12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Based on Coaches Poll

8. Oregon Ducks vs. 9. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Oregon Ducks have struggled thus far but have escaped with a pair of wins over Idaho and Boise State. The offense doesn't seem to trust Dillon Gabriel, and the defense had a whale of a time with Boise State's Ashton Jeanty. The Ducks are ranked sixth in the Coaches Poll and the projected eighth seed, hosting Big Ten mate Penn State. The Nittany Lions were in a real fight with Bowling Green in Week 2, and the defensive struggle in the first half sent up a red flag moving forward. The winner would play Georgia in the quarterfinal.

Odds to Make CFP: Oregon (-340)/Penn State (-230)

2. Ohio State Buckeyes - Big Ten Champion

The Ohio State Buckeyes looked like a wrecking machine set on “destroy” on Saturday as they blasted the Western Michigan Broncos in Columbus. After a somewhat shaky performance in Week 1, the Buckeyes locked in and held WMU to 99 yards while putting up 683 of their own. WMU only had six first downs, and Ohio State rolled to a 56-0 win. The Buckeyes received three first-place votes and slot just ahead of Texas in the Coaches Poll. Ohio State would take on the seven vs. ten first-round contest winner.

Ohio State Odds to Win Title: +350

3. Utah Utes - Big 12 Champion

The Utah Utes keep the No. 3 seed as the top-ranked team in the Big 12 or the ACC. Utah checks in at number ten in the Coaches Poll, sliding up one spot after losses to teams ahead of them (Notre Dame and Michigan). The Utes looked like the best team in the Big 12 in the first half against Baylor, but Cam Rising injured his hand and left the contest, and the Utes failed to score again. If Rising is out, Utah will struggle to stay afloat, but if he can stay healthy, the Utes will be a threat to advance to the semifinals. They would play the winner of the six-seed vs. 11-seed first-round game.

Utah Odds to Win Big 12: +240

4. Miami Hurricanes - ACC Champion

The Miami Hurricanes are ranked 12th in the Coaches Poll, and Mario Cristobal’s team projects as the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Cam Ward continues to look like a Heisman Trophy contender, and the Hurricanes might have the best offensive and defensive lines in the conference. The ‘Canes have another couple of easy games before they enter an interesting stretch with Virginia Tech, Cal, Louisville, and Florida State. Miami would earn a bye, and they would battle the winner of the five-seed against the 12-seed.

Miami's Odds to Win ACC Title: +115

5. Texas Longhorns vs. Memphis Tigers (G5 Auto-Bid)

The Texas Longhorns made a great case to be considered the SEC Champion, but they landed as the No. 5 seed in this projection. The Longhorns grabbed a first-place vote but are third in the poll. Texas was the far superior team in Ann Arbor, and they looked great on offense and defense. They controlled the line of scrimmage and exposed UM’s lack of offensive firepower. Texas has a demanding schedule, but there is no reason that they cannot go 11-1 or even 12-0. A loss to #1 Georgia would have them losing in the SEC Championship Game and slotting in at No. 5. They would play the Memphis Tigers in Austin and then have a chance to play UCF on a neutral field, so Steve Sarkisian would likely sign up for this path immediately if offered to him. The Memphis Tigers are ranked 25th, the only "Group of Five" team to be ranked. Memphis has a big opportunity at Florida State this Saturday.

Memphis (+5.5) at Florida State

6. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. 11. Tennessee Volunteers

The Alabama Crimson Tide faced a bit of a scare from the South Florida Bulls in Week 2 before hitting the turbo button and pulling away for a 2-0 start under Kalen DeBoer. The defense was outstanding against a struggling Byrum Brown, holding USF to just 103 passing yards, but the offense was not firing on all cylinders, gaining just 393 yards and averaging only 5.8 yards per play. The offensive performance was a minor cause for concern for the Tide as they have yet to have a real No. 1 weapon emerge. The Crimson Tide are ranked fourth in the country in the Coaches Poll and are the number six seed in the projected College Football Playoff. They would host the very impressive Tennessee Volunteers, the ninth-ranked team in the country and the 11^th seed in the College Football Playoff. The Volunteers squashed North Carolina State, and the performance of the defense stood out as a difference-making factor for Josh Heupel’s team. These two teams meet in Knoxville on “The Third Saturday in October.”

Odds to Make CFP: Alabama (-185)/Tennessee (-110)

7. Ole Miss Rebels vs. 10. Missouri Tigers

The Ole Miss Rebels grab the seventh seed after another squash victory over an overmatched opponent. The Rebels have taken care of business, but it’s hard to move them up, given the lack of quality they have faced so far. Ole Miss is ranked fifth in the Coaches Poll. Hosting a playoff game in Oxford seems like the minimum achievement that would make this season successful for the Rebels, and they are projected to welcome SEC-rival Missouri to town. The Tigers move up thanks to losses by Notre Dame and Michigan that move them out of the projected bracket. Missouri is 2-0 against weak opposition, but it deserves credit for taking care of business with a combined score of 89-0. Mizzou has a very interesting game against Boston College this Saturday and then a road trip on October 26 to Alabama. Other than that, Missouri doesn’t face much that would be determined scary, and they would be favored in 11 of their 12 games. The winner would play the Ohio State Buckeyes in the quarterfinals.

Odds to Make CFP: Ole Miss (-200)/Missouri (+150)

8. Oregon Ducks vs. 9. Penn State Nittany Lions

The Oregon Ducks have struggled thus far but have escaped with a pair of wins over Idaho and Boise State. The offense doesn't seem to trust Dillon Gabriel, and the defense had a whale of a time with Boise State's Ashton Jeanty. The Ducks are ranked sixth in the Coaches Poll and the projected eighth seed, hosting Big Ten mate Penn State. The Nittany Lions were in a real fight with Bowling Green in Week 2, and the defensive struggle in the first half sent up a red flag moving forward. The winner would play Georgia in the quarterfinal.

Odds to Make CFP: Oregon (-340)/Penn State (-230)