College football Week 11 promised to bring chaos to the College Football Playoff rankings, with fourth-ranked TCU traveling to Austin to take on Texas. How will the all-Big 12 battle impact how the CFP Selection Committee views the top four teams?
We’ve put together our College Football Playoff predictions, casting our eyes into our crystal ball and attempting to decipher what the “final four” might look like ahead of Week 12 of the 2022 college football season.
Predictions for the College Football Playoff
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Michigan Wolverines
- TCU Horned Frogs
1) Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia booked their place in the SEC Championship Game with a comfortable win over Mississippi State that ensures they remain at the top of the tree in our College Football Playoff predictions. Having ascended to the summit last week, it’s difficult to see them sliding back down while they continue to dominate whoever is placed in front of them.
With their Air Raid offense and the deafening roar of cowbells filling the Saturday evening sky, Starkville isn’t an easy place to play, and Mike Leach’s Mississippi State isn’t an easy team to play.
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Yet, Stetson Bennett IV, Brock Bowers, and Ladd McConkey made it look easy for the most part of the Bulldogs’ 45-19 victory that booked their matchup with LSU in Atlanta three weeks from now.
Georgia out-gained Mississippi State through the air, on the ground, on the game clock, and on the scoreboard. It’s the same formula of dominance that we’ve seen every week (except against Missouri) through this defense of their college football national title.
With odds of -120 from DraftKings Sportsbook, Kirby Smart’s team is the betting favorite to lift the CFB National Championship in less than two months’ time. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see them cruise all the way to the College Football Playoff as the number one team in the nation.
2) Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes jumped up one spot in the College Football Playoff rankings last week as a result of the downfall of Tennessee rather than anything that C.J. Stroud and the Buckeyes offense conjured up. If anything, there was a sense of expectation that Ohio State might slide down the CFP rankings after their labored win over a turgid Northwestern Wildcats team.
There should be no such discussion or debate this week. Ohio State flexed its offensive dominance in a commanding win over an Indiana Hoosiers team that never came remotely close to making the game a legitimate contest. The Buckeyes rolled to their tenth win of the season, a 56-14 shellacking of an Indiana team that has just one win in Big Ten play this fall.
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C.J. Stroud threw for five touchdowns. Both Miyan Williams and Dallan Hayden ran the rock for over 100 yards with a rushing touchdown each. Marvelous Marvin Harrison flashed his 2024 NFL Draft credentials. It was an imperious offensive performance that was matched by a ferocious defensive effort, holding the Hoosiers under 300 yards and allowing just 11 first downs all afternoon.
As a result, they hold their second-place ranking in our College Football Playoff predictions. The Buckeyes are unbeaten, boast a top-10 offense and defense, and passed the eye test against Indiana.
There’s simply no reason for them to slide behind conference cohort Michigan, and Georgia’s win over Mississippi State should ensure they remain in pole position for the “final four” in the latest CFP rankings.
3) Michigan Wolverines
Having entered the top four during last week’s CFP rankings show, the Michigan Wolverines remain rooted to the third spot for the second consecutive week on our College Football Playoffs predictions. The Wolverines put together another impressive performance in Week 11, outscoring Nebraska in every quarter to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games.
You very much know what you’re doing to get with Michigan this season. The CFP Selection Committee had initially labeled them workmanlike when keeping them outside of the top four, but now that they’re entrenched within the upper echelon of the College Football Playoff rankings, that quiet dominance should ensure that they’re difficult to move. Until they face Ohio State, that is.
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When you face the Wolverines, you know your defensive front seven is going to get hit by a wall moving in perfect unison to seal off your advances to the ball carrier. The Michigan offensive line has helped power a top-10 offense and fuel a genuine Heisman Trophy campaign for Blake Corum. The electric running back added 162 yards and a touchdown to his résumé in the 34-3 win over the Cornhuskers.
Ahead of this weekend, Michigan boasted a top-five unit on both sides of the ball, and the defense played its part in holding the ‘Huskers under 150 total yards. The Wolverines are the epitome of a balanced team — something the committee has emphasized this year – but their strength of schedule remains a bone of contention where a discussion for them moving up the CFP rankings is concerned.
4) TCU Horned Frogs
While Georgia, Ohio State, and Michigan have established themselves as a de facto top three while they continue to win each week, the fourth spot in these College Football Playoff predictions will remain fluid throughout the next three weeks leading up to “Selection Sunday.” However, this should be an easy one to call this week.
Having hurdled the Horned Frogs from seventh to fourth in the CFP rankings last week, the committee has no real choice but to keep them there ahead of college football Week 12.
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Sonny Dykes’ team answered the questions that had been continually asked of them, overcame the objections that had been initially tabled against them, and solidified their situation as the final team in the “final four.”
Despite their fourth-placed ranking, TCU traveled to Austin as an underdog. They left as a bonafide playoff contender after a 17-10 win over the Texas Longhorns. Unlike a number of games this season, they didn’t have to come from behind, and their defense was as equally impressive as their offense. It was the balanced win over a ranked opponent that their résumé lacked.
As these College Football Playoff predictions suggest, it’s likely not enough to propel them over Michigan — despite the Horned Frogs having a significantly tougher strength of schedule. However, TCU should solidify its standing as a legitimate contender for the “final four” as a potentially unbeaten Big 12 champion.