First College Football Playoff Predictions

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Nate LeRoy, Sports Section Editor

Every Tuesday at 7:00 PM, the College Football Playoff selection committee releases the updated rankings for the playoff, from the top four teams all the way to the 25th. The second week featured close to no surprises for the top four, as Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, and Washington all made the prospective playoff bracket. One loss Ohio State and Louisville sit on the outside looking in, waiting for their chance to move into the top four. Their best chance might come over Washington, as their weak strength of schedule could counteract their undefeated record if the Huskies manage to win out. As usual, the last two weeks of the college football pre-bowl season will carry a massive impact on the playoff outcome, as the rivalry games and conference championships could present scenarios no one saw coming. We took the time to ask around Magnet, and here are some of the school’s Playoff Predictions.

One of the Talon’s premier sports writers, Capers Borders, has his own predictions for the final college football playoff rankings. Alabama is a shoe-in for the one seed, that is if they are able to maintain there perfect record, and not stumble against an up and coming Auburn team the last week of the season. Alabama is well deserving of the one seed if they maintain that perfect record, and will likely stomp their opponent in the SEC championship. The two seed is a difficult choice as both Michigan and Clemson have strong chances to win out. Michigan, however, has a much more difficult road, facing Ohio State the last week of the season. If Michigan and Clemson both win out, Michigan will earn the two seed with strength of schedule, Clemson then receiving the 3 seed. Finally the four seed. Washington remains in the driver seat to control their own destiny and clench the fourth seed with an undefeated record. They have a relatively easy road with the most troublesome opponent being Colorado the last week of the season, who they will man-handle with the likes of Heisman contending quarterback Jake Browning. If Washington is to stumble on their way to the four seed it could open the spot up to the Louisville, who will be eager to prove themselves after tripping up early in the season to an undefeated Clemson team.

A self-proclaimed college football aficionado Jack Barna also weighed in on the college football scene with his prediction. He agrees with the borderline fact that Alabama will get the one seed in the playoff, and then believes that Clemson, Ohio State, and then Michigan will follow. The path to these four is somewhat confusing, and much of it happens in the last few weeks of the season. Washington will go to rivals Washington State for the rivalry week and lose there, and then turn around and win the PAC 12 title. Ohio State will beat Michigan and then go on to win the Big 10, with Clemson and Alabama continuing to win out. A 1 loss Michigan team will then snag the last playoff spot over 1 loss Washington, even with a PAC 12 title, based on overall Strength of Schedule.