PRESS PICKS: Christmas comes in September with Big 10 announcement (and the SEC is a week away)
STAFF REPORT
There is a song in the children’s memorable movie – A Muppet Christmas – where the famous actor, Kermit the Frog, sings the popular melody “One More Sleep ‘Til Christmas.”
No, it’s not up there with “Silent Night” or “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” among the holiday favorites, but it fits this opening perfectly...
We have just one more week until SEC football arrives. And there’s now a little more than a month until the Big 10 opens play.
Seasons Greetings!
Yes, it’s been an interesting week leading up to football this weekend with the announcement coming from the Big 10 that it’s reversing field and will play beginning the weekend of Oct. 23-24. That might mean a Merry Christmas for the likes of Ohio State or Wisconsin, who are the favorites to win their respective divisions. The league championship is slated just six days prior to the holiday.
After all the delays and cancellations, the Division I level is almost back to full strength. It remains to be seen if the Pac-12 joins the party but chances are the heads of state in that league will find a way. Ditto for the likes of the MAC and Mountain West, both which seem to take their marching orders from the Big 10.
Only one more Saturday without SEC football has a nice ring to it. But fans should hold their collective breaths as we get closer.
Missouri is hanging on by a thread due to several positive cases of COVID-19. Although the game with Alabama is expected to go as scheduled, it still has a tint that something could go awry.
One game has already been cancelled this week. North Carolina was set to face Charlotte but the 49ers were running short on linemen for much of the week and called off the battle. That goes along with other games such as Virginia-Virginia Tech and Memphis-Houston.
Among the pickers, Doug Amos took sole possession of first place with a solid week. He leads second plce by two games heading into the week.
2020 Standings (Last Week)
1. Doug Amos 40-11 (13-2) .784
2. Michael Butler 38-13 (10-5) .745
3. Graham Dunn 37-14 (10-5) .725
4. Barry McKnight 36-15 (11-4) .706
5. Tim Gayle 35-16 (9-6) .686
6. Mike Peacock 34-17 (10-5) .667
7. Rick Hendrick 30-21 (8-7) .588
8. Darrell Puckett 29-22 (10-5) .568
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
40-11 (13-2) .784
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Eufaula
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Valley
Tallassee at Elmore County – Tallassee
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Trinity
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) – St. James
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Georgia Tech
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Louisville
Navy at Tulane - Tulane
Houston at Baylor – Baylor
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)
38-13 (10-5) .745
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Eufaula
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Valley
Tallassee at Elmore County – Tallassee
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Pike County
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) – St. James
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Central Fla
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Miami
Navy at Tulane - Navy
Houston at Baylor – Houston
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
37-14 (10-5) .725
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Eufaula
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Sidney Lanier
Tallassee at Elmore County – Tallassee
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Trinity
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) – St. James
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Central Fla
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Miami
Navy at Tulane - Tulane
Houston at Baylor – Baylor
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
36-15 (11-4) .706
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Eufaula
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Sidney Lanier
Tallassee at Elmore County – Elmore County
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Pike County
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) - Straughn
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Central Fla
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Louisville
Navy at Tulane - Navy
Houston at Baylor – Baylor
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
35-16 (9-6) .686
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Valley
Tallassee at Elmore County – Tallassee
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Trinity
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) – St. James
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Central Fla
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Miami
Navy at Tulane - Tulane
Houston at Baylor – Baylor
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
34-17 (10-5) .667
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Eufaula
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Valley
Tallassee at Elmore County – Tallassee
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Pike County
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) – St. James
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Central Fla
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Louisville
Navy at Tulane - Tulane
Houston at Baylor – Baylor
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
30-21 (8-7) .588
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Valley
Tallassee at Elmore County – Tallassee
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Trinity
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) – St. James
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Georgia Tech
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Miami
Navy at Tulane - Navy
Houston at Baylor – Baylor
Darrell Puckett (WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)
29-22 (10-5) .568
Eufaula at Park Crossing – Park Crossing
Dothan at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver at Opelika - Opelika
Sidney Lanier at Valley – Sidney Lanier
Tallassee at Elmore County – Tallassee
Wetumpka at Benjamin Russell – Wetumpka
Pike County at Trinity – Trinity
Alabama Christian at Dale County – Alabama Christian
St. James at Straughn (Saturday) – St. James
Troy at Middle Tennessee St – Troy
Central Florida at Georgia Tech – Central Fla
Miami, Fla at Louisville – Louisville
Navy at Tulane - Navy
Houston at Baylor – Baylor