College Football Playoff expert picks: Will Texas be No. 3? Should Alabama get in over Florida State?

The final College Football Playoff Rankings will be released Sunday, setting the stage for the playoff itself as well as the New Year’s Six bowls. At least one team will fight for its first national championship of the playoff era, and the decisions made Sunday by the CFP Selection Committee will not only determine which teams get to compete for the title but which have the most manageable path toward the national crown.

No matter which teams are chosen, some playoff history is guaranteed before the field expands to 12 teams beginning next season. Entering the 2023 season … 

The SEC champion has never been left out of the playoff. Alabama, which beat Georgia 27-24 in the SEC Championship Game, may face an unavoidable hurdle of Texas, which defeated the Crimson Tide 34-24 back on Sept. 9.

An undefeated Power Five team has never been left out of the playoff. Florida State, despite winning the ACC Championship Game in a rock fight against Louisville to remain unbeaten, looked wholly unimpressive starting its third-string, true freshman quarterback. Star signal caller Jordan Travis is out for the season.

The No. 1 team in the penultimate rankings has never missed the playoff. The Bulldogs fell to the Tide, ending a 29-game winning streak dating back to their last loss to Alabama.

No team ranked outside the top six in the penultimate rankings had made the playoff. Texas (No. 7 last week) is expected to make the field, and Alabama (No. 8) has at least a shot as well, whether over UT or FSU.

So, what exactly will happen on Selection Sunday?

Keep on reading for College Football Playoff projections from CBS Sports bowls expert Jerry Palm — check out his entire 2023-24 bowl projections here— along with a breakdown of how our college football…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-expert-picks-will-texas-be-no-3-should-alabama-get-in-over-florida-state/

Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2023-12-03 07:31:52

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