CFP initial rankings predictions
It's predictions time, baby!
The College Football Playoff committee's first rankings for the final (hallelujah) four-team playoff come out Tuesday night.
Who ya got?
Your author's humble prediction:
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Florida State
- Washington
First two out:
5. Michigan
6. Oregon
Extra credit to rank further, including Texas, Oklahoma, Penn State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Missouri, LSU, Notre Dame, etc.
Fame and glory await you! Let's go!
October 30th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
1 - OSU or Georgia
3 - FSU
4 - Washington or Michigan
6 - Oregon
OSU has played the best teams in terms of rankings so far - though their win in South Bend is looking less impressive.
Georgia will get the benefit of the doubt despite playing a pretty meh schedule.
FSU beat Duke and Clemson.
Washington played a great tight game with Oregon, but have looked pretty average since.
Michigan has yet to play a team with a pulse, but has 100% taken care of business thus far. If they win vs Purdue (should be a win but Purdue loves upsets) and PSU (the first test against a very talented roster), they will likely move up to 2-3 in a couple of weeks.
Oregon is in a very comfortable position at #6. If they win out, they are in - since that would mean they beat Washington most likely, and the loser of the Michigan/OSU game falls behind them in the final rankings. Outside of Washington beating them again, only USC probably has a chance of doing that.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:22 PM ^
Duke and Clemson? Wow! What a resume (if this was September)
October 30th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
There is no reason that we shouldn't be #2 at the lowest. Schedule caveats aside (which apply to UGA as well if we're going that route), we have thoroughly dominated every team we have played. All the talk of our non-conference schedule, and yet when we've played who was put on our schedule by the B1G we are winning by an even wider margin than our OOC schedule.
47 points allowed all season with only ~30 points being scored when the game was any bit at all in the competitive range. No team has had a goal-to-go all season. 229-31 is our scoring margin in the B1G, and the starters have played a grand total of one 4th quarter drive in those 5 games.
Find me a team that has played this well and wasn't a clear cut Top 2 team in the CFP era.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
If only Freeman could count to 11......
October 30th, 2023 at 1:42 PM ^
You raise an interesting point. In hindsight - who would you have rather won the game between OSU an ND? I dislike both teams. IMO, an OSU win is better for Michigan for a few reasons. First, it pushes ND "down the scale" a bit - and, with ND's loss to Louisville, eliminated them from any CFP discussion. Second, the result of that game doesn't impact the B1G race at all. And, third - if Michigan defeats an unbeaten OSU in November - the Buckeyes supposedly having "two of the best wins" in CFB this season - what would that say about this Michigan team.
Rank Michigan 10th - just give these young men a bit more "motivation" to make a statement.
Go Blue!
October 30th, 2023 at 2:26 PM ^
For years the question has been "who would you want to win xx or OSU".
What shocks me is there are always several "OSU" responses.
The only thing that is bringing the OSU juggernaut down is multiple losses. You need/want every single loss you can get. Michigan will handle its own business but if we really had a say you want Brian's dream of the Outback Bowl to come true.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:27 PM ^
As insulted as I'd be, I kinda hope we arent ranked in the top 4. I have to think that'll get the team so hyper focused heading into the final 4 games.... I want them to feel like its being taken away frmo them.. and they have to take it back.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:49 PM ^
-Michigan has destroyed 8 teams.
-Our top 5 opponents are 26-14 which is pretty solid. All 5 should be bowl eligible by seasons end.
Oh and the ACC is ABSOLUTELY TRASH
Gtech is no better or worse than the cream of the crop in that conference (FSU being the exception)
Bowling Green>Gtech>Miami and UNC
Yikes
October 30th, 2023 at 3:17 PM ^
Georgia
Michigan
Ohio State
Florida State
Washington
October 30th, 2023 at 4:54 PM ^
Don’t see how Georgia is in and we’re out. We’ve looked better and their schedule isn’t any easier than ours