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