College Football playoff picture: week 12 Analysis & Projections
Teh College Football Playoff selection committee faces a interesting challenge this week. sorting through a cluster of strong two-loss teams - including Alabama, Notre dame, and Oklahoma – will be central to their deliberations. here’s a detailed breakdown of where teams stand and what to expect as we approach the final rankings.
The contenders: Power Five
would be in: Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish significantly bolstered their resume with a decisive 37-15 victory at Pittsburgh. However, their playoff fate hinges on how the committee views their wins compared to those of Oklahoma and Alabama.
Several factors are at play:
* Key Wins: Notre Dame’s best victories are against USC, navy, and Pitt.
* Navy’s Status: The committee’s assessment of Navy, whom Notre Dame defeated, will also influence their ranking. Notably, that win came against a Midshipmen team missing their starting quarterback, blake Horvath.
* Closing Strong: Continued wins against Syracuse and Stanford are crucial for securing Notre Dame’s playoff position, irrespective of their initial ranking.
On the Bubble: Alabama and Oklahoma remain firmly in contention. Their respective resumes will be scrutinized alongside Notre Dame’s,with the committee weighing the quality of their opponents and the margin of victory.
Looking Ahead: If Oklahoma and Alabama are ranked ahead of the Irish, Notre Dame would still likely secure a spot at No. 10. Conversely, a favorable ranking could see them climb as high as no. 8.
Group of 5: A tight Race
Would be in: Navy. The Midshipmen made a compelling case for inclusion by defeating South Florida,the committee’s previous No. 24 team. This victory represents arguably the best win among Group of 5 contenders, coupled with a competitive loss at Notre Dame.
Though, challenges remain:
* Road Losses: Both of Navy’s losses occurred on the road.
* North Texas Loss: The head-to-head loss to North texas will undoubtedly be a point of discussion.
Still in the Mix: James Madison, North Texas, and Tulane are all vying for a New Year’s Six bowl berth.
Here’s a quick look at their strengths and weaknesses:
* James Madison: Boasts a strong strength of record (No.24) and game control (No.40), but suffers from a weak strength of schedule (No. 119).
* North Texas: Presents a balanced profile, but the loss to Navy is a significant mark.
* Tulane: Offers a good combination of metrics, ranking No. 25 in strength of record and No. 71 in strength of schedule. Their wins against Northwestern, duke, and Memphis are remarkable, though none are against currently ranked CFP teams.
Projected Playoff Bracket
Based on current projections, here’s how the playoff bracket could shape up:
First-Round Byes
- Ohio State (Big Ten Champion)
- Indiana
- Texas A&M (SEC Champion)
- Georgia
First-Round Games (On Campus, Dec. 19 & 20)
* No. 12 Navy (American Champion) at No. 5 Texas Tech (Big 12 champion)
* No. 11 Miami (ACC Champion) at No. 6 Ole miss
* No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Oregon
* No. 9 alabama at no. 8 Oklahoma
Quarterfinal Games (Dec. 31 & Jan. 1 - Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital one Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential, Allstate Sugar Bowl)
* Navy/Texas Tech winner vs.Georgia
* Miami/Ole Miss winner vs. Texas A&M
* Notre Dame/Oregon winner vs. Indiana
* Alabama/Oklahoma winner vs.Ohio State
You can expect significant debate and potential surprises as the committee
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