NCAAF · 1 year ago

12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Based on Coaches Poll

Grant White

Host · Writer

8. Oregon Ducks vs. 9. Penn State Nittany Lions
Two Big Ten squads are positioned for glory over the latter part of the college football season. The Oregon Ducks and Penn State Nittany Lions are ranked highly in every poll and have betting market confidence behind them. Heading into Week 6, the Ducks are priced at +1000 on the National Championship futures board. Similarly, the Penn State Nittany Lions are valued at +1800, the eight-shortest odds on the board.

This theoretical contest would push both teams outside their comfort zones. Oregon plays with pace and unleashes its offense unmercifully. Conversely, the Nittany Lions prefer to play a smashmouth brand of football predicated on solid defensive efforts. If these teams meet on New Year's Day, this would be must-see TV.

National Championship Odds: Oregon +1000, Penn State +1800
1. Texas Longhorns (SEC Champion)
While most of the country is fawning over the Alabama Crimson Tide, college football coaches have installed the Texas Longhorns as the best team in the nation.

Texas does everything right. They have one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, matching that with stout defensive efforts week after week. Moreover, their toughest matchup of the season versus the Georgia Bulldogs comes at Texas Memorial Stadium. That gives the Longhorns the inside track for securing the top seed in the College Football Playoff and an automatic bye into the second round.

National Championship Odds: +500
2. Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten Champion)
Conference expansion hasn't eroded the Ohio State Buckeyes' standing in the Big Ten. They remain the class of the division, and that's reflected in the Coaches Poll.

Ohio State is anchored into the third seed in the weekly ranking, leaving them with the second seed in the College Football Playoff. We saw their best in Week 5 when they handily dissected the Michigan State Spartans in their home confines.

While the toughest challenges lie ahead, the Buckeyes will undoubtedly be included in the expanded playoff bracket.

National Championship Odds: +370
3. Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion)
A controversial win didn't knock the wind out of the Miami Hurricanes' sails. The ACC leaders remain on track to claim their first conference title since winning the Big East in 2003. It couldn't come at a better time since that would guarantee them a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

There's no slowing down the Hurricanes offense. They've blown through the competition this season and are coming off a monumental win over the Virginia Tech Hokies. Still, their defensive acumen needs calibration to be taken seriously as National Championship contenders.

National Championship Odds: +1800
4. Iowa State Cyclones (Big 12 Champion)
The Iowa State Cyclones are the top-ranked Big 12 team, meaning they're locked into the fourth automatic berth and first-round bye.

The Cyclones humbled the Houston Cougars at home this week, holding their Big 12 counterparts off the scoreboard while limiting them to 241 total yards. That's the standard they've maintained through the early part of the campaign, bolstering the championship aspirations.

There is no shortage of teams vying for the Big 12 crown. Iowa State must be ready to defend its position over the upcoming challengers.

National Championship Odds: +13000
5. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. 12. UNLV Rebels
The Coaches Poll might be the only place the Alabama Crimson Tide are ranked second, which would relegate them to the fifth seed in the CFP bracket. Still, there's little doubt they could escape their opening-round matchup against the UNLV Rebels.

Credit where credit is due. The Rebels didn't miss a step after their starting quarterback, Matt Sluka, decided to jump ship after some promised NIL endorsements fell through. Hajj-Malik Williams stepped in without missing a beat, leading UNLV to its best outing of the season.

A playoff berth would be no short accomplishment for any team, let alone a Mountain West representative of UNLV's ilk. But getting past the Crimson Tide is too big of a task.

National Championship Odds: Alabama +380, UNLV +50000
6. Tennessee Volunteers vs. 11. Michigan Wolverines
An early-season loss to the Texas Longhorns has been forgiven, as the Michigan Wolverines remain a top-ranked team in the Coaches Poll. But we can't help but be concerned after a string of too-close-for-comfort wins.

Michigan barely survived Week 5's test against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The defending champs gave up 21 points in the fourth quarter, eking out a 27-24 win. That comes on the heels of last week's come-from-behind win, while almost blowing a lead against the Arkansas State Red Wolves the week before.

The Tennessee Volunteers were sitting at home watching the drama unfold this week and would open as hefty favorites in this presumptive matchup.

National Championship Odds: Tennessee +1000, Michigan +13000
7. Georgia Bulldogs vs. 10. Missouri Tigers
The Georgia Bulldogs have some explaining to do. After narrowly surviving Week 4's clash against the Kentucky Wildcats, the Bulldogs suffered defeat at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. Their playoff chances aren't on life support yet, but one more loss could have them teetering on the edge of falling out of the CFP.

Their potential first-round opponent, the Missouri Tigers, might also be getting too much credit for their early-season results. Missouri needed double-overtime in Week 4 to sneak past the Vanderbilt Commodores and didn't even come close to covering the -14.5 spread against the Boston College Eagles the week before.

It's far from certain that either of these teams will be clinching their playoff berths at the end of the season, but as it stands, Georgia would be the sixth seed, with Mizzou checking in at 10.

National Championship Odds: Georgia +550, Missouri +6000
8. Oregon Ducks vs. 9. Penn State Nittany Lions
Two Big Ten squads are positioned for glory over the latter part of the college football season. The Oregon Ducks and Penn State Nittany Lions are ranked highly in every poll and have betting market confidence behind them. Heading into Week 6, the Ducks are priced at +1000 on the National Championship futures board. Similarly, the Penn State Nittany Lions are valued at +1800, the eight-shortest odds on the board.

This theoretical contest would push both teams outside their comfort zones. Oregon plays with pace and unleashes its offense unmercifully. Conversely, the Nittany Lions prefer to play a smashmouth brand of football predicated on solid defensive efforts. If these teams meet on New Year's Day, this would be must-see TV.

National Championship Odds: Oregon +1000, Penn State +1800
1. Texas Longhorns (SEC Champion)
While most of the country is fawning over the Alabama Crimson Tide, college football coaches have installed the Texas Longhorns as the best team in the nation.

Texas does everything right. They have one of the most dynamic offenses in the country, matching that with stout defensive efforts week after week. Moreover, their toughest matchup of the season versus the Georgia Bulldogs comes at Texas Memorial Stadium. That gives the Longhorns the inside track for securing the top seed in the College Football Playoff and an automatic bye into the second round.

National Championship Odds: +500

12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Based on Coaches Poll

National Championship Odds: Oregon +1000, Penn State +1800

National Championship Odds: +500

National Championship Odds: +370

National Championship Odds: +1800

National Championship Odds: +13000

National Championship Odds: Alabama +380, UNLV +50000

National Championship Odds: Tennessee +1000, Michigan +13000

National Championship Odds: Georgia +550, Missouri +6000

National Championship Odds: Oregon +1000, Penn State +1800

National Championship Odds: +500

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