I have never been one good with predictions, I’m just good at giving opinions- which is why I said before the season started that I predicted Alabama and Clemson to play each other for the national championship again. It just goes to show you that opinions are like kittens, people are always giving them away.
Alabama lost to LSU two weeks ago. It wasn’t a large margin(46-41) but it was a loss at home and to a very good LSU team. Since that has happened, Clemson has moved to the third spot, LSU is #1, and Georgia has jumped the Tide for the fourth spot. And things get even worse for Alabama- they have lost Tua Tagovailoa for the remainder of the season due to an apparent hip injury sustained in the game against Mississippi St over the weekend. This is not the scenario coach Saban would like to be in, but it is their current situation, regardless. I confess I didn’t forsee Alabama struggling to get into the playoff this season, on the contrary, I felt they would be a lock. This is a life lesson- never assume that a team is going to be undefeated and healthy at the end of the season. However, college football doesn’t revolve around Alabama, as those in Tuscaloosa would have you to believe it.
Your current top four teams:
- LSU (10-0) – I don’t think there is a team in the country that has proved their position more than the Tigers. Here’s why they’re number 1: They defeated then #9 Texas, #7 Florida, #9 Auburn, and #3 Alabama. That’s a heck of a resume. Their performance in these games has been exceptional, averaging 40 points and getting outstanding Quarterback play from Heisman candidate Joe Burrow. My only gripe with LSU is that they don’t play consistently on the defensive side of the ball. They have playmakers, but they will need to clean that up if the Tigers are going to make it far in the postseason.
- Ohio St.(10-0) – The Buckeyes are another team that has put themselves in a good position, and they have done so for most of the season. Their defense has not given up more than 21 points a game, and with the way Justin Fields has played this year, they have been one of the most complete teams in the country. The question is can they finish strong? Penn St, Michigan, and the championship games will tell us what they’re all about.
- Clemson (11-0) – Clemson has been the Rodney Dangerfield of college football- no respect all year. I understand their frustration. They have dominated every team they have played, minus North Carolina. That was a game they could have lost. However, if there is anything I have learned about Dabo’s Tigers, is that they always have one game where they slip up and then rebound with an attitude. It’s true that the ACC has been down this season, but the Tigers are a great football team, and no matter what conference they could play in, they’re of the elite.
- Georgia (9-1) – After losing to South Carolina, the Bulldogs have been a team on the rebound, winning four straight, and now have clinched the SEC East after defeating Auburn last Saturday. Good defensive play and strong outings by junior Quarterback Jake Fromm has kept Georgia in the mix, and if they can somehow beat LSU in the SEC Championship Game, they will be a shoo-in for the four-team playoff.
So that’s where we are currently. I’m not going to give you any more predictions. I have blown my cover on that front and now there is egg on my face. I will say this, and I feel strongly about this- THESE FOUR TEAMS WILL NOT BE IN THE SAME SPOT AT THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON….Oops, I did it again 😉
