2021-2022 College Football Playoff Projections
Keeping with the theme for this week, we’ll believe it when we see it.
If you think the College Football Playoff committee wants to keep out Cincinnati – or any Group of Five team – you’re wrong.
However, remember, the CFP rankings aren’t the AP or Coaches polls – there’s a fine-tooth way of doing this, and in the end, the schedule with just one good Power Five-caliber win over Notre Dame – Indiana won’t go bowling – won’t be enough.
Also, in the Believe It When We See It category …
Capital One Orange Bowl
Friday, December 31
ESPN, Time TBA
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP vs. CFP
Bowl Projection: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
We’ve seen this movie before. Alabama loses, everyone predicts doom, Alabama goes on a roll to to the national championship.
That’s a little too much of a jump when it comes to winning the national title, but the Tide roll through the rest of their schedule and have one shot against Georgia in the SEC Championship to slip in. For now, we’re making the call they pull it off. Meanwhile …
Oklahoma carries the second half groove against Texas into the rest of the regular season – sort of. It loses once along the way – like at Oklahoma State – in a stunning heartbreaker, but makes up for it with another Big 12 Championship to go 12-1.
The College Football Playoff committee has only left out one 12-1 Power Five champion – 2018 Ohio State – and that was only because Notre Dame was 12-0. Cincinnati won’t have the schedule to get the same consideration.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Friday, December 31
ESPN, Time TBA
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP vs. CFP
Bowl Projection: Georgia vs Ohio State
Don’t just assume Georgia rips through the rest of the schedule if JT Daniels is hurting – there’s a three-pick game from Stetson Bennett in there somewhere. However, the Dawgs get to the SEC Championship at 12-0 and lose a thriller to Alabama – both of them get in.
Oh poor Ohio State. The defense is mediocre, this isn’t the same team as last year, and … it still has more talent than anyone else in the Big Ten. The offense takes that groove to another level, Oregon loses once along the way to take care of the possibility of a 12-1 Pac-12 champion getting in, and everything else works out.
The Buckeyes take care of Penn State and Michigan State at home, pull the football away from Michigan yet again, and breaks Hawkeye hearts in the Big Ten Championship.
College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T
Monday, January 10
ESPN, 8:00 pm
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Bowl Tie-Ins: CFP vs. CFP
Bowl Projection: Alabama vs. Georgia
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