(10-15-2017 10:28 PM)ken d Wrote: There's a lot of football to be played by everybody. My over/under on undefeated champions by the end of the year is 1.5, and I'm taking the under.
I think Alabama has the best shot at it. Depth. When they lose a couple of key players their #2's are stronger than most folks #1's. That's why if you want to knock off the Tide you have to be as deep as they are, which in the last two years Clemson was close enough to do. Depth is an issue for Clemson this year. I wouldn't be surprised to see Georgia Tech take them down. Their QB is is going to be questionable for awhile with the concussion. Their #2 is going to need a game or two under his belt to get up to speed.
There is enough parity in the Big 10 this year to make them less likely to produce an undefeated team. With Ohio State getting better each week and being the deeper team on the bench I expect to still see a 1 loss Ohio State in the CFP. Where the Big 10 will clean up this year will be with 2 possibly 3 top paying bowls for the runners up. The SEC will be down in that regard with only 2 real possibilities for one of those outside of the CCG winner. The SEC will fill the mid tier bowls by the end of the season and will have some in lesser bowls this year. I expect the PAC to pack the mid tier bowls as well and to be favored in many of them.
A 1 loss Clemson would be in the CFP, IMO. I just don't think Clemson finishes with 1 loss. I like N.C. State's and Georgia Tech's chances to knock them off this year. And if South Carolina keeps plugging along who knows?
The best bet IMO for the ACC is Miami, but they are going to have to beat Notre Dame and Virginia Tech to get there. Either one or both of those could knock them off.
But before you write yourselves out you do still have the most 1 loss teams still in contention. Any of them could run the table and represent you in the CFP.
I think the PAC will be hard pressed to produce a 1 loss conference champ, and I think T.C.U. is the best bet to do it in the B12 and I think they will have at least 1 loss. Wisconsin if they get by Michigan is a shoe in for the Big 10 CCG. If they are undefeated and give the Buckeyes a great game they will be up for strong consideration for an at large selection to the CFP as will Georgia if they do the same and play Alabama close in the CCG. If the Big 12 winner has two losses and the PAC champ does as well we could easily be looking at 1 conference having two representatives this year.