PRESS PICKS (Week 16): Playoff stage is set... which looks like most other playoff stages
STAFF REPORT
Now that we’ve settled on the four teams for the College Football Playoffs, what does history say about each team, regarding chances of winning the national title?
All four teams have a solid background of bowl history, but none more so than the Crimson Tide. Alabama will play in its record 77th bowl game when it visits Pasadena and the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 to face top-ranked Michigan in the first CFP semifinal of the day.
For Michigan, it will be the 51st appearance in a bowl and the 21st time in the Rose Bowl game, although the Wolverines have not visited Pasadena since 2007. That is the most Rose Bowl appearances of any team from the Big 10 and second overall to the USC Trojans, who have 34 appearances.
Alabama is making its eighth appearance in the Rose Bowl, last one played in 2021 versus Notre Dame, ironically though not in Pasadena. That season the game was moved to Arlington, Texas due to COVID.
Including this year’s game, Nick Saban has led the Crimson Tide to 23 bowls, which also counts the Playoff championship appearances. But that is still one short of Alabama’s appearances under Paul “Bear” Bryant, who, between 1959-82, led the Crimson Tide to 24 consecutive bowl games, which is a national record.
Against the other three playoff contenders, the Tide has a combined 3-7-1 bowl record with Texas holding a 1-5-1 record against the Tide. They are 2-2 against Michigan and 2-0 against Washington. The Tide has faced both Texas and Washington in the postseason championship round, defeated the Longhorns in the 2009 BCS Championship and Washington in the semifinals of the 2014 playoff. That game was played in the Peach Bowl.
The Longhorns have played in the Sugar Bowl four times while Washington is making its first-ever appearance in the Sugar Bowl.
As for previous meetings between Texas and Washington, the two schools have played three times and you don’t have to go back very far for the last meeting. The two played in last year’s Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, a 27-20 victory for the Huskies.
Of the four, only Alabama has reached the CFP championship while Texas is making its first appearance in the current playoff model.
Does that say anything as to who should win? Of course not but it’s probably a good idea not to bet against Saban when he has a month to prepare for a game.
Doug Amos maintains his lead after 15 weeks as the panel picks the AHSAA state championships and a couple of college games before the season-ending bowl selections.
2023 Overall Standings (Last week)
1. Doug Amos 181-44 (11-4) .810
2. Graham Dunn 179-46 (12-3) .795
3. Wesley Lyle 176-49 (13-2) .776
4. Tim Gayle 171-54 (10-5) .767
5. Mike Peacock 169-56 (10-5) .757
6. Michael Butler 166-59 (12-3) .733
7. Lindsey Bonner 161-64 (8-7) .729
Rosie Langello 161-64 (10-5) .719
9. Barry McKnight 147-78 (10-5) .652
10. Rick Hendrick 145-80 (12-3) .633
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
181-44 (11-4) .810
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Central-PC
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Saraland
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Madison Academy
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Fyffe
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Coosa Christian
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
179-46 (12-3) .795
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Central-PC
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Clay-Chalkville
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Mobile Christian
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Fyffe
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
176-49 (13-2) .776
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Central-PC
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Saraland
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Mobile Christian
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Reeltown
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Navy
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
171-54 (10-5) .767
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Thompson
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Saraland
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Mobile Christian
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Reeltown
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
169-56 (10-5) .757
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Central-PC
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Clay-Chalkville
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Madison Academy
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Fyffe
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
166-59 (12-3) .733
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Central-PC
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Clay-Chalkville
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Mobile Christian
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Reeltown
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leory
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
161-64 (8-7) .729
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Central-PC
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Saraland
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Mobile Christian
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Fyffe
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Navy
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
161-64 (10-5) .719
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Thompson
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Clay-Chalkville
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Mobile Christian
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Reeltown
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
147-78 (10-5) .652
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Central-PC
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Saraland
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Ramsey
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Madison Academy
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Fyffe
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
145-80 (12-3) .633
7A: Thompson vs. Central-Phenix City - Thompson
6A: Clay-Chalkville vs Saraland - Saraland
5A: Ramsey vs. Gulf Shores - Gulf Shores
4A: Catholic vs. Cherokee County - Catholic
3A: Mobile Christian vs Madison Academy - Mobile Christian
2A: Reeltown vs. Fyffe - Reeltown
1A: Leroy vs. Coosa Christian - Leroy
Army vs. Navy (Boston) - Army
FCS: Furman at Montana - Montana
FCS: Villanova at South Dakota St. - South Dakota St.