We have reached the end of week 9 of the college football season (wow does time fly) and there are several teams who are in position to secure a berth as one of the four programs to reach the College Football Playoffs.
With four weeks to go in the regular season as well as conference championships to be played, there is nothing etched in stone for any of those teams. In this article we’ll look at 5 of those teams vying for a spot in the final four and assess their chances to get there. Alabama Crimson Tide You have to marvel at a program that has the amount of talent going to the NFL each season and continuing their dominance. The Tide is starting a true freshman at quarterback in Jalen Hurts and how not missed a beat as Hurts has led the team to a perfect 8-0 record so far. Head Coach Nick Saban is a big reason for Alabama’s excellence not just for his coaching but also for his stellar recruiting. The Tide get to play three of their remaining four games at home with only next week's game at 19th ranked LSU being played on the road. Prediction: They are pretty much guaranteed to return to the playoffs. Michigan Wolverines I guess coaching does make a big difference in the college game. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh took over a rather dormant program at his alma mater and in two years has them in a position to play for a national championship. Known as a quarterback guru of sorts, Harbaugh is grooming current starter Wilton Speight and the results have been good so far. The Wolverines are also one of the best defenses in the country led by Jabrill (I’ll play any position) Peppers. However, Michigan still has a daunting schedule with road games against Iowa and Ohio State ahead. This will keep Michigan Wolverine fans at the edge of their stadium seats. Prediction: 50/50 Chance for the playoffs Ohio State Buckeyes Do we see a theme here? Buckeyes Head Coach Urban Meyer also lost big to the NFL after last season; the Ohio State Buckeyes are in a position to reach the playoffs again this year after last season's disappointment. With an experienced quarterback under center in J.T. Barrett and defense that continues to perform at a high level, don’t count them out of contention. It will all come down to the regular season finale against Michigan to see who has the edge. Prediction: 50/50 Chance for the playoffs Clemson Tigers The Tigers passed their biggest test with their 37-34 victory at Florida State on Saturday. With remaining games against the likes of Syracuse, Pitt, Wake Forest and South Carolina to go, it looks like clear sailing for Clemson. Prediction: Pencil the ClemsonTigers into the Final Four Washington Huskies Head Coach Chris Petersen has turned this program around and has them undefeated after 8 games. They can also thank Quarterback Jake Browning who is in the Heisman Trophy discussion. If they can only avoid a loss to rival Washington State on the road in their finale, we should the Huskies in the playoffs. Prediction: Better than 50/50
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AuthorI love college sports, especially football. You may not always agree with me, but you will see I'm passionate. Archives
September 2017
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