Bowl Predictions 2015: Projections for College Football Playoff
The college football regular season has wrapped up for the elite teams in playoff contention, but much has yet to be decided.
The top teams in the rankings all held serve on Saturday, setting up multiple win-and-you're-in scenarios for the conference championship games.
Even though the scenarios appear to be fairly basic for the teams below, the wild world of college football likely has an upset or two in store for us in the final weekend.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Based on the current standings and the championship game matchups, here's a look at the projected College Football Playoff seeds.
1. Clemson
Rival South Carolina gave the Tigers a scare on Saturday, but Clemson was able to hold on 37-32.
While it wasn't the Tigers' most impressive victory of the season, as the only potential undefeated conference champ, Clemson remains the heavy favorite to earn the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
The Tigers' final test will come on Saturday in the ACC Championship Game against North Carolina.
While Clemson is certainly the favorite, the Tar Heels might provide the Clemson defense with its toughest challenge of the season.
Tar Heels' quarterback Marquise Williams has been red hot over the last month, accounting for 14 touchdowns while throwing just one interception in North Carolina's last five games.
In 2014, Williams threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns against the Tigers in 50-35 Clemson victory.
Given the way both offenses have been clicking this season, another shootout on Saturday is a strong possibility.
2. Alabama
Nick Saban continues to ride the Derrick Henry train, and he appears to have the Tide rolling into the playoff.
Auburn managed to keep it close in the Iron Bowl, but with a whopping 46 carries and 271 yards, Henry eventually wore down the Tigers defense.
With a victory over Florida in the SEC Championship Game, Alabama will wrap up no worse than the No. 2 seed in the playoff. If Clemson were to lose, the Tide would likely rise to No. 1.
While anything can happen in college football, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which Henry doesn't continue his torrid streak and carry Alabama past Florida.
The Gators have narrowly escaped with victories against lowly Vanderbilt and Florida Atlantic in recent weeks and appear to be limping into the SEC title game after a blowout loss at the hands of Florida State.
3. Michigan State
After knocking off Ohio State without starting quarterback Connor Cook and dominating Penn State to wrap up the season, the Spartans should be considered the Big Ten favorites heading into the conference title game against Iowa.
While Iowa will likely occupy a Top Four spot in this week's rankings, the Spartans will jump into playoff position with a victory over the Hawkeyes.
Michigan State's loss to Nebraska in early November may end up being a worse loss than some of the one-loss teams behind the Spartans. However, last year the committee emphasized the way in which teams close out the season by selecting Ohio State as the No. 4 seed.
Like Michigan State, the Buckeyes had a confusing loss (to Virginia Tech), but after blowing out Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Buckeyes had built enough momentum to sneak in.
The Spartans will be in a similar position with a win over Iowa and are a safe bet to advance to the playoff with a victory.
4. Oklahoma
The selection committee left the Big 12 out of the inaugural playoff in 2014, but the lack of an undisputed conference champion appeared to play a role in that decision.
This season, the committee can't use that as an excuse to snub the Big 12.
By defeating Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series, the Sooners are the undisputed Big 12 champs as the lone one-loss team in the conference.
Based on this fact, we'll now learn just how much the committee values conference championship games.
If Oklahoma were unexpectedly left out of the playoff, the committee would be sending a strong message to the Big 12 that it must expand in order to earn serious consideration for playoff bid.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
