PRESS PICKS: Season moves slowly towards SEC openers

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STAFF REPORT

Every week is a new season, of sorts.

Last week, several teams in the Group of 5 opened 2020. This week, it’s the ACC and Big 12 (minus a couple) that will ring in the new year.

But everyone is waiting for two weeks when the Southeastern Conference rolls out the openers.

But first things first.

The ACC will actually open conference play with a couple of key games including North Carolina and Syracuse tangling in Chapel Hill. Notre Dame, the new member of the league, plays Duke while Florida State and Georgia Tech tangle.

In preps, key games this weekend at Cramton Bowl where Lee battles Lanier and Park Crossing faces Carver. Catholic also has an important showdown with Reeltown in region play.

Edgewood and Macon East scored almost 140 points combined a year ago. What is on tap for this year?

In the standings, Michael Butler rode a big week to take the top spot over Graham Dunn and Doug Amos. Only three picks separate first from fifth place.

 

 

2020 Standings (Last Week) 

1. Michael Butler  28-8 (13-2) .778

2. Graham Dunn  27-9 (10-5) .750

    Doug Amos  27-9 (11-4) .750

4. Tim Gayle  26-10 (11-4) .722

5. Barry McKnight  25-11 (10-5) .695

6. Mike Peacock  24-12 (10-5) .667

7. Rick Hendrick  22-14 (9-6) .611

8. Darrell Puckett 19-17 (8-7) .528

 

Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)  
28-8 (13-2) .778

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Park Crossing

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Hillcrest

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Stanhope Elmore

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Tallassee

Catholic at Reeltown – Catholic

Beauregard at Holtville – Holtville

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Maplesville

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Pike Road

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Macon East

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - Miami

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Florida St

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida

 

Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)  
27-9 (10-5) .750

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Carver

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Wetumpka

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Stanhope Elmore

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Sylacauga

Catholic at Reeltown – Catholic

Beauregard at Holtville – Holtville

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Maplesville

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Pike Road

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Edgewood

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - Miami

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Florida St

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida

 

 

Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)  
27-9 (11-4) .750

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Carver

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Hillcrest

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Pelham

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Sylacauga

Catholic at Reeltown – Catholic

Beauregard at Holtville – Holtville

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Maplesville

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Pike Road

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Macon East

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - Miami

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Florida St

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida

 

 

Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
26-10 (11-4) .722

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Park Crossing

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Hillcrest

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Stanhope Elmore

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Sylacauga

Catholic at Reeltown – Catholic

Beauregard at Holtville – Holtville

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Maplesville

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Andalusia

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Edgewood

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - Miami

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Florida St

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida

 

Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
25-11 (10-5) .695

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Park Crossing

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Wetumpka

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Pelham

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Sylacauga

Catholic at Reeltown – Catholic

Beauregard at Holtville – Beauregard

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Maplesville

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Pike Road

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Edgewood

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - Miami

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Florida St

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida

 

Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
24-12 (10-5) .667

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Carver

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Hillcrest

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Stanhope Elmore

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Sylacauga

Catholic at Reeltown – Reeltown

Beauregard at Holtville – Holtville

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Maplesville

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Andalusia

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Edgewood

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - Miami

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Georgia Tech

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida

 

Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
22-14 (9-6) .611

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Park Crossing

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Hillcrest

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Pelham

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Tallassee

Catholic at Reeltown – Catholic

Beauregard at Holtville – Holtville

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Billingsley

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Andalusia

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Edgewood

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - Miami

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Florida St

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida

 

Darrell Puckett (WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)  
19-17 (8-7) .528

Park Crossing vs G.W. Carver (Thur) -  Park Crossing

Lanier vs. Lee -  Lee

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Wetumpka  –  Hillcrest

Stanhope Elmore at Pelham – Pelham

Sylacauga at Tallassee – Tallassee

Catholic at Reeltown – Catholic

Beauregard at Holtville – Holtville

Maplesville at Billingsley  – Maplesville

Pike Road at Andalusia  - Pike Road

Edgewood Academy at Macon East –  Macon East

UAB at Miami, Fla (Thur) - UAB

Duke at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

Georgia Tech at Florida St – Florida St

Syracuse at North Carolina  -  North Carolina

Citadel at South Florida – South Florida