Alabama Football: CFB Playoff field narrows as top teams lose
By Ronald Evans
Eight weeks into the 2017 season, the CFB Playoff contenders are dwindling. Alabama football is at the top of the CFB mountain.
Alabama football sits on top of CFB after week eight of the 2017 season. With the CFB Playoff committee releasing the first 2017 ranking on October 31st, the Tide’s open week ensures it will be ranked No. 1.
Losing a single game to a Power Five team does not knock a team out of the CFB Playoff hunt. Even if that loss is to an unranked team. In the short history of the CFB Playoff committee selections, two losses is a deal breaker. While it is hard to argue precedence based on the short history of the Playoff, so far a two-loss team, even with a conference championship, misses out on a playoff berth.
On Saturday, second losses by USC and Michigan and long shots, Virginia and Kentucky knocked four teams out of the Playoff picture. Notre Dame’s victory over USC on Saturday put the one-loss Irish in Playoff contention. The other advantage for the Irish is the one loss was by a single point to undefeated Georgia.
Just like last week, there are six undefeated Power Five conference teams. Let’s look at all the Power Five conference leaders.
Atlantic Coast Conference
The ACC has one undefeated team: Miami (6-0) in the Coastal Division.
Clemson and North Carolina State are both (6-1) in the Atlantic Division. In the Coastal, Virginia Tech is (6-1)
Best Bet for the CFB Playoff – Miami but all three of the one-loss teams have a chance, particularly Clemson.
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 has one undefeated team: TCU (7-0). At (6-1) Oklahoma and Oklahoma State remain in the playoff picture.
Best Bets for the CFB Playoff – TCU. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State can play their way in.
Big Ten Conference
Penn State (7-0) and Wisconsin (7-0) are the league leaders. Wisconsin should make the conference championship game. With just one loss, Ohio State and Michigan State are in the Playoff hunt.
Best Bets for the CFB Playoff – Penn State and Wisconsin, plus Ohio State and Michigan State
Pac 12 Conference
There are no undefeated teams in the Pac 12. The Huskies and the Cougars meet in the last game of the regular season. A one-loss winner of that game will be in good shape for the Playoff. Except, if a Pac 12 South team wins the conference championship game, the conference could miss the CFB Playoff.
Best Bet for the CFB Playoff – Washington (6-1) or Washington State (7-1)
Southeastern Conference
Alabama football continues its march toward another championship run. LSU, Auburn and Mississippi State could knock the Tide into the group of one-loss teams. The most serious threat to the Tide gaining another CFB Playoff berth is Georgia.
SEC EAST
Georgia (7-0 overall) 4-0
South Carolina (5-2 overall) 3-2
Florida (3-3 overall) 3-2
Kentucky (5-2 overall) 2-2
Tennessee (3-4 overall) 0-4
Vanderbilt (3-4 overall) 0-4
Missouri (2-5 overall) 0-4
SEC West
Alabama (8-0 overall) 5-0
Auburn (6-2 overall) 4-1
LSU (6-2 overall) 3-1
Texas A&M (5-2 overall) 3-1
Mississippi State (5-2 overall) 2-2
Ole Miss (3-4 overall) 1-3
Arkansas (2-5 overall) 0-4
Best Bets for the CFB Playoff – Alabama and Georgia
The biggest games in week nine of the season will be Penn State and Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio and North Carolina State at Notre Dame.
Next: 10 Best Tide QB's of All-Time
Alabama football is in a strong position but there is much football still to be played. Check in with us next week after the results of the week nine games. Bama Hammer will join the crowded conversation of projecting the four Playoff teams in the first rankings.