Author: cfminded

ATHLON WEEK 11 PICKS			November 12, 2016
Game Picks – Dasol Mashaka
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, November 12, 2016
1:00pm	Kentucky at Tennessee	Tennessee
1:00pm	California at Wash. St.	Wash. St.
1:00pm	Minnesota at Nebraska	Nebraska
1:00pm	Illinois at Wisconsin	Wisconsin
1:00pm	Wake Forest at Louisville	Louisville
1:00pm	Auburn at Georgia	Auburn
1:00pm	Ole Miss at Texas A&M	Texas A&M
1:00pm	LSU at Arkansas	LSU
1:00pm	Ohio St. at Maryland	Ohio St.
1:00pm	Vanderbilt at Missouri	Vanderbilt
1:00pm	West Virginia at Texas	West Virginia
1:00pm	Pittsburgh at Clemson	Clemson
1:00pm	Baylor at Oklahoma	Oklahoma
1:00pm	Penn St. at Indiana	Penn St.
1:00pm	Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech	Virginia Tech
1:00pm	South Carolina at Florida	Florida
1:00pm	Texas Tech at Oklahoma St.	Oklahoma St.
1:00pm	Mississippi St. at Alabama	Alabama
1:00pm	Michigan at Iowa	Michigan
Bonus Game
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, November 12, 2016
1:00pm	USC at Washington	Washington 33 – 27
ATHLON WEEK 10 PICKS – RESULTS			November 5, 2016
Game Picks – Dasol Mashaka			W 17 – L 3
Time ET	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, November 5, 2016
11:30am	Navy at Notre Dame	Navy	Navy
12:00pm	Vanderbilt at Auburn	Auburn	Auburn
12:00pm	Wisconsin at Northwestern	Wisconsin	Wisconsin
12:00pm	Louisville at Boston College	Louisville	Louisville
12:00pm	Texas A&M at Mississippi St.	Texas A&M	Mississippi St
12:30pm	Georgia Tech at N. Carolina	N. Carolina	N. Carolina
3:30pm	Maryland at Michigan	Michigan	Michigan
3:30pm	TCU at Baylor	Baylor	TCU
3:30pm	Virginia Tech at Duke	Virginia Tech	Virginia Tech
3:30pm	Florida at Arkansas	Florida	Arkansas
3:30pm	Oklahoma St. at Kansas St.	Oklahoma St.	Oklahoma St.
3:30pm	Syracuse at Clemson	Clemson	Clemson
4:00pm	Missouri at South Carolina	South Carolina	South Carolina
4:00pm	Arizona at Wash. St.	Wash. St.	Wash. St.
7:00pm	Florida St. at N.C. State	Florida St.	Florida St.
7:30pm	Georgia at Kentucky	Georgia	Georgia
7:30pm	Iowa at Penn St.	Penn St.	Penn St.
8:00pm	Nebraska at Ohio St.	Ohio St.	Ohio St.
10:30pm	Washington at California	Washington	Washington
Bonus Game
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, November 5, 2016
8:00pm	Alabama at LSU	Alabama 24 – 13	Alabama 10-0

CFMinded.com  Dasol Mashaka   November 4, 2016

Nick Saban at Alabama is ranked No. 1a in college football and, Urban Meyer at Ohio State is ranked No. 1b. All the other 126 Division I Subdivision (FBS) coaches are ranked No. 2 or lower. Three other coaches have their eyes on No. 1 in a hurry.

Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan wants No. 1b against Ohio State November 26th now and No. 1a in the playoff against Alabama. This is only Harbaugh’s second year at Michigan after his overnight success in the NFL. “Not so fast my friend. ” says two other coaches.

Chris Peterson at the University of Washington is climbing quickly. At Boise State, he has surpassed the northwest trailblazing of Urban Meyer who moved from Utah to Florida. Peterson is the only PAC 12 undefeated team in just his third Season. He already beat powerhouses like Oklahoma and Oregon while at Boise State. He could surpass Nick Saban and Urban Meyer for 2016 only if Washington gets to the playoff.

Ed Orgeron at LSU is the sleeper. His reputation as the best interim head coach has him in a position to get one leg up on Nick Saban for LSU ambushes Alabama November 5th. Alabama has five advantages LSU must overcome: 1. Best Coach, 2. Best Overall Team, 3. Best Quarterback, 4. Best Coaching Staff, 5. Best Experience Playing Under One Scheme (three years verses LSU’s three games). LSU has the advantaged of the most fired up home team and crowds that Alabama can’t imagine.

This speculation is why we love college football and why they play the game.

Dasol Mashaka   November 4, 2016

 

 

ATHLON WEEK 10 PICKS			November 5, 2016
Game Picks – Dasol Mashaka
Time ET	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, November 5, 2016
11:30am	Navy at Notre Dame	Navy
12:00pm	Vanderbilt at Auburn	Auburn
12:00pm	Wisconsin at Northwestern	Wisconsin
12:00pm	Louisville at Boston College	Louisville
12:00pm	Texas A&M at Mississippi St.	Texas A&M
12:30pm	Georgia Tech at N. Carolina	N. Carolina
3:30pm	Maryland at Michigan	Michigan
3:30pm	TCU at Baylor	Baylor
3:30pm	Virginia Tech at Duke	Virginia Tech
3:30pm	Florida at Arkansas	Florida
3:30pm	Oklahoma St. at Kansas St.	Oklahoma St.
3:30pm	Syracuse at Clemson	Clemson
4:00pm	Missouri at South Carolina	South Carolina
4:00pm	Arizona at Wash. St.	Wash. St.
7:00pm	Florida St. at N.C. State	Florida St.
7:30pm	Georgia at Kentucky	Georgia
7:30pm	Iowa at Penn St.	Penn St.
8:00pm	Nebraska at Ohio St.	Ohio St.
10:30pm	Washington at California	Washington
Bonus Game
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, November 5, 2016
8:00pm	Alabama at LSU	Alabama 24 – 13
Idle
	Utah
ATHLON WEEK 9 PICKS			October 29, 2016
Game Picks – Dasol Mashaka			W 15 – L 5
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, October 29, 2016
12:00pm	Kentucky at Missouri	Kentucky	Kentucky
12:00pm	West Virginia at Oklahoma St.	West Virginia	Oklahoma St.
12:00pm	Louisville at Virginia	Louisville	Louisville
12:00pm	Penn St. at Purdue	Penn St.	Penn St.
12:00pm	Michigan at Michigan St.	Michigan	Michigan
3:30pm	Northwestern at Ohio St.	Ohio St.	Ohio St.
3:30pm	Georgia at Florida	Florida	Florida
3:30pm	Washington at Utah	Washington	Washington
3:30pm	Baylor at Texas	Baylor	Texas
3:30pm	Miami at Notre Dame	Miami	Notre Dame
4:00pm	Arizona St. at Oregon	Arizona St.	Oregon
7:00pm	Boise St. at Wyoming	Boise St.	Wyoming
7:00pm	Kansas at Oklahoma	Oklahoma	Oklahoma
7:00pm	Nebraska at Wisconsin	Wisconsin	Wisconsin
7:15pm	Auburn at Ole Miss	Auburn	Auburn
7:15pm	Tennessee at South Carolina	Tennessee	South Carolina
7:30pm	New Mexico St. at Texas A&M	Texas A&M	Texas A&M
8:00pm	Tulsa at Memphis	Memphis	Tulsa
11:00pm	Stanford at Arizona	Stanford	Stanford
Bonus Game
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, October 29, 2016
8:00pm	Clemson at Florida St.	Clemson 27 – 17	Clemson 37 – 34
ATHLON WEEK 8 PICKS			October 22, 2016
Game Picks – Dasol Mashaka			W 14 – L 6
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, October 22, 2016
12:00pm	N.C. State at Louisville	Louisville	Louisville
12:00pm	Texas at Kansas St.	Texas	Kansas St.
12:00pm	Wisconsin at Iowa	Wisconsin	Wisconsin
1:00pm	Arizona St. at Washington St.	Washington St.	Washington St.
3:00pm	N. Carolina at Virginia	N. Carolina	N. Carolina
3:00pm	Colorado at Stanford	Stanford	Colorado
3:30pm	Purdue at Nebraska	Nebraska	Nebraska
3:30pm	TCU at West Virginia	West Virginia	West Virginia
3:30pm	Illinois at Michigan	Michigan	Michigan
3:30pm	Texas A&M at Alabama	Alabama	Alabama
3:30pm	Memphis at Navy	Navy	Navy
4:00pm	Middle Tennessee at Missouri	Missouri	Middle Tennessee
4:00pm	Utah at UCLA	Utah	Utah
6:00pm	Arkansas at Auburn	Auburn	Auburn
6:30pm	Oregon St. at Washington	Washington	Washington
7:00pm	Houston at SMU	Houston	SMU
7:30pm	Mississippi St. at Kentucky	Mississippi St.	Kentucky
8:00pm	Oklahoma at Texas Tech	Oklahoma	Oklahoma
9:00pm	Ole Miss at LSU	LSU	LSU
Bonus Game
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, October 22, 2016
8:00pm	Ohio St. at Penn St.	Ohio St. 45 – 13	Penn St. 21 – 24

ATHLON WEEK 7 PICKS				October 14, 2016
Game Picks – Dasol Mashaka
Time ET	Matchup	Pick		Odds
Saturday, October 15, 2016
12:00pm	N.C. State at Clemson	Clemson		(-17.5)
12:00pm	Kansas St. at Oklahoma	Oklahoma		(-13.5)
12:00pm	Vanderbilt at Georgia	Georgia		(-14)
12:00pm	West Virginia at Texas Tech	West Virginia		(-1)
12:30pm	Pittsburgh at Virginia	Pittsburgh		(-3.5)
3:30pm	Nebraska at Indiana	Nebraska		(-3.5)
3:30pm	Wake Forest at Florida St.	Florida St.		(-21.5) Wake Forest
3:30pm	Alabama at Tennessee	Alabama		(-13)
3:30pm	Northwestern at Michigan St.	Michigan St.		(-6.5)
3:30pm	USC at Arizona	USC		(-9)
3:30pm	N. Carolina at Miami	Miami		(-6.5)
3:45pm	Virginia Tech at Syracuse	Virginia Tech		(-27) Syracuse
4:00pm	Missouri at Florida	Florida		(-13.5)
4:00pm	Utah at Oregon St.	Utah		(-9)
7:00pm	Ole Miss at Arkansas	Ole Miss		(-7.5)
7:30pm	Stanford at Notre Dame	Notre Dame		(-3)
7:30pm	Southern Miss. at LSU	LSU		(-25)
8:00pm	Arizona St. at Colorado	Colorado		(-13) Arizona St
10:30pm	UCLA at Washington St.	Washington St.		(-7)
Bonus Game
Time	Matchup	Pick		Odds
Saturday, October 15, 2016
8:00pm	Ohio St. at Wisconsin	Ohio St. 24 – 17		(-11)
Idle
	Auburn
	Navy
Preseason Polls Top 25 Standings After Week 6
Dasol	AP	Coaches	Phil Steele	Athlon
2nd tied	3rd	2nd tied	2nd tied	1st
Note: Week 6 rankings are the average of the AP and Coaches Polls.

cfminfed-week-6-picks_10-06-16

ATHLON WEEK 6 PICKS 10-07-16			October 6, 2016
Game Picks – Dasol Mashaka
Time ET	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, October 8, 2016
12:00pm	Oklahoma 46 at Texas 38	Oklahoma
12:00pm	Auburn at Mississippi St.	Auburn
12:00pm	Notre Dame at N.C. State	Notre Dame
3:00pm	Houston at Navy	Houston
3:30pm	Iowa St. at Oklahoma St.	Oklahoma St.
3:30pm	Indiana at Ohio St.	Ohio St.
3:30pm	Virginia Tech at N. Carolina	N. Carolina
3:30pm	Tennessee 21 at Texas A&M 38	Texas A&M
3:30pm	BYU at Michigan St.	Michigan St.
4:00pm	Vanderbilt at Kentucky	Kentucky
4:00pm	Colorado 26 at USC 35	USC
7:00pm	Michigan at Rutgers	Michigan
7:30pm	Washington at Oregon	Washington
7:30pm	Georgia at South Carolina	Georgia
8:00pm	Florida St. 28 at Miami 34	Miami
10:00pm	Arizona at Utah	Utah
10:30pm	Washington St. 35 at Stanford 34	Washington St.
10:30pm	UCLA at Arizona St.	UCLA
Bonus Game
Time	Matchup	Pick	Winner
Saturday, October 8, 2016
7:00pm	Alabama 40 at Arkansas 35	Alabama
Idle			Winner
	Louisville
	Wisconsin
	Nebraska
	Baylor
	Old Miss
	Florida
	LSU

The Preseason CFMinded Poll beats AP, Coaches and Athlon polls after 5 weeks of college football. This is based on the reference poll being an average of the October 2, 2016 AP and Coaches top 25 rankings.

CFMinded Poll has 3 exact ranking of teams, which is most among the 5 preseason polls.

cfminded-college-football-preseason-polls-comparison-10-02-16

My Preseason Poll leads the AP/Coaches Polls average by two teams. I picked Washington and Utah to play in the Pac 12 Championship Game, both undefeated. The same goes for Michigan and Clemson in the ACC and Big 10. Oklahoma and LSU coaches have let me down on the Big 12 and SEC, but can still come back – maybe, maybe, maybe.

Game Picks – Week 5

Time	Match-up	Pick
Friday, September 30, 2016 (Eastern Time)
9:00pm	Stanford @ Washington*	Washington odds 3.5

Time	Match-up	Pick
Saturday, October 1, 2016
12:00pm	Notre Dame @ Syracuse	Notre Dame odds 10.5
12:00pm	Baylor @ Iowa St.	Baylor odds 17
12:00pm	Rutgers @ Ohio St.	Ohio St. odds 38
12:00pm	Northwestern @ Iowa	Iowa odds 3.5
12:00pm	Florida @ Vanderbilt	Florida odds 10.5
12:00pm	Miami @ Georgia Tech	Miami odds 7.5
12:00pm	Texas @ Oklahoma St.	Texas odds 2.5 OK St
3:30pm	Wisconsin @ Michigan	Michigan odds 10
3:30pm	Kansas St. @ West Virginia	West Virginia odds 2.5
3:30pm	Tennessee @ Georgia	Tennessee odds 3
3:30pm	N. Carolina @ Florida St.	Florida St. odds 10.5
4:00pm	Texas A&M @ South Carolina	Texas A&M odds 18.5
5:00pm	Oklahoma @ TCU	TCU odds 3.5
6:00pm	Utah @ California	Utah odds 2.5 Cal
7:00pm	Memphis @ Ole Miss	Ole Miss odds 14.5
7:00pm	Kentucky @ Alabama	Alabama odds 35.5
7:30pm	Missouri @ LSU	LSU odds
8:30pm	Arizona St. @ USC	USC odds 10
10:30pm	Arizona @ UCLA	UCLA odds 13.5

Time	Bonus Match-up	Pick
8:00pm	Louisville @ Clemson	Louisville 33 – 27 odds 2

* – Not on Athlon Challenge List       ! – Important Games

I pulled ahead of the Preseason AP and Coaches Polls in week 4: AP/Coaches 11, Even 1, Dasol 13. Also, I picked 16 of 22 game winners – 73%.

Game Picks – Week 4                            [Results: Won 16, Lost 6]

Thursday, September 22, 2016
Clemson at Georgia Tech*

Friday, September 23, 2016
USC 15 at Utah 29 *!!                          [USC 27 at Utah 31 – won]

Saturday, September 24, 2016
Kent St. at Alabama                            [Alabama – won]
Georgia 30 at Ole Miss 39 !!!            [Georgia 15 at Ole Miss 45 – won]
Florida St. 34 at South Florida 27 ! [Florida St. 55 at South Florida 35 –                                                                                    won]
Wisconsin 19 at Michigan St. 36 !!! [Wisconsin 30 at Michigan St. 6 –                                                                                           lost]                                                                        East Carolina at Virginia Tech         [Virginia Tech – won]
Mississippi St. at Massachusetts      [Mississippi St. – won]
Duke at Notre Dame                           [Duke at Notre Dame – lost]
Pittsburgh 23 at N. Carolina 37 !!    [Pittsburgh 36 at N. Carolina 37 – won]
Penn St. at Michigan                           [Michigan – won]
Florida 22 at Tennessee 25 !!!           [Florida 28 at Tennessee 38 – won]
Vanderbilt at W. Kentucky                 [Vanderbilt at W. Kentucky – won]
Colorado at Oregon                              [Colorado – lost]
LSU 18 at Auburn 17 !!                        [LSU 13 at Auburn 18 – lost]
South Carolina at Kentucky               [South Carolina – lost]
Oklahoma St. 33 at Baylor 36 !!!       [Oklahoma St. 24 at Baylor 35 – won]
Nebraska at Northwestern                 [Nebraska – won]
Louisville at Marshall                          [Louisville – won]
Stanford 23 at UCLA 13 !!                  [Stanford 22 at UCLA 13 – won]
Texas A&M 34 at Arkansas 30 !!!     [Texas A&M 45 at Arkansas 24 – won]
California at Arizona St.                     [California – lost]
Washington 23 at Arizona 7              [Washington 35 at Arizona 28 – won]

* – Not on Athlon Challenge List ! – Important Games

Excuse me for preseason picks:
– Thinking that Oklahoma and LSU coaching staffs would improve; LSU with 17 of 22 starters returning
– Thinking that Oklahoma’s starters last year were better than Ohio State’s second stringers last year; Oklahoma has 13 starters returning, and Ohio State only 6.

I am behind of the Preseason AP and Coaches Polls, but I should catch up this week: AP/Coaches 14, Even 1, Dasol 10

Game Picks – Week 4

Thursday, September 22, 2016
Clemson at Georgia Tech*

Friday, September 23, 2016
12:00pm USC 15 at Utah 29 *!!

Saturday, September 24, 2016
12:00pm Kent St. at Alabama
12:00pm Georgia 30 at Ole Miss 39 !!!
12:00pm Florida St. 34 at South Florida 27 !
12:00pm Wisconsin 19 at Michigan St. 36 !!!
12:30pm East Carolina at Virginia Tech [Virginia Tech]
3:30pm Mississippi St. at Massachusetts [Mississippi St.]
3:30pm Duke at Notre Dame [Notre Dame]
3:30pm Pittsburgh 23 at N. Carolina 37 !!
3:30pm Penn St. at Michigan [Michigan]
3:30pm Florida 22 at Tennessee 25 !!!
4:30pm Vanderbilt at W. Kentucky [Vanderbilt]
5:30pm Colorado at Oregon [Oregon]
6:00pm LSU 18 at Auburn 17 !!
7:30pm South Carolina at Kentucky [South Carolina]
7:30pm Oklahoma St. 33 at Baylor 36 !!!
7:30pm Nebraska at Northwestern [Nebraska]*!!
8:00pm Louisville at Marshall [Louisville]
8:00pm Stanford 23 at UCLA 13 !!
9:00pm Texas A&M 34 at Arkansas 30 !!!
10:00pm California at Arizona St. [California]
10:30pm Washington 23 at Arizona 7

* – Not on Athlon Challenge List ! – Important Games

by Mashaka

You can beat the media, magazines and sportscasters preseason polls by following the criteria provided herein. I have used this criteria to defeat most pollsters for the past 15 years.

Do not let anyone fool you by saying they can predict college football games. There are too many 18 and 19 year old youngsters that determine the outcome of games. So be real. How dependable and predictable were you at 19? My point exactly!

Furthermore, the pollsters that publish the most detail team data get it very wrong. For example, most did not rank the following teams in the 2015 preseason top 40: 8. Houston, 9. Iowa, 11. Michigan. 15. North Carolina. Many had the following teams ranked higher than No. 15: 2. Clemson, 5. Oklahoma, 10. Old Miss.

Criteria Section 1

1. Previous Season’s Record

Last season’s record is the baseline. Teams will do better or worse this year depending on unforeseen factors and primarily the factors listed below.

2. Players Lost and Gained

The number and quality of starting players lost or gained is the biggest factor, because new players are unproven. The quarterback receives more weight in the analysis. Few teams are the exception. The offensive and defensive unit’s strengths and weaknesses are the second biggest factor.

3. Quarterbacks Dominate

The quarterback receives more weight depending on the division and the offensive scheme. Two of the few exceptions are Alabama and Michigan, who are less quarterback dependent. Teams like Oregon, Auburn and Baylor are heavily quarterback dependent.

4. Head Coaches and Coordinators

Ranking the coaches is critical, because they have significant weight in wins and losses. I believe in the old phrase, “I can take mine and beat yours. I can take yours and beat mine.” For example, Kansas State’s Coach Snyder often beats teams with superior talent.

“The tie could be broke this year between Nick Sabin and Urban Meyer on who the best college football head coach is”

 If Nick Sabin wins the national championship with only 3 defensive starters returning

If Urban Meyer can win a game in the national championship playoff with only 3 offensive starters returning and only 3 defensive starters returning

5. Strength of Schedule and Back-to-Back Tough Opponents

Teams with top coaching staffs and more time to prepare may defeat tough opponents with less time to prepare. A team that plays 5 tough opponents in a row is another story. Take for instance the schedules of Stanford and Oklahoma who have equally tough schedules. Stanford has 5 tough games in a row without a bye week. Oklahoma has no tough back-to-back opponents in the regular season. Stanford is not expected to make the division championships, and Oklahoma is projected to be in the national championship playoffs.

Criteria Section 2

1. Previous Season’s Record

A majority of teams ranked in the 2016 preseason top 4 had a baseline ranking of 1 through 6 in 2015. Only LSU and Michigan were ranked higher than 10 in 2015. The chart below will show why these 2 teams jumped into the 2016 preseason top 4 ranking.

Preseason Polls 2016
	AP & Coaches*	Mashaka	Final 2015	See Criteria:
Alabama	1	5	1	3, 5
Clemson	2	3	2	2, 3, 5
Oklahoma	3	1	5	3, 5
Florida St	4	6	6	3, 5
Ohio State	5	7	4	2, 5
LSU	5	2	16	2, 5
Michigan	7	4	11	2, 5
* – Averaged

 2. Players Lost and Gained

Oklahoma is my No. 1 team, because they have a balanced team of players returning with no significant loss of players. The others factors are no back-to-back tough opponents and assuming Alabama will not make the playoffs. Nick Sabin’s team won the national championship in the 2015 season with only 3 returning offense players. Getting to the playoffs in 2016, with only 3 returning on defense 3 back-to-back tough opponents, is another matter.

Returning Starters 2016
	QB	Offense	Defense	Total
Alabama	New	5	6	11
Clemson	Super Star	8	4	12
Oklahoma	All Star	7	6	13
Florida St	New	11	6	17
Ohio State	Star	3	3	6
LSU	Return	8	9	17
Michigan	New	8	6	14

3. Quarterbacks Dominate

Here is how quarterbacks affect the expected national championship playoff teams:

Alabama (-) A new quarterback doesn’t weigh much in the winning equation.

Clemson (+ + +) Their returning super star quarterback gives this team a huge edge.

Oklahoma (+ + +) This returning all-star quarterback makes all the difference.

Florida State (-) The new quarterback will make or break this experienced team.

Ohio State (+ +) There returning star quarterback is the only hope for this team which returns on 3 starting players on offense and 3 on defense.

LSU (-) The returning quarterback is one of the 10 returning offensive starters. It’s on his shoulders not to blow it.

Michigan (+) Bringing in an experience quarterback is all that is needed.

Key:  + Advantage   – No advantage

4. Head Coaches and Coordinators

All top teams expected to make the national championship playoffs have top coaching staffs. LSU’s coaches need to get more out of their exceptional players, who flood the NFL yearly. I am betting on it, because their jobs are really on the line this year. Please note that I only give a No. 1 ranking to coaches who have won a national championship.

Coaches Ranking 2016
	Head Coach	Offensive Coaches	Defensive Coaches	Comments
Alabama	1	2	2	Lost top D-coordinator
Clemson	2	1	1
Oklahoma	2	3	3
Florida St	2	3	2
Ohio State	1	1	2
LSU	3	4	2	Coaches underperform
Michigan	2	3	2

5. Strength of Schedule and Back-to-Back Tough Opponents

Alabama has the toughest schedule based on quality of opponents, the 3 tough games back-to-back, and only 1 of 7 tough games played at home. Stanford and Mississippi are 2 other teams that won’t make the national championship playoffs for similar reasons. Stanford has an unbelievable 5 tough game streak with only 2 of those games at home.

Strength of Schedule Before Championship Playoff
Alabama	Toughest – Worse in the nation of top 25 teams; 2 losses
Clemson	Easy – Weak schedule; no early season tough games
Oklahoma	Tough – Advantage in getting into playoffs
Florida St	Mild – Two SEC tough games is an advantage.
Ohio State	Tough – Oklahoma is big non-conference, an advantage.
LSU	Tough – Alabama and 3 other tough games are at home.
Michigan	Easy – Have only 3 tough game; all away

 

Back-to-Back Tough Opponents Through Division Championships
Alabama	Tough – At Arkansas, at Tennessee, Texas A&M at home
Clemson	Easy – No back-to-back tough games
Oklahoma	Easy – One back-to-back tough game series
Florida St	Mild – Two back-to-back game series
Ohio State	Easy – One back-to-back tough game series
LSU	Easy – One back-to-back tough game series
Michigan	Easy – One back-to-back tough game series

 Summary

You can see why I have doubts about Alabama, Mississippi and Stanford reaching the national championship playoffs. Also, you may see why Oklahoma and Michigan have the best path to the playoffs. LSU should make it if their coaches and quarterback don’t blow it. Clemson should make it with a powerful offense to balance a slightly weaker defense.

In a Nutshell

“The seasons comes down to these few factors.”

1. Alabama – Can they navigate the toughest schedule of the contenders?
2. Oklahoma – Can they not stumble “as usual”?
3. LSU and Florida State – Can they get enough good quarterback play to defeat Alabama and Clemson?

Easy Does It; Scheduling Easy
Clemson
Michigan
Houston
Tough Schedule; Few Back-To-Back
Oklahoma
LSU
Ohio State
Schedule; Too Tough
Alabama
Mississippi
Stanford