PRESS PICKS (Week 1): With the start of the season the experts can take a seat
STAFF REPORT
As we begin the 2025 season, we ask the immortal question - who do you trust?
Do you believe the experts have it figured out - Texas is the best team to start and, on the other end, coaches such as Hugh Freeze, Sam Pittman, Brent Venables and Mike Gundy better win or else.
The truth is yes, Texas is one of the favorites but in this world of the transfer portal and NIL where hundreds of players are trading uniforms every year and mixing up the idea of who might be the favorite on an annual basis.
As for hot seat coaches, with buyouts being as exorbitant as they are, there are no more automatics if a team goes 4-8. It might be a good idea to avoid a record such as that but the chances are it’s not a knockout punch.
Media also believes that the CFP committee made the right choice in placing SMU and Indiana in last year’s playoffs. Apparently the committee itself disagreed and recently put new stipulations on the selection process where strength of schedule will play a bigger role. A year ago that may have put Alabama, South Carolina and/or Ole Miss in the playoff. something we will never know.
The experts expect Arch Manning to take college football by storm. (No word if his cape has arrived for Saturday’s trip to Columbus.) But history says otherwise. First, it’s never good to be the early Heisman favorite. Those players rarely win the award. That is also true for LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, who is expected to pull a “Joe Burrow” season out of his hat.
There will be a strong performance by a quarterback and it could come from these two but there is a good chance that someone will do it better and probably send his team to the playoffs.
There is plenty more madness but we don’t have to listen anymore. The season is here.
Thank God.
2025 Standings (Last week)
1. Michael Butler 12-2 (12-2) .857
2. Tim Gayle 11-3 (11-3) .786
Doug Amos 11-3 (11-3) .786
Wesley Lyle 11-3 (11-3) .786
Rick Hendrick 11-3 (11-3) .786
6. Graham Dunn 10-4 (10-4) .714
Barry McKnight 10-4 (10-4) .714
8. Mike Peacock 9-5 (9-5) .643
9. Lindsey Bonner 8-6 (8-6) .571
10. Rosie Langello 8-6 (8-6) .571
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
12-2 (12-2) .857
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Enterprise
Elmore County at Tallassee - Elmore Co
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Reeltown
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Auburn
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Texas
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - Utah
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
11-3 (11-3) .786
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Tallassee - Tallassee
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Reeltown
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Auburn
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Texas
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - Utah
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
11-3 (11-3) .786
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Tallassee - Elmore Co
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Reeltown
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Auburn
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Ohio St
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Colorado
Utah at UCLA - UCLA
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
11-3 (11-3) .786
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Stanhope Elmore
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Tallassee - Tallassee
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Reeltown
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Auburn
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Ohio St
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - Utah
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
11-3 (11-3) .786
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Tallassee - Elmore Co
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Trinity
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Baylor
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Texas
LSU at Clemson - LSU
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - Utah
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Tallassee - Elmore Co
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Reeltown
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Auburn
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Ohio St
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - Utah
Barry McKnight (Voice of Troy Trojans)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Enterprise
Elmore County at Tallassee - Tallassee
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Trinity
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Auburn
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Texas
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Southern Miss
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - UCLA
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports/ASU Hornets Radio-Color)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Enterprise
Elmore County at Tallassee - Elmore Co
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Reeltown
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Auburn
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Ohio St
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - Utah
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director - WAKA Ch. 8)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Julian
Enterprise at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Tallassee - Elmore Co
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Trinity
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Baylor
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St - Ohio St
LSU at Clemson - LSU
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Ga Tech
Utah at UCLA - UCLA
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
0-0 (0-0) .000
Stanhope Elmore at Prattville - Prattville
G.W. Carver vs. P. Julian - Carver
Enterprise at Pike Road - Pike Road
Elmore County at Tallassee - Elmore Co
Montgomery Aca at St. James - Montgomery Aca
Trinity at Reeltown - Trinity
Auburn at Baylor (Fri.) - Baylor
Alabama at Florida St - Alabama
Texas at Ohio St -Texas
LSU at Clemson - Clemson
Tennessee vs. Syracuse (Atl) - Tennessee
Miss St at Southern Miss - Miss St
Va Tech vs. South Carolina (Atlanta-Sun) - South Carolina
Notre Dame at Miami, Fla. (Sun)- Notre Dame
Ga Tech at Colorado (Fri) - Colorado
Utah at UCLA - Utah