College Football: 2018 Saturday Blitz staff season projections

The 2018 college football season is upon us and the Saturday Blitz staff has put together their projections for each Power 5 conference and the College Football Playoff.

The nation watched in amazement last year on Selection Sunday when the committee elected to award two SEC schools, Alabama and Georgia, berths in the College Football Playoff. It was the first time that two teams from the same conference had been chosen in the same year – each squad proved their worth, winning their opening game before putting on a show that came down to the final plays.

The theatrics of true freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa proved to be the deciding factor, but when his pass landed in the outstretched arms of DeVonta Smith the wheels started turning on the offseason. That offseason, thankfully, is coming to a close, meaning its time to make our final projections for the 2018 season.

Every year analysts (like us) put their best guesses forth prior to the college football season. Every year they’re dashed to pieces before we reach rivalry week, but every once in a while common sense seems to hold. 2018 should have a mix of both.

No one envisioned the scenario that put two SEC teams into the Playoff last season, making even the most farfetched possibilities (I’m talking about you Rutgers) on the table. Before the first upset messes things up, here are the 2018 Saturday Blitz staff projections for each Power 5 conference, the College Football Playoff and the eventual National Champion.