I'll keep it simple, yet hopefully entertaining. I'll predict each conference champion, the four College Football Playoff teams, and the remaining picks for the New Year's Six.
2015 Conference Championship Predictions
ACC: Georgia Tech over Clemson (like 2009, except this time, the Yellow Jackets don't have to give up their trophy)
Big Ten: Ohio State over Minnesota (the Gophers are one of 2015's surprise teams, but not quite on Ohio State's level)
Big 12: TCU (defeating Baylor in a de-facto championship game on Black Friday)
PAC-12: Arizona State over Oregon (the South finally wins a PAC-12 title game!)
SEC: Georgia over Alabama (the East winning the SEC for the first time since 2008)
American: Cincinnati over Navy (the Midshipmen surprise a lot of conference teams this year)
Conference USA: Western Kentucky over Louisiana Tech (Hilltoppers continuing their ascent since the latter part of 2014)
MAC: Western Michigan over Ohio (the first NIU-less MAC Championship Game since 2009)
Mountain West: Boise State over San Diego State (potential matchup of 10-win teams)
Sun Belt: Louisiana-Lafayette (avoiding Georgia Southern, but finishing one game ahead)
Final Pre-Bowl Rankings
1. Ohio State (13-0, Big Ten Champions)
2. TCU (12-0, Big 12 Champions)
3. Georgia Tech (12-1, ACC Champions)
4. Georgia (11-2, SEC Champions)
5. Michigan State (11-1)
6. Arizona State (11-2, PAC-12 Champions)
7. Baylor (11-1)
8. Auburn (10-2)
9 Clemson (11-2)
10. Alabama (10-3)
11. Oregon (10-3)
12. USC (9-3) - just misses out on New Year's Six
===
18. Cincinnati (11-2)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
Orange Bowl: 1 Ohio State vs 4 Georgia (Ohio State wins)
Cotton Bowl: 2 TCU vs 3 Georgia Tech (TCU wins)
CFP Championship: TCU beats Ohio State in an instant classic
NEW YEAR'S SIX
Peach Bowl: 9 Clemson vs 18 Cincinnati
Fiesta Bowl: 11 Oregon vs 10 Alabama
Rose Bowl: 5 Michigan State vs 6 Arizona State
Sugar Bowl: 8 Auburn vs 7 Baylor
Other Thoughts
- The CFP debate of the 2015 season is which matters more: head-to-head or conference championship?
- 1-loss Michigan State, winners over Oregon yet losers to Ohio State?
- 2-loss Oregon, who is a considerable favorite for their conference championship?
- The debate continues during the Georgia-Georgia Tech game, with both teams 10-1 and in the Top 10 going into the game.
- Arizona State's upset win over the Ducks, coupled with Georgia's triumph over Alabama in the SEC CG, makes this great debate moot.
- The five power conferences continue to get closer to each other in terms of performance...each one has at least four ranked teams going into the bowls.
- At least two Group of Five teams go into the bowls as ranked teams.
Chip's got a great set of posts coming right around the corner, beginning next week and running through the first day of FBS competition. Great to know the season is upon us once again (*cue "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" music*)!
Other "2015 Look-Ahead" Posts:
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