1. Alabama Crimson Tide– When I did this last season around this time, I simply stated that it isn’t a playoff picture without them. They are leaps and bounds better than everyone right now at the moment and it isn’t even close right now. For so long, their title-winning teams have been built the same and that’s a game manager at quarterback, a consistent running game to lean on and a defense that wants to punish you and be physical in every phase. They still have the defense, now they have an offense to open things up and boy have they done that. I don’t see them losing a game for the rest of the season and the only challenge they could really receive is against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC title game if the two teams were to meet in Atlanta in December.
2. Clemson Tigers– At the beginning of the season, the major question was who would be their starting quarterback? Would it be Kelly Bryant? The kid who led them to a conference championship last season or would it be the star in the making in Trevor Lawrence? They’ve decided to go with Trevor and the decision has definitely paid off. Other than their two wins against Texas A&M and Syracuse, the Clemson Tigers have simply steamrolled everything in their path this year. I could easily make the case for them to be at number one because they rank at the top in CPI (the football version of RPI) and they have more wins over ranked teams than Bama does. It’ll be interesting to see how this all pans out.
3. LSU Tigers– What a season these guys have had this year and when I look at their schedule and who they’ve defeated, they have wins over a ranked Miami Hurricanes team, they went into Auburn and came away with the win on the road in a hostile environment and they were able to hand a then second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs team their first loss of the season. That’s three quality wins over some big-time ranked opponents. This will stand for now, but the showdown in Baton Rouge against Alabama will definitely tell us more after the game next week in the rankings. What a time it is to be a college football team.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish– They’ve been great this year and as I said in my power rankings when talking about them, the only person standing in their way of getting to the playoffs is them! They can beat themselves so it’s beyond important that they continue to remain focused. I don’t think they’d be in this position if they hadn’t made the choice to start Ian Book at quarterback and what a difference maker he’s been. I also enjoy watching this Notre Dame defense and what they bring to the table each and every week.
First Two Out
5. Michigan Wolverines– I think this is temporary for now because if one of the four above loses, they easily slide into one of the four spots next week. This is the best team right now that is on the outside looking in and if everything continues to pan out for them and they win out, win the Big Ten East, get to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game and win that, they’ve done more than enough to be considered a playoff team. Stay focused is all I can say.
6. Georgia Bulldogs– They were expected to be a lock for one of the four spots when these predictions came out, right? They aren’t out of the picture just yet because they will more than likely win their division (they are just too strong of a team to lose to anyone in their division) and they will get to the SEC title game to set up an epic rematch against the Alabama Crimson Tide. They win that, they’re in the top four.
