PRESS PICKS: Season moves slowly towards SEC openers
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