College Football Playoff Rankings 2014: Week 15 NCAA Championship Predictions
There is one more week until we know exactly who will play in the College Football Playoff, but a lot can change between now and then.
The committee has released its penultimate rankings. The Top Four teams are the ones who would compete in the semifinals if the season ended today. However, we know better than to assume the favorites will win in college football.
After a season full of crazy upsets and surprising results, fans should prepare themselves for more twists and turns during championship weekend. Here is a full look at the latest rankings as well as my predictions for the final teams invited to the playoffs.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Playoff Predictions
1. Alabama
This year's Iron Bowl was certainly a unique one. Both sides lit up the scoreboard in a 55-44 win for Alabama. Amari Cooper was once again the star for the Crimson Tide, totaling 13 receptions for 224 yards and three touchdowns as the offense outscored its rival in a back-and-forth game.
Despite the win, head coach Nick Saban remained disappointed, via Gary Parrish of CBS Sports:
This drive to always be better is what makes Alabama so good year after year, and it is why the squad will almost certainly be competing for a national championship this season.
With wins over Mississippi State, Auburn and others as well as a respectable road loss to Ole Miss, the Crimson Tide have the best profile of any team in the country.
Meanwhile, ESPN's Paul Finebaum quotes Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated on the possibility of getting into the playoffs even with a loss:
In reality, this should not be an issue. Alabama will have too much talent on both sides of the ball for Missouri to handle in the SEC Championship Game. The Tide will earn an easy win and clinch a spot in the national semifinals.
2. Oregon
Based on Oregon's recent success, it seems like a win in the Pac-12 Championship Game would be a foregone conclusion. The Ducks have won seven games in a row while topping 40 points in each contest.
However, this is a very important stat when looking at how Oregon will fare against Arizona:
The Wildcats have been a thorn in Oregon's side over the last two years thanks to their strong defensive front and linebacker Scooby Wright finding ways to make plays all over the field. With big-time playmakers on offense, this could be another close battle.
On the plus side for Oregon, the team is past the need for style points. The game doesn't need to be pretty, and if the Ducks come away with a win, they should earn a spot in the College Football Playoffs.
Wins over UCLA, Michigan State, Utah and presumably Arizona this weekend will give Oregon more than enough on the resume to be considered one of the top teams in the land.
3. TCU
The debate over which team is more deserving between TCU and Baylor has lasted just about the entire season, and it will continue past the final week assuming both teams take care of business Saturday.
TCU has proven to have the better nonconference schedule, while Baylor has a head-to-head win over the Horned Frogs earlier in the year. Interestingly, the Bears' win over TCU does not seem to matter in the eyes of the committee.
Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports makes an interesting argument against this:
"I think TCU is better than Baylor. I don’t think my opinion should mean more than Baylor actually beating TCU does.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 3, 2014"
Of course, you also have to keep in mind that it was a three-point win in Waco on a late comeback effort. A win is a win, but things might have been different if the game was on a neutral field.
Either way, the three spots between the team seems to indicate the committee has made its decision on which has a better resume, meaning the Horned Frogs will earn a spot in the playoff with one more win against Iowa State.
4. Ohio State
Where's Florida State? The defending national champions might not have had the toughest schedule, but they should at least earn a spot in the playoffs for finishing undefeated.
But Georgia Tech has everything needed to knock off the Seminoles. The Yellow Jackets run the ball well, which will help control possession and keep Jameis Winston off the field, and they force turnovers and turn them into points.
After a few close calls, Florida State will finally see its luck run out in the ACC Championship Game.
This will leave the door open for Ohio State to move up in the rankings as long as it can beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The problem is this won't be easy with J.T. Barrett out with an ankle injury. Cardale Jones will be forced to replace the freshman and keep the Buckeyes playing as well as possible. This performance will go a long way in how the team is evaluated by the committee, according to Yahoo Sports:
Jones not only has to earn a win, but he has to show that the team that won 10 games in a row is just as good regardless of who is under center. With plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, this should be no problem.
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
