PRESS PICKS: Interuptions continue for high school, college schedules making for spooky weekend
STAFF REPORT
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water…
Another hurricane has mucked up the works although not to the degree of the last tropical disturbance. This time, only a few high school games were interrupted and were moved to Friday.
It must be Halloween weekend.
That said, it seems like we can’t go a weekend without something causing a stir, whether or not its weather or pandemics or whatever. Although it wasn’t on the pick sheet this week, there has to be some concern watching a game in the Big 10 already get canned due to coronavirus. There is no place to put Wisconsin-Nebraska since the league experts left no open dates for the season. But most felt like this would happen at some point – but not this early.
It begs the question, particularly when it comes to Ohio State – how many games is enough to qualify for the playoff? If the committee is paying attention, the number of games does matter, particularly when games are within conference boundaries. No one expects the Buckeyes to lose a game this season – including this week’s matchup against Penn State.
But no one expected Penn State to lose to Indiana, either.
The cry has already begun in regards to what is the appropriate number. There is no answer to the question since all of this is subjective to the committee that selects the teams. The writers and bloggers (now basically one and the same) already are apologizing for the Big10 in case there is a shortage on the schedule. It’s doubtful it will be necessary since Ohio State has already shot back into the top 3 in most polls.
The irony is teams such as Georgia and Florida will suffer since they will have 10 tries (11 if they make the SEC Championship game) to be in a losing situation and in each case already has.
The rest of the country has cried, since this system began, that the playing field has never been level and tilted toward the southeast. In 2020, they might get their wish and watch the SEC burn due to its desire to play a full conference schedule.
Doug Amos continues to be on top of the panel and his lead increased after last week’s picks.
2020 Standings (Last Week)
1. Doug Amos 103-36 (10-5) .741
2. Graham Dunn 99-40 (8-7) .712
3. Tim Gayle 96-43 (8-7) .691
4. Michael Butler 95-44 (7-8) .683
5. Barry McKnight 92-47 (8-7) .662
6. Mike Peacock 91-48 (9-6) .655
7. Rick Hendrick 90-49 (7-8) .648
8. Darrell Puckett 87-52 (11-4) .626
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
103-36 (10-5) .741
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – ACA
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Reeltown at Holtville - Holtville
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at Arkansas St - Troy
Missouri at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
99-40 (8-7) .712
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – Montgomery Aca
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Reeltown at Holtville - Holtville
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at Arkansas St - Troy
Missouri at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
96-43 (8-7) .691
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – Montgomery Aca
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Reeltown at Holtville - Holtville
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at Arkansas St - Arkansas St
Missouri at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)
95-44 (7-8) .683
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – Montgomery Aca
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Reeltown at Holtville - Holtville
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – LSU
Troy at Arkansas St - Arkansas St
Missouri at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
92-47 (8-7) .662
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville – Bob Jones
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – Montgomery Aca
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Reeltown at Holtville - Holtville
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at Arkansas St - Troy
Missouri at Florida - Missouri
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Texas
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
91-48 (9-6) .655
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – Montgomery Aca
St. James at Trinity - St.James
Reeltown at Holtville - Holtville
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at Arkansas St - Troy
Missouri at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
90-49 (7-8) .648
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – Montgomery Aca
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Reeltown at Holtville - Reeltown
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – Auburn
Troy at Arkansas St - Troy
Missouri at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati
Darrell Puckett (formerly of WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)
87-52 (11-4) .626
Jeff Davis vs Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Bob Jones at Prattville - Prattville
Montgomery Academy at Alabama Christian (Thu) – ACA
St. James at Trinity - Trinity
Reeltown at Holtville - Holtville
Miss St at Alabama – Alabama
LSU at Auburn – LSU
Troy at Arkansas St - Arkansas St
Missouri at Florida - Florida
Georgia at Kentucky – Georgia
Arkansas at Texas A&M – Texas A&M
Ohio St at Penn St – Ohio St
Texas at Oklahoma St – Texas
North Carolina at Virginia – North Carolina
Memphis at Cincinnati – Cincinnati