College Football Playoff 2017: New Year’s Six projections entering Week 10

Sugar Bowl (Playoff No.2)

Sugar Bowl (Playoff No. 2): Alabama (No. 1) vs. Ohio State (No. 4)
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. Georgia

While I’m not a fan of doing this, I’ve got the feeling we will see Ohio State in the top four tonight and hence, the reason why they are here tonight. After landing at three in both the Coaches and AP Polls, it’s clear that the voters were looking for a reason to put the Buckeyes into the playoff discussion this early and I expect the CFP voters to do the same.

While I may not agree with their choice, it’s going to happen sooner or later.

Meanwhile, Alabama continues to be an interesting case and even with the week off this past week, it’s quite possible that their stranglehold on No. 1 would keep them in the playoff with a loss. Alabama’s last two games of the season come against Auburn and most likely Georgia in the SEC title game. With their body of work and how impressive they’ve been, you can make a case that they’ve earned the right to remain in the playoff despite a loss.

Next: Latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft after Week 9

Week 9 outlook: Alabama has an up and down LSU squad this week at home, usually we’d call this a rivalry game but there hasn’t been much of one the past few seasons. It’s been Alabama’s series as they’ve won six in a row over the Tigers. Ohio State travels to Iowa City this week to face an Iowa team that shouldn’t be taken lightly. A win in Iowa City would validate that the Buckeyes have indeed turned it around and that the comeback against Penn State is no fluke. A loss knocks them out of the playoff and opens up the final spot for another one-loss team.