PRESS PICKS: The good and bad of the final week of football
STAFF REPORT
Championship week has its ups and downs.
First, the downs – it’s the final week of the season and that fits for high school and college. We’ve seen so much happen this year and yet nothing will touch 2020 with COVID interrupting what would have been a regular season (last year, we’d still be playing regular season games this week).
The good? Start with the fact that the season went without a glitch. Remember how the naysayers were at it back in July wanting to ease into the schedule. Schools had no choice but to run headlong into the season if only for financial reasons.
Each weekend had its own “identity” where something odd seemed to happen. The list is too long to get into but we are still seeing it this week with all the coaching changes. (It’s true, Notre Dame could make the playoff without a head coach in place.)
It has led us to the final weekend where anything can happen.
Yes, that statement fits. The playoff is nowhere near settled. There is a lot speculation about what the committee would do if “this” happens or “that” happens. Too much here to contemplate. But there is one certainty, most are pulling for Georgia to knock off the defending champions.
That has been stated on national shows without provocation. It helps the narrative to give the “little guy” a chance although most believe if Cincinnati wins, the Bearcats are in.
It’s not necessarily fatigue but most are rooting for four new teams to be in the playoff and the chances of that are very good. If Georgia wins, it probably knocks out the Tide. Ohio State is out and Clemson hasn’t been heard from since the opening season loss to Georgia.
There is a distant chance Oklahoma could sneak in but Lincoln Riley apparently didn’t think so. He’s in Los Angeles at the moment soaking in the sun.
We wait ‘til Sunday to find out but first, the champions of each conference, 10 in all, will decide their winner this weekend.
After that, let the speculation begin.
Doug Amos has continued to lead the panel with bowl picks coming up next week.
2021 Standings (Week)
1. Doug Amos 150-65 (11-4) .697
2. Mike Peacock 147-68 (9-6) .684
Graham Dunn 147-68 (10-5) .684
4. Tim Gayle 146-69 (10-5) .679
5. Michael Butler 143-72 (10-5) .665
6. Rick Hendrick 141-74 (11-4) .656
7. Barry McKnight 137-78 (10-5) .637
8. Dylan Hurst 135-80 (9-6) .628
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
150-65 (11-4) .697
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – MA
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Thompson
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Sweet Water
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Georgia
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Pitt
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Cincinnati
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - UTSA
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Utah
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – La.-LaFayette
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Kent St
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – San Diego St
USC at Cal – Cal
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
147-68 (9-6) .684
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – Piedmont
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Thompson
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Wadley
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Georgia
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Pitt
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Cincinnati
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Utah
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – App State
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Northern Illinois
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – San Diego St
USC at Cal – USC
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
147-68 (10-5) .684
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – MA
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Central-PC
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Sweet Water
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Alabama
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Baylor
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Pitt
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Cincinnati
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - UTSA
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Oregon
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – La.-LaFayette
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Kent St
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – Utah St
USC at Cal – Cal
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
146-69 (10-5) .679
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – MA
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Thompson
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Sweet Water
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Georgia
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Pitt
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Cincinnati
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - UTSA
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Utah
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – La.-LaFayette
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Kent St
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – San Diego St
USC at Cal – USC
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
143-72 (10-5) .665
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – MA
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Central-PC
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Sweet Water
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Georgia
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Pitt
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Cincinnati
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - Western Kentucky
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Utah
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – La.-LaFayette
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Northern Illinois
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – San Diego St
USC at Cal – USC
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
141-74 (11-4) .656
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – Piedmont
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Thompson
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Sweet Water
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Alabama
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Wake Forest
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Cincinnati
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - UTSA
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Oregon
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – App State
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Northern Illinois
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – San Diego St
USC at Cal – USC
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
137-78 (10-5) .637
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – MA
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Central-PC
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Wadley
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Georgia
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Oklahoma St
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Wake Forest
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Houston
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - UTSA
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Utah
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – La.-LaFayette
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Northern Illinois
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – San Diego St
USC at Cal – USC
Dylan Hurst (River Region Sports)
135-80 (9-6) .628
3A: Montgomery Academy vs. Piedmont – MA
5A: Pleasant Grove vs. Pike Road – Pike Road
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City – Thompson
1A: Wadley vs. Sweet Water – Sweet Water
SEC: Alabama vs. Georgia – Georgia
Big 10: Iowa vs. Michigan – Michigan
Big 12: Baylor vs. Oklahoma St – Baylor
ACC: Pitt vs. Wake Forest – Wake Forest
AAC: Cincinnati vs. Houston – Cincinnati
CUSA: UTSA vs. Western Kentucky - UTSA
Pac-12: Oregon vs. Utah – Utah
Sun Belt: Appalachian St vs. La-LaFayette – App State
MAC: Kent St vs. Northern Illinois – Kent St
Mountain West: Utah St vs. San Diego St – Utah St
USC at Cal – USC