The College Football Playoff is right around the corner. Final regular season games will kick off tomorrow, with conference championships on tap for next weekend. Then, the stage will be set for picking the four semifinalists. Who will make it? Here are my five favorites. (Four, actually, with one sentimental choice.)
1. Georgia Bulldogs. The Georgia Bulldogs are #1 for a lot of reasons. With solid offense, an elite defense, and impressive teamwork, it’s difficult to see anybody beating this team. And the Bulldogs have a stellar resume to back up claims that this Athens, GA-based crew is the best in the land. The team will handle Georgia Tech tomorrow and focus on the SEC Championship game vs. LSU.
2. Ohio State Buckeyes. The Ohio State Buckeyes delight with impressive defense and always seems to have things in hand when it comes to NCAAF odds. This team appears ready to make a national championship playoff run. The Buckeyes’ current record of 11-0 means (as it always does) the last and biggest game comes next–tomorrow versus the team “Up North.” Who among us would bet against the Buckeyes?
3. Michigan Wolverines. Third on my list is the Michigan Wolverines, also with a current record of 11-0. After years of being done–nowhere near where it had been as the nation’s winningest college football program–Jim Harbaugh has UM back in the thick of things. He has the players to win it all, too, with Blake Corum, a tenacious running back, among others. But, as always, Michigan must beat the Buckeyes for its dreams to come true … and that is a tall order, indeed.
4. Tennessee Volunteers. Yes, I’m sticking with the Vols. This team needs to leave behind all the outside noise, regain its mid-season form, and start winning again. At 9-2 and a loser in two of its last three games, the Vols (-14) should handle a surprisingly good Vandy team (5-6) this weekend. It’s probably too late to figure into CFP 2022, but you never know. Beating Vanderbilt the way UT handled Mizzou recently (66-24) would certainly help.
5. TCU Horned Frogs. Who thought TCU would be 11-0? I didn’t! But with big victories, several paper-thin in variety (like last week’s improbable win at Baylor), this team has proven a knack for winning. The Frog’s high-powered offensive is the big reason for its success. Iowa State–a team that should have a much better record than it does (4-7 with six losses by a touchdown or less)–stands in TCU’s way of an undefeated regular season. -10 TCU tells you Vegas thinks ISU will give the Frogs a fight.
