Saturday Blitz
Fansided

College Football Playoff Projections 2018: Official ranks loom after Week 9

By John Mitchell

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers greet after the AllState Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers greet after the AllState Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

3. LSU (7-1)

Even with one loss, it’s hard to argue that LSU doesn’t have one of the nation’s most impressive resumes as the calendar flips to November. Their lone blemish was in the Swamp to Florida, and they’ve knocked off Miami on a neutral field, Auburn on the road, and Georgia and Mississippi State at home.

Miami and Auburn have struggled, which hurts the Tigers some, but their thorough domination of Georgia has been one of the single most impressive victories of the college football season thus far. Ed Orgeron entered the season on the hot seat, but he has LSU rolling to a 7-1 record with their destiny fully in their hands.

LSU does still have some major flaws, namely with their struggles to throw the football with junior Joe Burrow. The Ohio State transfer has completed less than 54% of his passes, but the Tigers have managed thanks to a strong running game and a suffocating defense.

I think there’s a good chance the Tigers jump Notre Dame for the No. 3 spot in the initial committee rankings, although it will all be moot unless they can slay the ever elusive Alabama dragon in Death Valley next Saturday night.

If LSU can upset Alabama, the Tigers will control their destiny in the College Football Playoff race. They have a tough road game to finish the regular season in College Station against Texas A&M that could be a stumbling block, too, even if they are able to do the improbable next weekend.

Home/College Football Playoff