Big Natural’s CFP Projections: Week 12, 2018

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I swore I wouldn’t do this column anymore. No one read it last year – seriously, I would get maybe 20 hits on a good week. After that, I said, “there’s no point in doing these anymore,” and I canceled the column. Well…I couldn’t keep it at bay any longer…I’ve decided to resurrect the beast. Luck be a lady tonight and that’s showbiz, baby. LFG.

Two years ago, I painted a pretty clear picture of why college football needs an eight-team playoff.  I stand by that argument – eight is the way…no more, no less. So, I’ve started a new weekly column looking at what the College Football Playoff would look like under my format. I think it’s a reasonable way to determine a National Champion without leaving deserving candidates out, but making sure everyone has an equal chance to get in. With that said, let’s dive right in to my weekly College Football Playoff projections…

So, this is it – this is what the playoff teams would look like for 2018 under my format…

BIG NATURAL’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS

1. Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC Champion) – If I’m Gus Malzahn or Kirby Smart, I’m salivating at watching The Citadel’s triple option give Alabama fits in the first half. If there’s a way to get some of those schemes and designs installed within a week or two, you bet your ass I’m putting ’em in. It was the first time this season that the Tide legitimately seemed in trouble, but they survived, and make no mistake, this is still the best team in the country.

2. Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten Champion) – The magnitude of this year’s Michigan-Ohio State game is unbelievable. It’s practically an elimination game for the CFP race. The winner still has to survive Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship, but that shouldn’t be too tall a task for either of these teams. I still think the Wolverines are the second best team in the country right now.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Wild Card #1) – Syracuse sure didn’t look like the 12th best team in the country against Notre Dame, but that’s a testament to how well the Irish are playing right now. All that stands in their way of the CFP is USC in the season finale. Literally, win that game and you’re in. There is absolutely no way an undefeated Notre Dame team misses the CFP. NO WAY.

4. Clemson Tigers (ACC Champion) – That may have been the last real shot for the Tigers to take an L this season. I mean, are any of us buying South Carolina or Pittsburgh as legitimate threats?? Nah, I don’t think so. At this point, it is a foregone conclusion that Clemson will be in the actual CFP, but I’m not sure they’re one of the four best teams in the country.

5. Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12 Champion) – The Sooners are the real dark horses here. If they win out, they’re going to make the conversation for that #4 spot a lot more interesting. If the Wolverines lose to either Ohio State or Northwestern, and the Sooners win the Big 12, I think they’re actually in.

6. Washington State Cougars (Pac 12 Champion) – They just keep creeping up and creeping up. Now, there is an absolutely realistic scenario where Washington State ends up in the CFP. What happens if they win out, and end up at 12-1 with a Pac-12 Championship? What happens if Oklahoma doesn’t win out? Do you put a two-loss Big 12 champion in the CFP? I don’t think so. What happens if Northwestern wins the Big Ten? If Georgia loses again? Give the Cougs credit – something that was once a laughable idea seems at least remotely possible. The Pac-12 isn’t dead after all.

7. Georgia Bulldogs (Wild Card #2) – I still think if you played everything out on the field, the Bulldogs would end up in the final four. They might not get the opportunity to prove it if they don’t win out.

8. Utah State Aggies (Group of Five Representative) – Nothing’s changed this week. I still say the Aggies beat UCF on a neutral field. I still think UCF drops a game before this season ends.

So, that gives us…

(8) Utah State at (1) Alabama
(5) Oklahoma at (4) Clemson
(7) Georgia at (2) Michigan
(6) Washington State at (3) Notre Dame

Real Talk

Lets put politics aside and just take the four best teams in college football. Who would those four teams be? I’d say:

1. Alabama
2. Michigan
3. Notre Dame
4. Georgia

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley

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