Phil Steele projects College Football Playoff teams
USC Newsletter
(Photo: Derick E. Hingle, 247Sports)
College football analyst Phil Steele took his shot Tuesday at projecting the four teams left in the College Football Playoff.
On Ohio State, Steele wrote that the Buckeyes “still have the best shot of making the playoffs despite their recent struggles,” pointing to Ohio State’s schedule with the exception of a home game against Michigan State and “a very potentially dangerous final game at Michigan.”
The next spot could fall to either of two teams. Steele projected that the winner of this weekend’s Alabama-Georgia game would take a playoff spot. Should Alabama win, Steele notes, the Crimson Tide “will be favored in the rest of their games.” Steele pointed to a possible three-way tie in the SEC West should LSU knock off Ole Miss and Alabama defeat LSU. Georgia, too, would be favored in the rest of its games, Steele said, particularly with road trips at Tennessee and Georgia Tech not appearing “as imposing as they did two weeks ago. A Georgia victory over Alabama will show that they are a complete team …” Steele wrote.
Baylor, meanwhile, looks to be the Big 12 favorite with TCU nursing a number of injuries on defense. Steele said that Baylor’s defense “is looking solid,” and said that the Bears “are playing with a chip on their shoulder and could very well be favored in the rest of their games.”
The lone surprise pick, if it can be called that, was Steele’s selection of USC out of the Pac-12. “I have heard many analysts breaking down the best team in the Pac 12 and because USC has one loss they are discounting them. I still feel USC is the number one team in the Pac 12.”
Steele went on to note, “Despite their loss to Stanford I still think USC makes the playoffs this year.”
Phil Steele’s Projected College Football Playoff Teams
Ohio State
Alabama/Georgia winner
Baylor
USC
Steele also listed several teams as “just outside the mix.” Those included Notre Dame, TCU, LSU, Ole Miss, Michigan State, UCLA, Florida State and Utah.
- Kevin Flaherty - 2 hours ago
- 8
USC Newsletter
(Photo: Derick E. Hingle, 247Sports)
College football analyst Phil Steele took his shot Tuesday at projecting the four teams left in the College Football Playoff.
On Ohio State, Steele wrote that the Buckeyes “still have the best shot of making the playoffs despite their recent struggles,” pointing to Ohio State’s schedule with the exception of a home game against Michigan State and “a very potentially dangerous final game at Michigan.”
The next spot could fall to either of two teams. Steele projected that the winner of this weekend’s Alabama-Georgia game would take a playoff spot. Should Alabama win, Steele notes, the Crimson Tide “will be favored in the rest of their games.” Steele pointed to a possible three-way tie in the SEC West should LSU knock off Ole Miss and Alabama defeat LSU. Georgia, too, would be favored in the rest of its games, Steele said, particularly with road trips at Tennessee and Georgia Tech not appearing “as imposing as they did two weeks ago. A Georgia victory over Alabama will show that they are a complete team …” Steele wrote.
Baylor, meanwhile, looks to be the Big 12 favorite with TCU nursing a number of injuries on defense. Steele said that Baylor’s defense “is looking solid,” and said that the Bears “are playing with a chip on their shoulder and could very well be favored in the rest of their games.”
The lone surprise pick, if it can be called that, was Steele’s selection of USC out of the Pac-12. “I have heard many analysts breaking down the best team in the Pac 12 and because USC has one loss they are discounting them. I still feel USC is the number one team in the Pac 12.”
Steele went on to note, “Despite their loss to Stanford I still think USC makes the playoffs this year.”
Phil Steele’s Projected College Football Playoff Teams
Ohio State
Alabama/Georgia winner
Baylor
USC
Steele also listed several teams as “just outside the mix.” Those included Notre Dame, TCU, LSU, Ole Miss, Michigan State, UCLA, Florida State and Utah.
