PRESS PICKS: Bearcats should not get too comfy in the Top 4

STAFF REPORT

How do we like the view of Cincinnati in the No. 2 spot this week?

Are you cool with SMU at 21? UTSA at 24?

Why bring these teams up in the Associated Press poll?

To warn you of the impending outcry that will follow on Nov. 2 when the first playoff poll is released and these non-Power 5 programs will be ranked lower than the “scribes” have them.

It’s normal to look at a win-loss record and pick your spots for this contingent. Sure, SMU, UTSA and Cincy are pretty good and one might well make the playoff (Cincinnati) and the other get a spot in the New Year’s Day bowl lineup.

But when the season ends and these teams and possibly more are raising a ruckus because they have a perfect record yet will be left out of the highest order, you’ll need to make a note….

They haven’t played a worthy schedule.

Nothing new to see here except the “Power 5” is eating its own this season. In a normal year, the Bearcats would already be crying about not being among the top 5 teams in the voting poll. They would cry louder when their name’s not flashed up on the brackets with the likes of Georgia, Oklahoma and other regulars.

That will happen come early December.

No, the committee will throw these dogs a bone and have Cincinnati in the top 4, and possibly somebody ese in the Top 10, during the month of November. But when it comes to the final poll, and it all washes out, Cincinnati will get left out.

Book it.

It’s not a matter of how good this team is. They are, but do we really have a measuring stick? The win over Notre Dame is nice… right now.

Otherwise, Miami (as in Ohio)? Murray State? Tulsa?

We can’t include Indiana as an important win, at least until they climb over the .500 mark.

It can’t get any better for the Bearcats. The same is true for Coastal, who has an even weaker schedule.

More proof?

At the moment, Jeff Sagarin has four teams ahead of Cincinnati – two with a loss in Ohio State and Alabama.  Let’s assume the Buckeyes make it to the Big 10 championship with the one loss and lose to Iowa…. Do you think the Bearcats replace the Buckeyes?

Nope, that spot will go to the Hawkeyes.

If Oklahoma and Oklahoma State meet in the Big 12 championship, one will surely go – with one loss.

There is an outside chance two teams from the Big 10 or SEC might go, also leaving Cincinnati out.

ESPN’s Power Poll has Cincinnati 6th. The FiveThirtyEight poll has Cincinnati fourth, just ahead of Ohio State. But be honest: if the Buckeyes win the Big 10 with one loss, who goes? You know.

Ditto for Michigan or Iowa, who are just behind the Buckeyes.

There are plenty of other computer polls and rankings beyond the AP and Coaches. All give the same indication that Cincinnati needs a major miracle to make it to the CFP. Beating Memphis in the AAC Championship game does not qualify.

Might as well get a start on complaining now.

Mike Peacock held on to the top spot through the ninth week of picks.

2021 Standings (Week) 

1. Mike Peacock  90-35 (9-6) .720

2. Tim Gayle 89-36 (11-4) .712

3. Graham Dunn  88-37 (11-4) .704

4. Doug Amos  87-38 (11-4) .696

5. Michael Butler  83-42 (11-4) .664

6. Rick Hendrick  82-43 (7-8) .656

    Barry McKnight  82-43 (10-5) .656

8. Dylan Hurst 80-45 (10-5) .640

Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
90-35 (9-6) .720

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Eufaula

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Stanhope Elmore

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Central-Clay

Greenville at Pike Road – Greenville

Talladega at Elmore County – Talladega

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Pitt

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – TCU

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Oklahoma St

Maryland at Minnesota – Minnesota

Oregon at UCLA – Oregon

Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
89-36 (11-4) .712

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Lanier

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Stanhope Elmore

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Central-Clay

Greenville at Pike Road – Pike Road

Talladega at Elmore County – Elmore Co

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Clemson

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – TCU

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Iowa St

Maryland at Minnesota – Minnesota

Oregon at UCLA – Oregon

Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)  
88-37 (11-4) .704

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Lanier

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Stanhope Elmore

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Central-Clay

Greenville at Pike Road – Pike Road

Talladega at Elmore County – Elmore Co

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Clemson

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – West Va

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Oklahoma St

Maryland at Minnesota – Minnesota

Oregon at UCLA – Oregon

Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)  
87-38 (11-4) .696

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Lanier

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Wetumpka

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Central-Clay

Greenville at Pike Road – Pike Road

Talladega at Elmore County – Elmore Co

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Pitt

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – TCU

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Iowa St

Maryland at Minnesota – Minnesota

Oregon at UCLA – UCLA

Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)  
83-42 (11-4) .664

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Lanier

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Wetumpka

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Tallassee

Greenville at Pike Road – Pike Road

Talladega at Elmore County – Talladega

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Pitt

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – TCU

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Oklahoma St

Maryland at Minnesota – Minnesota

Oregon at UCLA – UCLA

Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
82-43 (10-5) .656

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Eufaula

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Stanhope Elmore

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Tallassee

Greenville at Pike Road – Greenville

Talladega at Elmore County – Talladega

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Pitt

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – West Va

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Oklahoma St

Maryland at Minnesota – Minnesota

Oregon at UCLA – Oregon

Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
82-43 (7-8) .656

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Lanier

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Wetumpka

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Tallassee

Greenville at Pike Road – Pike Road

Talladega at Elmore County – Elmore Co

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Clemson

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – TCU

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Iowa St

Maryland at Minnesota – Maryland

Oregon at UCLA – Oregon

Dylan Hurst (River Region Sports)80-45 (10-5) .640

Sidney Lanier at Eufaula – Lanier

Stanhope Elmore at Wetumpka – Stanhope Elmore

Central Clay Co. at Tallassee –  Tallassee

Greenville at Pike Road – Pike Road

Talladega at Elmore County – Elmore Co

Tennessee at Alabama – Alabama

LSU at Ole Miss – Ole Miss

Miss St at Vanderbilt – Miss St

South Carolina at Texas A&M – Texas A&M

Clemson at Pitt – Pitt

Southern Cal at Notre Dame – Notre Dame

West Virginia at TCU – TCU

Oklahoma St at Iowa St – Iowa St

Maryland at Minnesota – Maryland

Oregon at UCLA – Oregon