I’m changing my College Football Playoff selections and seedings – again. Each week this season, I have had two SEC teams ending up in my projected playoff. Not any longer.
Because of the overall strength of the SEC, specifically at the top, I believe only the champion will make the playoff. With currently four SEC teams in the Associated Press’ top seven, only one will survive when the playoff is announced Dec. 8.
Another reason I’m only going with one SEC team: While I know the analytics experts and history says otherwise, I think we’ll end up with three undefeated conference champions from the ACC (Clemson), Big 12 (Oklahoma) and Big Ten (Ohio State).
If that happens, the committee will not select a one-loss SEC non-champion over an undefeated Power 5 conference champion to make the four-team playoff.
So, until Clemson, Oklahoma or Ohio State lose, I’ll keep them in my playoff picks with my projected SEC champion (and predicted national champion) Georgia.
Onto this week’s projections:
College Football Playoff
Championship – Jan. 13 (CFP semifinal winners)
Projection: Georgia vs. Ohio State
Semifinals
Peach Bowl – Dec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Georgia (CFP No. 1) vs. Clemson (CFP No. 4)
Fiesta Bowl – Dec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Ohio State (CFP No. 2) vs. Oklahoma (CFP No. 3)
New Year’s 6 bowls
Rose Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Texas vs. Alabama
Orange Bowl – Jan. 1 (ACC vs. SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame)
Projection: Wake Forest vs. LSU
Cotton Bowl – Dec. 28 (at-large vs. Group of 5*)
Projection: Penn State vs. Memphis*
Other Bowls
Citrus Bowl – (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Michigan vs. Auburn
Outback Bowl – (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Minnesota vs. Texas A&M
Gator Bowl – (Big Ten/ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Holiday Bowl – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Iowa vs. Arizona State
Liberty Bowl – (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Oklahoma State vs. Virginia Tech**
Redbox Bowl – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Maryland vs. Washington
Sun Bowl – (ACC vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Syracuse vs. Arizona
Military Bowl – (ACC vs. American)
Projection: Florida State vs. Tulane
Arizona Bowl – (Mountain West vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Utah State vs. Coastal Carolina
Belk Bowl – (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Duke vs. Florida
Alamo Bowl – (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Baylor vs. Utah
Camping World Bowl – (ACC vs. Big 12)
Projection: Notre Dame vs. Iowa State
Music City Bowl – (ACC/Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Virginia vs. Mississippi State
Texas Bowl – (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Texas Tech vs. Kentucky
Pinstripe Bowl – (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: Pitt vs. Michigan State
Independence Bowl – (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: North Carolina vs. Wyoming**
Cheez-It Bowl – (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: West Virginia vs. Washington State
Quick Lane Bowl – (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: NC State vs. Indiana
First Responder Bowl – (Big 12 vs. C-USA)
Projection: TCU vs. Southern Miss
Hawaii Bowl – (AAC vs. BYU)
Projection: Navy vs. BYU
Mobile Bowl – (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Eastern Michigan vs. Arkansas State
Armed Forces Bowl – (Big Ten vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Cal** vs. Air Force
Birmingham Bowl – (American vs. SEC)
Projection: SMU vs. Colorado**
Idaho Potato Bowl – (MAC vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Toledo vs. San Diego State
Bahamas Bowl – (C-USA vs. MAC)
Projection: Louisiana Tech vs. Central Michigan
Gasparilla Bowl – (American vs. C-USA)
Projection: Cincinnati vs. Florida Atlantic
Frisco Bowl – (American vs. Open)
Projection: UCF vs. Army
Boca Raton Bowl – (American vs. MAC)
Projection: Houston vs. Ohio
New Orleans Bowl – (C-USA vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: UAB vs. Appalachian State
Camellia Bowl – (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Western Michigan vs. Louisiana
Las Vegas Bowl – (Mountain West vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Boise State vs. USC
Cure Bowl – (American vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Temple vs. Georgia State
New Mexico Bowl – (C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: North Texas vs. Hawaii
*-The highest-rated champion from the Group of Five conferences (American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt) will be selected to play in the Cotton Bowl.
**-Replaces team from league that can’t fill bowl.