Okay, who are your darkhorse favorites to get into the CFP?

[clowncar]

I'm doing all of this on my iPhone so the analysis isn't real in depth.

Making the playoff and winning the playoff are two totally different hurdles. Getting there takes the right blend of talent and schedule but winning it by playing two elite teams in less than two weeks takes talent and depth. I could see a Cincy, Boise or even Baylor making it some day but could they beat Alabama then Ohio St? I highly doubt it. But this question was just about making it. My thoughts...

At one point late in the season last year Marshall was undefeated and ranked behind a two loss Boise State. That shows the committee's view on CUSA vs MWC. The gap is even bigger between MWC and P12/SEC/Big Ten. I feel safe in saying no group of 5 will make it. BYU has a difficult enough schedule to make it but no way do they beat Boise, UCLA, Neb, UCF, Mich, Cinci, Missouri.

ACC - Clemson only has two starters back on D I believe. FSU is the only team out of the ACC that has a realistic chance. GT was a nice story last year but will drop a few. I'll add ND in here since they are quasi-ACC. They return 20 starters but have a more difficult schedule then it appears. 2+ losses knocks ND out.

Big Ten - MSU getting Oregon could be a huge boost for their resume. Not sure if an 11-1 MSU who didn't win the conference and only lost to OSU, could get in.

Big XII - Baylor and TCU will be good but will no doubt drop a game or two at some point. People get enamored with the scoreboard and forget about these teams flaws. Baylor had more penalty yards than offensive yards (350+) against WVU and lost. TCU almost lost to a poor Kansas team. OKL and OSU will be decent and I'm sure everyone finishes with 2 losses.

SEC - The top teams all have massive turnover but are filling those new spots with 4/5 star guys. I'm sure the conference will cannabilize itself with 8-9 teams that will enter the top 25 at some point. I see the champ having 2 losses.

P12 - Oregon takes a big step back and USC/ASU/Stan take a step forward. Again a 2 loss champ is very likely.

If all these conference races unfold as I have mentioned then we probably get Ohio St, SEC and P12 champ and then a toss up between Mich St and Big XII.

Playoff contenders : Ohio St, Mich St, FSU, Bama, Aub, Ark, LSU, Baylor, TCU, Oregon, USC, Stanford.

I just can't see the four playoff teams coming from outside of this field of 12. Boring answer but those are my 2 cents.

Great post but there is zero chance big10 gets two and Big12 gets zero after last year's snub. B12 getting in is almost a given

 

[Wanger]

What is this "our run" bull s**t? Are you going to tell us that you graduated from Oregon now? If so, you should be flogged for wagering against them. If you did that and were a USC grad, your face would be rearranged, which is what you deserve. I know a lot of homers in here, but I do not know of any that would wager against their alma mater.

IF you did NOT graduate from Oregon (which is probably the case because you are too stupid to have graduated from ANY college), I do not want to hear any more of this "Our" caca out of you again. Either way you are a major loser. You are like a stray cat looking for a home. The truth of the matter is that you will never get out of the alleys and gutters.

I graduated from Oregon and have wagered against them countless times, your stupidity is off the charts.

 

[MattyMatt]

I know a lot of homers in here, but I do not know of any that would wager against their alma mater.

I think this might be the dumbest thing I've read here in a very long time. In fact, if you believe that, you probably shouldn't be wagering at all.

Now, yes, we all probably hate wagering against our team, but you gotta know when to and how to, and that chance comes up for me several times a year...

 

[GoSooners]

I think this might be the dumbest thing I've read here in a very long time. In fact, if you believe that, you probably shouldn't be wagering at all.

Now, yes, we all probably hate wagering against our team, but you gotta know when to and how to, and that chance comes up for me several times a year...

Agree 100%

 

[REDEYE]

I think this might be the dumbest thing I've read here in a very long time. In fact, if you believe that, you probably shouldn't be wagering at all.

Now, yes, we all probably hate wagering against our team, but you gotta know when to and how to, and that chance comes up for me several times a year...

+1

 

[rolltide]

I think this might be the dumbest thing I've read here in a very long time.

if you keep reading the drivel from that fool you will be typing this sentence over and over and over and over

 

[REDEYE]

if you keep reading the drivel from that fool you will be typing this sentence over and over and over and over

post of the day !

 

[Scott602]

Arkansas.

 

[Insiders]

Oklahoma

 

[MattyMatt]

Arkansas.

I like them as well.

 

[Maggiore]

Clemson will beat FSU by double digits. There toughest games are GT (always close even if one sucks, but 2 best QBs in the country this year), ND, and at NC St. (Laugh now).

?????

 

[MattyMatt]

?????

D. Watson from Clemson, and Justin Thomas from Georgia Tech.

 

[GoSooners]

D. Watson from Clemson, and Justin Thomas from Georgia Tech.

Watson is my leading Heisman candidate, with Boykin being a close second. I also think Mixon of OU could be really really good depending on how and how much Riley utilizes him in his offense. But I have a feeling he's going to be the surprise player of the year in the Big 12 and be in the Heisman talk by the end of the season. Switzer said that he's the best RB that he's seen since Adrian Peterson.. But he'll only go as far as the retooled OL takes him..

 

[Enfuego]

Guys, don't count out V. Adams as a possible Heisman candidate. The guy is legit and will put up big numbers at Oregon.

 

[REDEYE]

Guys, don't count out V. Adams as a possible Heisman candidate. The guy is legit and will put up big numbers at Oregon.

Love those odds, but can't see two Oregon QB's winning back to back Heismans..His stats would really have to be off the charts

 

[CFBLore]

This isn't a dark horse team, it's a dark horse scenario. I think Big Ten will seriously be in the discussion to put two teams in. An 11-1 MSU team with a win over Oregon and their only loss to OSU is going to be tough to leave out. Especially if Oregon wins the P12.

 

[RunLeeRun]

This isn't a dark horse team, it's a dark horse scenario. I think Big Ten will seriously be in the discussion to put two teams in. An 11-1 MSU team with a win over Oregon and their only loss to OSU is going to be tough to leave out. Especially if Oregon wins the P12.

Well, it could be a 12-0 MSU and an 11-1 OSU, too.....add in a possible 11-1 B10 West team and you could have a really crazy scenario.

 

[GoSooners]

Well, it could be a 12-0 MSU and an 11-1 OSU, too.....add in a possible 11-1 B10 West team and you could have a really crazy scenario.

Either way it's very possible the Big 10 gets in two teams. Conference suicide is very possible with the SEC, Pac-12 and ACC. It's also possible the Big 12 could get in two teams. I still think there's a good chance Notre Dame crashes the party.

 

[REDEYE]

easily could see a 2 loss team in this thing this year

 

[SundayTiger]

TEXAS AM

-John Chavis comes in to coach the defense
-Only 3 true road games
-Catch Alabama in a good spot off a bye
-Return Allen at QB who was a top rated recruit and only got better over the season BUT, they have a freshman QB competing for starting QB job. This freshman was 42-0 in High school and won 3 or 4 Texas state championships, Kyler Allen. Lots of talent no matter who starts.
-Sumlin is a great coach, if Chavis can take care of the defense (which has talent), I see no reason why they can't be the 1 loss team out of the SEC.