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By Sonny Jones

The odds, at best, were infinitesimal for North Carolina to be selected for the College Football Playoffs even if the Tar Heels had finished with an 11-1 record and ACC championship. After Saturday’s 21-17 home loss against Georgia Tech, the odds have fallen to no-finitesimal. It’s a new word or, at least, it should be.

• Remember the excitement when for the first time UNC, N.C. State, Duke and Wake Forest each began the season 2-0? Not much excitement remained Saturday. Wake snapped a three-game losing streak with a 45-35 win against Syracuse, which now has lost five straight after opening the season with six straight wins. N.C. State, playing its third-string quarterback, fell at Louisville 25-10. Duke missed a two-point conversion with under a minute remaining and lost at Pittsburgh 28-26. September feels like a long time ago.

• Don’t worry, though. There will be a bowl game for everyone, including East Carolina, which was pounded by Houston 42-3 on Saturday.

• Is it basketball season yet?

• Yes, it is basketball season. A tremendous atmosphere Friday at East Bladen as the Eagles played the first games on the newly dedicated Coach Patty Evers Court. The place was almost packed and the crowd was loud as East Bladen won the JV boys, girls varsity and boys varsity games against East Columbus. Fun atmosphere.

• Among those in attendance at East Bladen was West Bladen boys varsity basketball coach Travis Pait, who was busy taking notes. The Knights are scheduled to play East Columbus twice before the end of November and, of course, play East Bladen twice during the Southeastern Athletic Conference season. The West Bladen program began turning the corner last season, finishing 12-14, after a few down seasons. The Knights are on the rise.

• The Bladen County Recreation Department is conducting registration for its youth basketball programs through Dec. 9. There will be leagues for boys and girls ages 6-12. Players can register online by clicking here or at the Parks and Recreation Department located inside the King Street gym near Leinwand Park in Elizabethtown. For information call the office at 910-862-6770.

TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

• 1994 — Tisha Venturini scores twice and Angela Kelly, Sarah Dacey and Robin Confer add goals for North Carolina, which beats Notre Dame 5-0 for its ninth consecutive NCAA women’s soccer championship.

POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY

• TENNIS: ATP Finals singles final, 11 a.m., TENNIS

• BASKETBALL: James Madison at North Carolina, noon, ACCN

• NFL: Carolina at Baltimore, 1 p.m., FOX

• NFL: Philadelphia at Indianapolis, 1 p.m., CBS

• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: N.C. State at UConn, 1 p.m., FS1

• PGA: RSM Classic, 1 p.m., GOLF

• LPGA: CME Group Tour Championship, 1 p.m., NBC

• FIELD HOCKEY: NCAA Championship: North Carolina vs. Northwestern, 1:30 p.m., ESPNU

• BASKETBALL: Wake Forest vs. Loyola Marymount, 2:30 p.m., CBSSN

• NFL: Dallas at Minnesota, 4:25 p.m., CBS

• CFL GREY CUP: Toronto vs. Winnipeg, 6:30 p.m., ESPN2