Clemson vs. Oklahoma projection in the college football championship has Oklahoma winning 71.7% chance (60.4% last week) of the time against the Tigers by an average score of 36-28 (31-27 last week) according to the simulations.
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The stars are aligning for a shortened list of teams as conference championship games are set to take place on Saturday. If that happens it would essentially eliminate the SEC and Pac 12 champions since USC and Florida are so far back, and allow for a non-champion…which Ohio State would be with only one loss. Now if they lose, depending on if the game is a blowout or close, they could still make it into the playoff since North Carolina is a top ten team. Which Big Ten team will squeeze its way into the field: Iowa or Michigan State? The number two seed should be where the Crimson Tide end up.
Oklahoma likely wrapped up one spot last week with their win over Oklahoma State, which clinched the Big XII championship. I do not see a loss coming from Alabama or Clemson however leaving the Sooners right where they are as the third seed. In my opinion Stanford is the better team and deserves to be included in the playoff.
At Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the playoff hopes of No. 5 MSU and No. 4 Iowa will clash at 8:17 p.m. EST, aired on FOX.
Or would the risk of a loss on that stage have put a damper on the good feelings OSU still has after its dramatic victory over Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl? The same thing goes for the Spartans as it does for Iowa.
With an undefeated record, Clemson has seemingly solidified itself as a playoff contender whether it wins or loses on Saturday, but a loss in disappointing fashion might drop them.
Yes, believe it or not, there are more Big Ten teams (3) than SEC teams (1) that are in playoff contention, and Ohio State is the last Big Ten team with a chance. No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama each must win-against No. 10 North Carolina and No. 18 Florida, respectively-to solidify their spots in the second annual tournament.
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Once again, Ohio State or Stanford could find its way to the semifinals with an Alabama loss just like the two schools could if Clemson loses disappointingly. Ohio State is idle and still has an outside shot if they get help. Stanford has two reasonable losses to a top 25 Northwestern and Oregon. I don’t see one, much less either Clemson or Alabama losing, leaving Stanford out of the playoffs.
