CFP Playoff Ranking Sneak Preview
First Look at College Football Playoff Rankings
The CFP rankings will be revealed for the first time on Halloween. There are seven schools that remain undefeated. Air Force and Liberty would be considered outliers when it comes to Vegas odds.
A look at the schools that are actually in the mix for the four CFP spots.
Georgia Bulldogs
Here is the no-brainer of no-brainers. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are undefeated and just got done strafing Florida. Until a school finds a way to stop Georgia, this team is locked into the CFP in indelible ink.
What will be interesting s the next three weeks for the Dawgs. They play SEC schools that are ranked. Two of the three games are home – Missouri and Ole Miss – with the Nov. 18 game at Tennessee.
Odds to win national championship: +250
Michigan Wolverines
Jim Harbaugh and Michigan are the most controversial team when it comes to the national championship picture. They are reportedly under investigation for sign-stealing. How will the committee consider these allegations? Or won’t they let them factor into the decision-making process.
Now, the Big Ten schedule could take care of Michigan. The Wolverines play at Penn State in Week 9 and have the rivalry game with Ohio State the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Let’s be, um, honest, it is highly unlikely the Wolverines lose both of these conference contests and play themselves out of the title picture.
Odds to win national championship: +250
Florida State Seminoles
If there is an unblemished team with all sorts of red flags, it would be the Seminoles. They feel like this season’s Notre Dame. You know, playing an ACC schedule with all sorts of unimpressive opponents. Sorry, Seminoles Nation,
They have built the record against ACC schools that have three/four losses already for the most part. LSU has a pair of losses and is no threat to crack the sportsbook picture for the national championship. The Tigers are unlikely to wind up in a New Year’s Six bowl.
Is it any wonder there was a buzz that FSU wants out of the conference? There is not a single ranked opponent left on the Seminoles schedule.
Odds to win national championship: +600
Washington Huskies
The college football betting lines have the Huskies as the longest shot of the big five undefeated schools, Washington has a big quarterback matchup at USC on Saturday as Michael Penix Jr. goes up against reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams.
This game will be the start of three in a row against ranked teams. The Huskies close the regular season with a rivalry game against Washington State. That figures to be intense with the Huskies leaving the Pac-12 and the Cougars one of two schools left behind.
If Washington makes it through the remaining gauntlet undefeated and wins the Pac-12 Championship Game, it will have proven to belong in the CFP four.
Odds to win national championship: +1600
Ohio State Buckeys
The Buckeyes took care of Penn State. Now, all they have to do is beat Rutgers, Michigan State and Minnesota to be undefeated when they play Michigan on Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor.The interesting scenario in the Big Ten is what teams will make it to the conference championship game. Could it be a rematch of Ohio State-Michigan, a week later?
Time will tell.
Odds to win national championship: +700
