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Alabama Football: The unbeaten list in CFB is down to 12 teams

By Ronald Evans

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 08: Big Al, mascot of the Alabama Crimson Tide, runs out on the field during pregame prior to facing the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 8, 2011 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 08: Big Al, mascot of the Alabama Crimson Tide, runs out on the field during pregame prior to facing the Vanderbilt Commodores at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 8, 2011 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football is one of 12 undefeated FBS teams. Last season ended with only one, 15-0 Clemson. Five could enter this post-season unbeaten.

Alabama football fans focus their attention on teams who can potentially become post-season opponents. In week eight, there is still much football to be played, but it could be argued potential CFB Playoff slots are possible for less than a dozen teams.

All of the 12 currently undefeated FBS teams are ranked in the AP Top 25. Of those 12, Appalachian State, Boise State and SMU can go undefeated and fail to reach the CFB Playoff. If four or more of the remaining nine unbeaten retain an unblemished record, the CFB Playoff field will be set.

Of the nine current undefeated Power Five teams, only Clemson has a safe path to the CFB Playoff. The Tigers have no more games against Top 25 teams in the regular season. Oklahoma has the next easiest path with only one Top 25 matchup, traveling to Baylor. The other six teams have more difficult paths.

Alabama football has LSU and Auburn. The four B1G teams, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Minnesota each have two games against other B1G Top 25 teams.

If the ESPN FPI is correct, at the end of the regular season, there will be five undefeated FBS teams. Along with Alabama football, they are projected to be Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Boise State. That would make for an easy decision for the CFB Playoff Selection Committee if none of the Power Five, four lose in conference championship games. But the FPI, like any prediction tool, can be wrong. It was wrong last week with the South Carolina upset of Georgia and the Memphis loss.

According to the FPI algorithm, most of the attrition of the remaining unbeaten teams will not occur until November.

In October, ESPN projects Baylor (Oklahoma State) and Wisconsin (Ohio State) will lose. The November losses will be SMU (Memphis), LSU (Alabama), App State (South Carolina), Minnesota (Penn State), Wake Forest (Clemson) and Penn State (Ohio State).

Using the ESPN Playoff Predictor as a clue to the final CFB Playoff field, it is Ohio State at 74 percent with the greatest chance to make the Playoff. Alabama football is at 69 percent and Clemson is 85 percent, according to ESPN. Georgia and Oklahoma are next at 45 percent, followed by LSU at 31 percent. Penn State and Wisconsin lag behind at 18 and 14 percent, respectively.

Alabama football fans like the ESPN predictor for which team will win it all. The Crimson Tide has a 27 percent chance, followed by Ohio State at 25 percent.

Next. The Greatest Crimson Tide Linebackers. dark

Talk about no love. The ESPN Playoff Predictor gives Baylor less than a one percent chance to make the CFB Playoff.

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