Alabama Football: Analysis of CFP contenders and pretenders

Florida was a pre-season top-10 team and if you had asked me which of the pre-season top-10 teams were most likely to be unranked at season’s end I would have said Florida. After seven games they are sitting at 6-1 in a wide open SEC East with an elite defense and an improving offense. I still don’t think they are as good as their ranking indicates and the back-half of the season is going to be rough. Realistically, they are not a Playoff caliber team even if they win out the regular season.

Pretender – 10-2

Georgia has been disappointing this season. After the Notre Dame game I was left wondering if Notre Dame was better than I thought or if Georgia was worse than I thought. Well, after their stunning upset last week against South Carolina I think I have my answer. They could get it together in the back half, but I truly doubt it. Unfortunately for Kirby Smart, one more loss this season and the murmurs could start to creep in. Poor coaching decisions have led to big losses over the last two years. Another year of being on the fringe may not be enough to suffice the Bulldog faithful.

Pretender – 10-2

What a surprise this team from Baton Rouge has been. I knew they were good but this team is night and day compared to any other LSU team in recent memory. I think the hit Joe Burrow took from the UCF defender in last year’s bowl game flipped some kind of switch in his head. Ever since that hit, he has been LIGHTS. OUT. I think LSU loses to Alabama in the regular season, but that game is going to be close. The loser still has a great chance to make the Playoff and is certainly not eliminated.

Contender – 11-1

Michigan struggled through the first 6 games in 2019, which was supposed to be the easier half of their schedule. In the second half of 2019 they have games @Penn State, vs. Notre Dame, vs. Michigan State, and vs. Ohio State. I’m not saying they lose all of them, but there is a good chance they lose at least two. Harbaugh’s seat starts to heat up not long after there were talks about giving him a lifetime contract.

Pretender – 9-3

P.J. Fleck has got Minnesota “Rowing the Boat” in 2019. They are flying under the radar so far, but after a blowout of Nebraska last week people are starting to take notice. However, they still have Penn State, Iowa, and Wisconsin on their schedule. To be blunt, they aren’t making the Playoff this year, but don’t overlook the Golden Gophers in the coming years.

Pretender – 10-2