PRESS PICKS: COVID already a winner this week making fans the loser in some places
STAFF REPORT
Raise you hand if you hate COVID.
While it hasn’t completely taken its toll on the college football season, it’s beginning to have significant impact, including the Southeastern Conference.
Two games have been postponed with Vanderbilt and Missouri’s game being moved to Dec. 12. Ditto for Florida and LSU and that might have a major impact on the division races. Consider that the Gators now close the season against (in order) Kentucky, Tennessee and LSU. The Tigers, if they can turn things around, finish with Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Florida in their last three games.
Maybe bigger was the announcement on Wednesday when the University of Alabama informed us that Nick Saban had contracted the virus, albeit asymptomatic. It still keeps him off the sideline of the biggest game of the season.
Who knew Alabama and Georgia would take a backseat to COVID? The news might change again before we reach Saturday so stay tuned.
Among the standings, Doug Amos moved back into a first-place tie with Graham Dunn. The panel is picking just 14 games this week due to the cancellation of LSU-Florida.
2020 Standings (Last Week)
1. Graham Dunn 83-28 (10-5) .748
Doug Amos 83-28 (11-4) .748
3. Michael Butler 81-30 (11-4) .729
4. Tim Gayle 79-32 (11-4) .712
5. Barry McKnight 75-36 (10-5) .676
6. Rick Hendrick 74-37 (10-5) .667
7. Mike Peacock 74-37 (11-4) .667
8. Darrell Puckett 66-45 (8-7) .595
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports)
83-28 (10-5) .748
Park Crossing vs Lee – Lee
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Catholic
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – MA
Georgia at Alabama - Georgia
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Tennessee
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Arkansas
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Pitt
Central Fla at Memphis – Central Fla
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Cincinnati
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket & Troy Trojans Network)
83-28 (11-4) .748
Park Crossing vs Lee – Lee
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Trinity
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – MA
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Tennessee
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Arkansas
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Miami
Central Fla at Memphis – Memphis
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Tulsa
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.5 FM/1300 AM & Tallassee Times)
81-30 (11-4) .729
Park Crossing vs Lee – Lee
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Trinity
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – Thomasville
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Tennessee
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Ole Miss
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Miami
Central Fla at Memphis – Central Fla
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Tulsa
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports & Montgomery Independent)
79-32 (11-4) .712
Park Crossing vs Lee – Lee
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Catholic
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – MA
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Tennessee
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Ole Miss
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Miami
Central Fla at Memphis – Central Fla
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Cincinnati
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
75-36 (10-5) .676
Park Crossing vs Lee – Park Crossing
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Catholic
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – MA
Georgia at Alabama - Georgia
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Kentucky
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Arkansas
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Miami
Central Fla at Memphis – Central Fla
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Cincinnati
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA of Montgomery Biscuits)
74-37 (10-5) .667
Park Crossing vs Lee – PC
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Catho;ic
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – MA
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Tennessee
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Ole Miss
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Miami
Central Fla at Memphis – Memphis
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Tulsa
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
74-37 (11-4) .667
Park Crossing vs Lee – Lee
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Catholic
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – Thomasville
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Tennessee
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Ole Miss
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Miami
Central Fla at Memphis – Central Fla
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Tulsa
Darrell Puckett (formerly of WAKA CH 8/Alabama News Network)
66-45 (8-7) .595
Park Crossing vs Lee – Lee
Carver vs. Lanier (Thur) - Carver
Calera at Wetumpka – Wetumpka
Catholic at Trinity – Catholic
Thomasville at Montgomery Academy – MA
Georgia at Alabama - Alabama
Auburn at South Carolina - Auburn
Eastern Kentucky at Troy - Troy
Kentucky at Tennessee – Kentucky
Texas A&M at Miss St – Texas A&M
Ole Miss at Arkansas – Ole Miss
Pitt at Miami, Fla – Miami
Central Fla at Memphis – Central Fla
Cincinnati at Tulsa – Tulsa