College Football Playoff pairings, top bowl matchups

College Football Playoff pairings, top bowl matchups released

1. Clemson (13-0)
2. Alabama (12-1)
3. Michigan State (12-1)
4. Oklahoma (11-1)

Many people are surprised that Michigan State leapfrogged Oklahoma after a tepid victory over Iowa, but it worked out just the way I hoped because it preserved the possibility of a championship game between Oklahoma and Alabama. Yes, Michigan State is obviously the weak sister in that family (as I type this, Alabama is a 9 1/2 point favorite over Michigan State), but if Oklahoma had stayed in third place, that dream match-up with Alabama would have occurred in the semis. Odd as it seems, getting bumped down a notch actually worked in Oklahoma's favor! The Sooners would have been several-point underdogs against 'Bama, but are currently favored by three against Clemson.

Sagarin's final regular season computer rankings are as follows:

1 Alabama
2 Oklahoma
3 Clemson
4 Ohio State

Michigan State is down the list in 9th place.

I agree with the computer rankings, but there's just no way Ohio State could get in because: (1) Michigan State is the champion of Ohio State's conference; (2) Michigan State won the head-to-head match against Ohio State; (3) the other three teams in the playoffs all have a better claim than OSU.

Other top bowls:
Stanford vs. Iowa. (5-6. That's the "near miss" bowl, aka the Rose Bowl)
Notre Dame against Ohio State. (7-8. That's the "not quite as near miss bowl", aka the Fiesta Bowl.)