike Peacock 81-29 (12-3) .736
2. Tim Gayle 78-32 (11-4) .709
3. Graham Dunn 77-33 (8-7) .700
4. Doug Amos 76-34 (12-3) .691
5. Rick Hendrick 75-35 (11-4) .682
6. Barry McKnight 72-38 (8-7) .655
Michael Butler 72-38 (10-5) .655
8. Dylan Hurst 70-40 (9-6) .636
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
81-29 (12-3) .736
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Carver
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – MA
Tallassee at Holtville – Holtville
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Stanhope Elmore
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Auburn
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Ole Miss
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Texas
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Clemson
BYU at Baylor – BYU
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
78-32 (11-4) .709
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Lanier
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – MA
Tallassee at Holtville – Holtville
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Helena
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Arkansas
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Ole Miss
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Texas
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Clemson
BYU at Baylor – Baylor
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
77-33 (8-7) .700
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Lanier
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – Thomasville
Tallassee at Holtville – Tallassee
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Helena
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Arkansas
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Ole Miss
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Oklahoma St
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Syracuse
BYU at Baylor – Baylor
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
76-34 (12-3) .691
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Lanier
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – MA
Tallassee at Holtville – Tallassee
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Helena
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Arkansas
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Tennessee
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Texas
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Clemson
BYU at Baylor – Baylor
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
75-35 (11-4) .682
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Carver
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – Thomasville
Tallassee at Holtville – Tallassee
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Stanhope Elmore
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Auburn
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Tennessee
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Kentucky
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Texas
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Clemson
BYU at Baylor – BYU
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
72-38 (8-7) .655
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Lanier
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – MA
Tallassee at Holtville – Holtville
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Stanhope Elmore
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Arkansas
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Tennessee
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Oklahoma St
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Clemson
BYU at Baylor – Baylor
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
72-38 (10-5) .655
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Lanier
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – Thomasville
Tallassee at Holtville – Tallassee
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Helena
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Arkansas
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Tennessee
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Oklahoma St
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Clemson
BYU at Baylor – Baylor
Dylan Hurst (River Region Sports)
70-40 (9-6) .636
Sidney Lanier vs. Carver – Lanier
Trinity at Montgomery Catholic – Catholic
Montgomery Academy at Thomasville – MA
Tallassee at Holtville – Holtville
Helena at Stanhope Elmore – Stanhope Elmore
Alabama at Miss St – Alabama
Auburn at Arkansas – Arkansas
Troy at Texas St - Troy
Ole Miss at Tennessee – Ole Miss
Florida at LSU– Florida
Kentucky at Georgia – Georgia
Texas A&M at Missouri – Texas A&M
Oklahoma St at Texas – Texas
Clemson at Syracuse (Fri) – Clemson
BYU at Baylor – Baylor