-Next up is La-Lafayette. That's a W. -Then they have Arkansas who is just terrible. -Then Missouri who is probably the 3rd or 4th best team in the East. They'll test the Tide downfield to be sure, but I don't think they have the defense to hold Alabama's juggernaut. -Then there's the game with Tennessee. While a rivalry game, after UT's showing against Florida, I expect nothing short of a blow out again in this game. -Then comes a night game down in Baton Rouge vs LSU. Strange things happen at that place at night, so that may be a test. -Then there's Miss State, who just got bitch slapped and beat down by Kentucky. -Then there's the annual pre-Iron Bowl bye week against The Citadel. That will be a 70-0 affair. -Finally, the Iron Bowl. So basically, there's 2 real tests left on the schedule and honestly, I could see Alabama blowing out both of them. Looks like one slot is locked up for the CFP. The argument then shifts, does the conference deserve two?
Seriously, we still have to play the games. Strange things happen every Saturday. Right now everything is going well, but Tagovolua is young and our defense has weak spots. LSU is good and Auburn is Auburn. Remember ODU???
Right now the Tide look unbeatable, but as kp noted you still have to play the games. LSU is looking like a big, big game assuming they also arrive undefeated. But Eddie O v Saban is a mismatch. Auburn apparently has really bad OL problems, unless they get that corrected it's going to be tough to pull another upset. CFP.. it always seems like we are going to have multiple undefeated teams at this point in the year but it never happens. Clemson lost to freak'n Syracuse last year. One of ND or Stanford will pick up a loss, one of either Penn State or Ohio State will pick up a loss this weekend. One of LSU or Alabama will pick up a loss when they play ..upsets happen. Right now the winner of the Ohio State/Penn State game should they go on and be undefeated will be in. Alabama is likely in, Clemson is likely in. The 4th slot will go to an undefeated Stanford or Notre Dame or Oklahoma should one of them remain undefeated. But that's a big if. But right now it looks like Alabama is a lock.
Never discount a night game on the road, but I suspect LSU might not score a point against Bama. Burrow will be a sitting duck on passing downs.
You guys are all handing it to 'Bama...and speculating about 2 SEC teams...after what...4 weeks? Anybody wanna bet the field? 8)
Of course what Stu said is true, but that's the nature of sports chat...speculation. People here in Houston have been talking about the Astros playoff run in 2018 since opening day. But looking at the week 4 rankings on ESPN 1. Alabama 2. Clemson 3. OU 4. Penn State 5. USC 6. Oklahoma State 7. Washington 8. Michigan 9. Wisconsin Over the season of course there were changes but that top 3 ended up in the CFP along with Georgia who was undefeated. Not much changed the next week. After 4 games there were 16 undefeated teams. But of course that can't stay because of teams playing each other. But those top 3 pretty much in the conversation all year. Irish snuck into the conversation when they got to the Miami game. But Alabama was the top contender till the Auburn game. Teams knock each other out during conference play and by the time we got to the end of the regular season there were no undefeated Power 5 teams left from the 16 that existed after 4 games. I expect that'll be possible again. Stuff happens, Auburn beats unbeatable Alabama but in doing so runs out of gas and loses to UGA. Clemson inexplicably loses to Syracuse a terrible team. Just looking at Alabama though you'd have to have them heavily favored in all their remaining games, if Tua stays healthy no reason for them to lose.
Remember last year, Alabama got into the playoffs and didn't even win their own division, let alone conference. (that was between Auburn and Georgia). I just don't see how they don't follow that precedent if Georgia runs the table this year as well and loses to only Alabama in the title game. And as Terry noted, even if the team with the nation's longest winning streak goes unbeaten, they stand no chance at making the playoffs.
Terry....I see different ESPN week 4 power rankings. :?: 1. Bama 2. tOSU 3. Georgia 4. Clemson 5. Stanford 6. LSU 7. ND 8. PSU 9. OU 10. WVa
Sorry I wasn't clear. Those are the AP rankings from 2017. I was trying to point out that not much changed in the end, although in between there was a lot of changes. From 16 undefeated teams to none. I do like the ESPN Power rankngs though I think they are better than the polls.