PRESS PICKS (Week 1): Depth charts aside, college football season is ready to go

STAFF REPORT

What is it with depth charts?

Are they the Holy Grail of college football teams? Do they hold a magic elixir for fans and media members alike?

Why are we talking so much about a piece of paper that has little or no value at this point of the season?

Thank Nick Saban for all of this.

In his Monday press conference, Saban announced that there would be no depth chart handed out prior to Saturday’s game with Middle Tennessee State. Most saw it as a way to protect the three quarterbacks (or is it four?) who are vying for the starter’s job.

But the fact is Saban already knows who the starter will be and chances are so do the three signal callers. They know who got the most snaps in preseason workouts. So, the only secret is being held from the fans, who will pull for whoever takes the snaps.

“Experts” believe Jalen Milroe gets the nod based on “seniority” and experience in an Alabama jersey. Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner has more playing time but not in the 90-degree heat.

Still, the thought is why is a depth chart so important to so many people? It has no real intrinsic value. It isn’t etched in stone. If a coach decides to make a change on game day, so be it. It doesn’t have medicinal purposes, at least for most.

But fans were clamoring for answers, especially who the Bama QB would be. And why.

Alas, they will have to wait untl about 6:30 Saturday night. Can they make it that long?

Doug Amos opened the 2023 season with an impressive mark to lead after a week of picks.

2023 Overall Standings (Last week) 

1. Doug Amos  13-2 (13-2) .867 

2. Wesley Lyle  12-3 (12-3) .800 

3. Graham Dunn  11-4 (11-4) .733

    Lindsey Bonner  11-4  (10-5) .733 

5. Mike Peacock  10-5 (10-5) .667 

6. Rick Hendrick  8-7 (8-7) .533

    Tim Gayle  8-7 (8-7) .533 

    Rosie Langello 8-7 (8-7) .533 

    Barry McKnight  8-7 (8-7) .533

    Michael Butler  8-7 (8-7).533

Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)  


13-2 (13-2) .867 

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Pike Road

St James at Handley - St. James

Baker at Wetumpka - Wetumpka

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Alabama St

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Utah

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - North Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)  

12-3 (12-3) .800 

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Hillcrest

St James at Handley - Headland

Baker at Wetumpka - Wetumpka

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Alabama St

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Florida

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - North Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director WAKA Ch. 8)  


11-4  (10-5) .733

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Hillcrest

St James at Handley - St. James

Baker at Wetumpka - Baker

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BTW

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Southern

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Utah

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - North Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)  


11-4 (11-4) .733

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Hillcrest

St James at Handley - Handley

Baker at Wetumpka - Wetumpka

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BTW

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Alabama St

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Utah

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - North Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)

10-5 (10-5) .667 

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Hillcrest

St James at Handley - Handley

Baker at Wetumpka - Baker

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Alabama St

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Utah

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - South Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - Florida St

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)  


8-7 (8-7) .533

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Hillcrest

St James at Handley - St. James

Baker at Wetumpka - Baker

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BTW

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Alabama St

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Utah

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - South Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)


8-7 (8-7) .533

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Hillcrest

St James at Handley - Handley

Baker at Wetumpka - Wetumpka

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BTW

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Alabama St

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Utah

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - South Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits) 


8-7 (8-7) .533

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Pike Road

St James at Handley - St. James

Baker at Wetumpka - Wetumpka

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Southern

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Florida

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - South Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington

Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)

8-7 (8-7) .533

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Hillcrest

St James at Handley - Handley

Baker at Wetumpka - Wetumpka

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - BTW

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Southern

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Utah

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - North Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - LSU

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington - Boise St

Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans) 


8-7 (8-7) .533

Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa at Pike Road - Pike Road

St James at Handley - St. James

Baker at Wetumpka - Wetumpka

Montgomery Academy at Trinity - Trinity

B.T. Washington at Tallassee - Tallassee

MTSU at Alabama - Alabama

UMass at Auburn - Auburn

Stephen F. Austin at Troy - Troy

Southern at Alabama St - Southern

Florida at Utah (Thur) - Florida

Virginia at Tennessee - Tennessee

North Carolina at South Carolina - South Carolina

LSU vs. Florida St (Sun/Orlando) - Florida St

West Virginia at Penn St - Penn St.

Boise St at Washington -Washington