Saturday Blitz
Fansided

College Football Playoff 2017: New Year’s Six Projections entering Week 9

By Andrew Hammond

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: A general view during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual between the USC Trojans and the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: A general view during the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual between the USC Trojans and the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Rose Bowl on January 2, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Capital One Orange Bowl:  Miami (ACC) vs. Ohio State (Big Ten/SEC/Notre Dame)
Where: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
When: Dec. 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Last week’s projection: Miami vs. Ohio State

Speaking of the Buckeyes, Ohio State falls into this week’s projection by being matched up with Miami in the Orange Bowl. Ohio State’s biggest game of the season comes this week and if the Buckeyes can beat No.2 Penn State, that would be their argument in reaching the playoff. If Ohio State wants to get in, they absolutely need this game over Penn State on Saturday. A loss would effectively end their playoff hopes and possibly an exit out of the NY6 bowls as well.

Miami, ranked in the top 10 and still undefeated, is currently the ACC leader and takes their spot in the Orange Bowl. This is a bit of a throwback to the days where Miami would play a virtual home game at the Orange Bowl, only this time they are playing in Hard Rock Stadium and not the historic venue in Little Havana.

Miami also has a small chance to make their move up the CFP ranking ladder entering the first standings to come out next Tuesday. As ranked teams play ahead of them, the Hurricanes have a North Carolina team that has all but quit this season so you can truly look ahead to the Hurricanes season making games over the next few weeks vs. Virginia Tech and Notre Dame.

Week 9 outlook

While it appears Miami will have no trouble with North Carolina, the impact of an Ohio Penn-State game is very relevant to what will happen in the projections following Week 9. Regardless of the outcome you will not see Ohio State back in this spot. With a loss, the Buckeyes could be eliminated from the NY6 discussion for at least the next week. A win and it’s possible that they move a step closer getting into the playoff and maybe in the playoff this time next week.

Home/College Football Playoff