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College Football 2017: New Year’s Six projections after Week 4

By Andrew Hammond

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 16: Calvin Ridley
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 16: Calvin Ridley /
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TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Jalen Hurts #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws a pass against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Sugar Bowl (Playoff No.2)

Sugar Bowl (Playoff No. 2): Alabama vs. Clemson
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, La.)
When: Jan. 1, 2018, at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Last week’s projection: Alabama vs. Clemson 

Alabama literally has nothing to worry about until their November 25th showdown at Auburn and the way the Crimson Tide is rolling, that might be a beautiful destruction. For Clemson, they have more than a few things to worry about, the first of those is a trip to Blacksburg, Virginia on Saturday night for a showdown with Virginia Tech.

Unlike USC, the Clemson Tigers could afford to have a “poor showing” against Virginia Tech and it wouldn’t hurt them as much. As for Alabama, it would take a loss to drop the Tide out of the playoff and even then a loss would basically put them at four instead of one. That’s just how good Alabama has been compared to some of the other contenders this season. Last week’s victory against Vanderbilt is evidence of that.

Next: Complete first round 2018 NFL Mock Draft after Week 4

Week 5 Impact: Alabama should walk over a wounded Ole Miss team and roll through the month of October. If Clemson survives at Va. Tech then the path to the playoff becomes more clear. Seeing as Florida State has faded into the abyss, it appears that one team who could throw a monkey wrench into their path is either at NC State on Nov. 4 or a tricky trip to South Carolina to end the season. Until then, these two are in it for the long haul.

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