12-Team College Football Playoff Bracket Predictions | CFP Predictor

9. Indiana Hoosiers at 8. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs have two losses: at Ole Miss and at Alabama. There is no shame in those two defeats, but the offense's ineptitude and the struggles of Carson Beck are a real concern for the Bulldogs. UGA has an ace in their case for the playoff committee: a comfortable and dominant win at Texas. That victory will carry a ton of weight, and this projection has Georgia finishing the season with a win over Tennessee (that knocks Tennessee from the playoff field), a victory over UMass, and then a win over Georgia Tech. If they do that, they would have wins over Clemson, Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech, which would be enough to get them a home playoff game. They have a lot of work left to do. In this projection, they would be hosting 11-1 Indiana. The Hoosiers beat Michigan 20-15 and are 10-0 for the first time in school history. This is the first time in program history Indiana has won double-digit games in a season. IU has a bye week and then plays at Ohio State before closing with Purdue. If the Hoosiers can keep it respectable against the Buckeyes, they should feel secure about their chances. A win in Columbus would put Indiana into the Big Ten Championship Game. The winner would play the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

Week 13: Tennessee at Georgia (-11.5)

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2. Texas Longhorns (SEC Champion)

What a week in the SEC. The Texas Longhorns defeated the Florida Gators and then got some help when the Georgia Bulldogs lost at Ole Miss. Texas is now in control of its own destiny again, and if it wins out (including a win at Texas A&M), the Longhorns will be in the SEC Championship Game. This projection has Texas as the SEC Champion, earning the No. 2 seed and a spot in the Sugar Bowl.

Week 13: Texas (-16.5) at Arkansas

3. Miami Hurricanes (ACC Champion)

After some narrow escapes, the Miami Hurricanes could not pull a rabbit out of the hat, falling at Georgia Tech. Cam Ward was sacked and fumbled the ball, ending a potential comeback bid and giving Miami their first loss of the season. The more significant concern is that Georgia Tech ran wild on the Hurricanes, and the defense continues to give up big plays as a battered Yellow Jackets squad finds a way to win. This projection still has Miami as the ACC Champion, prevailing over SMU in the ACC Championship Game. Miami’s loss likely leaves the ACC as a one-bid league.

4. Colorado Buffaloes (Big 12 Champion)

The BYU Cougars escaped unbeaten as a last-second field goal beat the Utah Utes. It was a fortunate win for the Cougars, who appeared to have lost the contest on at least two occasions before pulling it out of the fire. Iowa State lost again, and the Colorado Buffaloes beat Texas Tech, meaning the Buffs are in the driver's seat for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game. This projection shows that Colorado will prevail in that game and earn a bye in the College Football Playoff. That would be a remarkable achievement for Deion Sanders in his second season in Boulder, but they are playing better than anyone in the league right now.

Week 13: Utah at Colorado (-10.5)

12. Boise State Broncos at 5. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes steamrolled Purdue 45-0 to improve to 8-1 and 5-1 in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes now play Northwestern and should win easily again. That would set up a matchup between Ohio State and the Indiana Hoosiers with a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game on the line. Ohio State was given a lot of respect by the College Football Playoff Committee, being tabbed second in the initial rankings. This projection has the Buckeyes beating Indiana and then losing to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game. They would be hosting the Boise State Broncos in the first round of the playoffs. Boise State survived a scare from Nevada but prevailed and still has the inside track on the Group of Five’s bid. Other teams to keep an eye on include Army and Tulane. The winner of this game would play Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl.

Week 13: Ohio State (-31.5) at Northwestern

11. Alabama Crimson Tide at 6. Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State rebounded from an emotional loss to Ohio State with a thumping of Washington as they led 28-0 at the half and won 35-6. The Nittany Lions, as frustrated as some fans might be with James Franklin, are still in a great position. They are 8-1 and were given an initial ranking of six in the first release by the selection committee. If they can finish with wins over Purdue, Minnesota, and Maryland, the Nittany Lions will almost certainly be hosting a playoff game. This projection has Penn State welcoming the Alabama Crimson Tide to Happy Valley. What to do with the two-loss jumble in the SEC? Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Ole Miss all have two losses. Georgia lost to Alabama and Ole Miss but had a huge win over Texas. Alabama has beaten Georgia, LSU, and Missouri but lost to Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Ole Miss has an ugly home loss to Kentucky and a loss to LSU but blowout wins over South Carolina, Arkansas, and a big win over Georgia. In short, it’s a big mess, and no one knows how the selection committee will unwind things. For this projection, Ole Miss beats Florida and Mississippi State to close the season at 10-2, and Alabama finishes with wins over Mercer, Oklahoma, and Auburn. They both squeak into the field with the Crimson Tide at No. 11 because Ole Miss beat Georgia more handily. Alabama hammered LSU on the road as Jalen Milroe ran for four touchdowns and looked very healthy, something that could not be said before the Tide's bye week.

Week 13: Penn State (-28.5) at Purdue

10. Ole Miss Rebels at 7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Ole Miss Rebels, as previously mentioned, grab the No. 10 seed on the back of an impressive win over Georgia and finish at 10-2. The Rebels would play at seven-seed Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are now 8-1 after blowing out Florida State in South Bend. The Seminoles are dreadful, but Notre Dame has taken care of business since losing to Northern Illinois, and if they can complete the season at 11-1 with wins over Army and USC, the Irish will be rewarded with a home playoff game. The winner of this matchup would play Texas in the Sugar Bowl.

Week 13: Virginia at Notre Dame (-21.5)

9. Indiana Hoosiers at 8. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs have two losses: at Ole Miss and at Alabama. There is no shame in those two defeats, but the offense's ineptitude and the struggles of Carson Beck are a real concern for the Bulldogs. UGA has an ace in their case for the playoff committee: a comfortable and dominant win at Texas. That victory will carry a ton of weight, and this projection has Georgia finishing the season with a win over Tennessee (that knocks Tennessee from the playoff field), a victory over UMass, and then a win over Georgia Tech. If they do that, they would have wins over Clemson, Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech, which would be enough to get them a home playoff game. They have a lot of work left to do. In this projection, they would be hosting 11-1 Indiana. The Hoosiers beat Michigan 20-15 and are 10-0 for the first time in school history. This is the first time in program history Indiana has won double-digit games in a season. IU has a bye week and then plays at Ohio State before closing with Purdue. If the Hoosiers can keep it respectable against the Buckeyes, they should feel secure about their chances. A win in Columbus would put Indiana into the Big Ten Championship Game. The winner would play the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl.

Week 13: Tennessee at Georgia (-11.5)

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