PRESS PICKS: We've reached the conference championship portion of the schedule

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STAFF REPORT

It’s Championship Week.

But does that really mean anything in 2020?

Sure, Clemson and Notre Dame will have another “game of games,” albeit on a neutral field. The Sun Belt is playing the first game that the college football world might actually pay attention to. Ditto for the American Athletic Conference where Cincinnati is hoping to catch some eyeballs with their game with Tulsa,that is if people will see to it to change channels from watching Alabama and Florida.

The irony in the SEC this week is the best game may not be in Atlanta but in Baton Rouge where the resurgent LSU Tigers play Lane Train and the Ole Miss Rebels. No offense to Bama and the Gators but that one might actually be close.

Get an early start with the Marshall-UAB game on Friday. Or Ball State and Buffalo and its super running back Jaret Paterson, who went over 1,000 yards rushing in just five games.

The Pac-12 game is also on Friday but USC has a new opponent in Oregon after Washington was limited in roster after COVID. Who knew you could use a substitute in a championship game?

But it really comes down to the ACC title game, at least as far as the playoffs are concerned. A Notre Dame win all but opens a spot for somebody (Texas A&M, Iowa State, etc) to hop in the fray.

A Clemson win probably eliminates the four spot, that is depending on what happens with Ohio State.

Most agree Alabama is in regardless of the outcome Saturday, although Florida would probably do a lot of crowing about beating the No. 1 team and “deserving” to get in despite two losses.

It will be a fun weekend and fortunately, the championship games do have meaning, even if some teams are playing just their fifth or sixth game of the season.

Doug Amos continues to lead with two sets of picks remaining for the season. The panel will pick several bowl games beginning next week.

 

 

 

2020 Standings (Last Week) 

1. Doug Amos  173-62 (9-3) .736

2. Graham Dunn  168-67 (10-2) .715

3. Michael Butler  166-69 (10-2) .706

4. Tim Gayle  165-70 (10-2) .702

5. Mike Peacock  160-75 (9-3) .681

    Rick Hendrick  160-75 (10-2) .681

7. Barry McKnight  158-77 (8-4) .672

8. Darrell Puckett 154-81 (7-5) .655

 

Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)  
173-62 (9-3) .736

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – UAB

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo - Buffalo

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - Oregon

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Ohio St

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Oklahoma

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Clemson

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Missouri

Ole Miss at LSU – LSU

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Wisconsin

 

 

 

Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
168-67 (10-2) .715

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – UAB

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo - Buffalo

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - Oregon

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Ohio St

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Oklahoma

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Clemson

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Missouri

Ole Miss at LSU – Ole Miss

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Wisconsin

 

 

 

 

Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)  
166-69 (10-2) .706

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – Marshall

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo - Buffalo

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - Oregon

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Ohio St

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Oklahoma

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Louisiana-LaFayette

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Clemson

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Missouri

Ole Miss at LSU – Ole Miss

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Wisconsin

  

 

 

Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
165-70 (10-2) .702

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – Marshall

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo - Buffalo

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - USC

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Ohio St

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Oklahoma

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Clemson

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Missouri

Ole Miss at LSU – LSU

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Wisconsin

 

 

Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
160-75 (9-3) .681

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – UAB

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo - Buffalo

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - USC

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Ohio St

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Iowa St

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Clemson

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Missouri

Ole Miss at LSU – Ole Miss

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Minnesota

 

 

 

Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
160-75 (10-2) .681

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – UAB

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo – Ball St

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - Oregon

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Ohio St

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Oklahoma

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Clemson

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Miss St

Ole Miss at LSU – Ole Miss

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Wisconsin

 

 

 

Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
158-77 (8-4) .672

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – Marshall

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo - Buffalo

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - Oregon

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Nothwestern

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Iowa St

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Louisiana-LaFayette

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Notre Dame

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Missouri

Ole Miss at LSU – Ole Miss

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Wisconsin

 

 

 

Darrell Puckett (formerly of WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)  
154-81 (7-5) .655

SEC Championship: Alabama vs Florida –  Alabama

CONF USA: Marshall vs UAB – UAB

MAC: Ball St vs Buffalo - Buffalo

PAC 12: Oregon vs USC - Oregon

BIG 10: Northwestern vs Ohio St – Ohio St

BIG 12: Iowa St vs Oklahoma – Oklahoma

SUN BELT: La-LaFayette at Coastal Carolina – Coastal Carolina

ACC: Notre Dame vs Clemson – Notre Dame

AAC – Cincinnati at Tulsa - Cincinnati

La-Monroe at Troy – Troy

Texas A&M at Tennessee – Texas A&M

Missouri at Miss St – Missouri

Ole Miss at LSU – Ole Miss

Air Force at Army – Army

Minnesota at Wisconsin - Minnesota