PRESS PICKS: Pac 12 makes the scene although it's a little late
STAFF REPORT
The (late) arrival of the Pac 12 has not exactly caused much of a wave of excitement.
Granted, with everyone else already playing, it’s hard to nudge into the headlines when plenty of stories are surrounding the top contenders or the fact that there is a Big 10 team sidelined because of COVID (Wisconsin).
So what does the conference do? Adjust TV times.
It’s a smart move in that you can’t just ignore the league when it’s willing to sacrifice a game every week to gain our attention. USC and Arizona State will rise early to play on the dew-laden grass of the LA Coliseum on Saturday. Arizona State coach Herm Edwards says the team breakfast will be served beginning at 4:30 a.m. California time.
He doesn’t expect to have any takers that early but for those birds that want a worm, they can have it.
The main question has to do with the legitimacy of playing a six-game schedule in regards to playoff implications. The league hasn’t factored in the race much since its inception with Oregon and Washington being the only entries over six years.
It doesn’t seem possible they could count in the race again this year. Besides, most of the Pac 12 coaches and players are just happy to get outside and enjoy the sunshine, at least where it’s legal.
As a public service, here is the only scenario where somebody like Oregon or USC (which would only meet in the conference championship game) gets in. One finishes undefeated and a complete conundrum takes place in one of the three conferences (not including the Big 12, which actually would get a bid over pretty much anyone in the Pac 12).
That would look like a two-loss team winning the conference championship (i.e. Georgia or Florida in the SEC) or possibly a Wisconsin team that plays fewer games than a Pac 12 team, ends up in the Big 10 championship and upsets Ohio State. That doesn’t include the idea of a Cincinnati or BYU providing enough of an impression to sneak into the fold.
More than likely, the league will do what it usually does and eliminate each other, even in just six games. There is no reason to believe consistency will suddenly appear in a league that hasn’t shown any in a decade.
It might be fun watching the first game (11 a.m. Central time) to see if either team is awake. Or it might be a surprise to see if either the Sun Devils or Trojans actually play better in the early part of the day, which will prove the league right on both points.
1.We watched and 2. they are better than we thought.
Doug Amos continued his lead in the standings, although it dropped by a couple of picks.
High school playoffs begin this week with several teams in the River Region looking to advance with a first-round win.
2020 Standings (Last Week)
1. Doug Amos 113-41 (10-5) .733
2. Graham Dunn 110-44 (11-4) .714
3. Tim Gayle 106-48 (10-5) .688
4. Michael Butler 104-50 (9-6) .675
5. Barry McKnight 102-52 (10-5) .662
Rick Hendrick 102-52 (12-3) .662
6. Mike Peacock 101-53 (10-5) .656
8. Darrell Puckett 96-58 (9-6) .623
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
113-41 (10-5) .733
Carver at Helena – Helena
Prattville at Daphne - Daphne
Flomaton at Trinity – Trinity
Montevallo at St. James - St. James
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Catholic
Troy at Georgia Southern - Troy
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Florida
Tennessee at Arkansas – Arkansas
Texas A&M at South Carolina – Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Miss St
Clemson at Notre Dame – Clemson
Stanford at Oregon – Oregon
Michigan at Indiana – Michigan
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – BYU
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
110-44 (11-4) .714
Carver at Helena – Carver
Prattville at Daphne - Daphne
Flomaton at Trinity – Flomaton
Montevallo at St. James - St. James
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Catholic
Troy at Georgia Southern - Ga Southern
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Florida
Tennessee at Arkansas – Tennessee
Texas A&M at South Carolina – Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Vanderbilt
Clemson at Notre Dame – Clemson
Stanford at Oregon – Oregon
Michigan at Indiana – Michigan
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – Boise St
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
106-48 (10-5) .688
Carver at Helena – Helena
Prattville at Daphne - Prattville
Flomaton at Trinity – Trinity
Montevallo at St. James - St. James
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Catholic
Troy at Georgia Southern - Ga Southern
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Georgia
Tennessee at Arkansas – Tennessee
Texas A&M at South Carolina – Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Miss St
Clemson at Notre Dame – Clemson
Stanford at Oregon – Oregon
Michigan at Indiana – Indiana
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – Boise St
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)
104-50 (9-6) .675
Carver at Helena – Carver
Prattville at Daphne - Prattville
Flomaton at Trinity – Flomaton
Montevallo at St. James - St. James
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Catholic
Troy at Georgia Southern - Ga Southern
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Florida
Tennessee at Arkansas – Tennessee
Texas A&M at South Carolina – Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Miss St
Clemson at Notre Dame – Clemson
Stanford at Oregon – Oregon
Michigan at Indiana – Michigan
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – Boise St
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
102-52 (10-5) .662
Carver at Helena – Helena
Prattville at Daphne - Daphne
Flomaton at Trinity – Trinity
Montevallo at St. James - St. James
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Bayside
Troy at Georgia Southern - Troy
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Florida
Tennessee at Arkansas – Tennessee
Texas A&M at South Carolina – Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Miss St
Clemson at Notre Dame – Clemson
Stanford at Oregon – Oregon
Michigan at Indiana – Michigan
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – BYU
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
102-52 (12-3) .662
Carver at Helena – Helena
Prattville at Daphne - Daphne
Flomaton at Trinity – Flomaton
Montevallo at St. James - St. James
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Catholic
Troy at Georgia Southern - Ga Southern
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Florida
Tennessee at Arkansas – Arkansas
Texas A&M at South Carolina – South Carolina
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Miss St
Clemson at Notre Dame – Notre Dame
Stanford at Oregon – Oregon
Michigan at Indiana – Michigan
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – BYU
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
101-53 (10-5) .656
Carver at Helena – Carver
Prattville at Daphne - Daphne
Flomaton at Trinity – Flomaton
Montevallo at St. James - St. James
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Catholic
Troy at Georgia Southern - Troy
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Georgia
Tennessee at Arkansas – Arkansas
Texas A&M at South Carolina – Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Miss St
Clemson at Notre Dame – Clemson
Stanford at Oregon – Oregon
Michigan at Indiana – Michigan
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – BYU
Darrell Puckett (formerly of WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)
96-58 (9-6) .623
Carver at Helena – Helena
Prattville at Daphne - Prattville
Flomaton at Trinity – Trinity
Montevallo at St. James - Montevallo
Bayside Academy at Catholic - Catholic
Troy at Georgia Southern - Troy
Georgia vs. Florida (J’ville) - Florida
Tennessee at Arkansas – Arkansas
Texas A&M at South Carolina – Texas A&M
Vanderbilt at Miss St – Miss St
Clemson at Notre Dame – Notre Dame
Stanford at Oregon – Stanford
Michigan at Indiana – Michigan
Air Force at Army – Army
BYU at Boise St. (Fri) – Boise St