College Football Playoff, New Year’s Six Bowl projections after Week 9

Sugar Bowl

Tennessee v TCU

The two best stories in college football this season are projected to meet in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. For the third straight week, we’re sticking with our projections, even with last night’s CFP rankings released.

The Horned Frogs were given another surprising test, this time at West Virginia. In a back-and-forth game, the Frogs didn’t finally pull away until a late touchdown on fourth down gave TCU a 10-point lead in the final minute. That’s now four straight weeks where there was a real possibility that TCU could slip up, yet they’ve survived.

The Horned Frogs still have two really difficult road games left, at Texas and Baylor. Win those, and the noise will only get louder about TCU and the CFP. Keep playing with fire, and they will still likely end up on Bourbon Street.

Two weeks ago, I made a judgment call projecting Tennessee, who had just defeated Alabama, out of the CFP and putting Bama in. Now that Tennessee has earned the top spot in the CFP rankings…I still have Tennessee on the outside looking in.

Tennessee continues to have the best season in college football, reminding us all of another incredible offense that LSU had back in 2019. This incredible run will take on its greatest challenge when the Vols take on the Dawgs this Saturday.

With a win, then I will eat crow, and the Volunteers will be heading to the CFP, regardless of what happens in the SEC championship. You can also lock up Hendon Hooker for that Heisman if he can get the win in Athens.

With a loss, their fate falls into the hands of Georgia. A Georgia win means a Bulldog vs Crimson Tide SEC championship. A win by Georgia, and I think both Georgia and Tennessee get into the CFP. A loss to Bama and you’ll likely see Bama and Georgia get in, with Tennessee falling just short and heading to the Sugar Bowl.

For now, we got the Sugar Bowl as Tennessee’s destination.