So why do I hate it? The atmosphere is so authentic and unlike the NFL in a way that brings together so many people. Well there are several reasons. The predictable outcomes are one. Every year, its Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State. Those 3 teams have won 7 of the last 9 national championships, and have been historically dominant, with those teams being heavy favorites for this upcoming season as well. LSU was a nice breath of fresh air this year, but even they are a program with a pretty good track record over time. Since the CFB playoffs have been implemented, those 3 programs, have all consistently been in it. Alabama was not in this past year, but that was mainly due to the fact their star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa got hurt, and because LSU was so dominant. Oklahoma has found their way into the playoffs, along with Notre dame, but they have gotten blown pretty much every time, which is common for most underdog teams that do find their way into big games. Lack of variety at the top has become a huge problem and a turn off for me in college football.

So why is there such a lack of variety? Why do the same teams just keep winning? The answer to that is recruiting, which is corrupt in it’s own way. Just think about what happens in the recruiting process, teams and coaches travel around the country, in a competition to prove to high school kids that other programs are terrible, while pouring in millions of dollars. The teams with the highest funding and best recruiting always land the top players in the nation while putting a tremendous amount of pressure on them. The whole process is terrible to me. Georgia spent 3.7 million dollars in recruiting this past year, which is a record.

Georgia and other teams such as Tennessee spend a lot of money in recruiting but don’t enjoy the fruits of their labor, so recruiting is all just the best teams right? Well kind of but that’s not the whole story. Programs like Georgia and Tennessee spend a ton of money in current recruiting classes, they do not forward spend on future classes, so when you look at the total spectrum, the leaders are always those 3 teams that I mentioned, Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State. Those top colleges also spend a lot on coaching, and often are the first to get guys that come from the NFL. With these teams consistently getting the best players and coaches, they’re able to create a strong culture and build off of it for years, thus creating dynasties.

In the NFL, there are great underdog stories, such as the Titans this season, and as I witnessed, the 2012 Ravens, and a lot of variety in team success. The only team with truly sustained dominance recently are the New England Patriots, who even now are potentially fading away. College football however, remains the same teams at the top, even though players are coming in and out every 4 years. Hopefully, LSU is a sign of things to come, with other programs breaking out and being able to have success at the national level, but for now, the college football I watch casually when not scouting for the NFL, will be very little.

LSU was able to tire Clemson’s defense with a strong rushing attack from Clyde Edwards-Helsure. Their steady run game worked well in combination with the constant possibility for deep passes to star receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase. Their offensive attack was capped off with a fourth down conversion in the late fourth quarter which effectively ended the game.

Next year, LSU will certainly feel the effects of Joe Burrow’s absence. We expect Alabama to reclaim their spot as the best team in the SEC and face off against Clemson or potentially Florida in next years game.

#Clemson

The Buckeyes have been competing with LSU the entire season for the top spot in the College Football Rankings. It’s very hard to deny the immense talent of Ohio State’s offense and defense as both are top 5 in the nation. They are quite a unique offense in the CFB world as they are run-dominated. They also have an incredible pass rush led by Chase Young. The Buckeyes tout impressive victories over Michigan State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan. They face Wisconsin again on Saturday but it shouldn’t be much of a problem. They easily defeated Wisconsin when they faced them just a few weeks ago. Ohio State is the top ranked team in the nation, and their pass rush leads the way.

2. LSU Tigers (12-0)

LSU has had an incredible season, led by an impressive air attack from Joe Burrow. They defeated 4 top ten teams this season, Texas, Florida, Auburn and Alabama. However, their toughest matchup is yet to come. Slated to play against Georgia in the SEC Championship, a victory almost certainly cements their position as the best team in the country. Statistically speaking, LSU does not have an incredible defense. This can obviously be attributed to their incredibly difficult schedule but they have struggled against some unranked teams as well. Their 390 passing yards a game is second in the nation and they have the future #1 pick leading the charge. Expect the SEC championship to be an amazing game, but if the season is any indicator, LSU will come out on top and probably end up becoming the National Champion.

3. Clemson Tigers (12-0)

The Tigers are no stranger to playoff football and they are ready to partake in the competition once again. They’ve had a very easy schedule this year and their margin of victory certainly reflects that. They have another easy game in the ACC Championship game against Virginia and will positively make the playoff. Despite an early season scare against UNC, never count out the duo of Trevor Lawrence and Dabo Swinney. They will look to win their second straight CFB championship together.

4. Georgia Bulldogs (11-1)

Georgia‘s impressive run defense has helped place themselves in the running for a CFB playoff spot. On the other side of the ball, they have an extremely strong run game led by D’Andre Swift. Huge wins over Notre Dame, Florida and Auburn are enough to intimidate other teams. They have an extremely difficult task Saturday facing LSU in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia has previously missed playoff spots due to the competitive nature of the SEC Championship game and it unfortunately seems like that is a possibility once again.

5. Utah Utes (11-1)

The Utes have an impress defense, rivaled only by Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State. Their offense has been quiet compared to the other teams on this list but their strong defense has been enough to stay in the top 10. Utah, similar to Clemson hasn’t had much competition this year and their game Friday night will be a true test for them. A large victory against Oregon will help their playoff chances, although I’m afraid it won’t be enough.

6. Oklahoma Sooners (11-1)

Oklahoma touts the best offense in the country, averaging 564 Yards a game and absolutely tearing defenses apart. In my opinion, Oklahoma is in a far better position than Utah depsite being below them on this week’s College Football Rankings. Oklahoma has a matchup with Number 7 ranked Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game. Oklahoma defeated Baylor in a close one earlier in the season and also had emphatic victories against the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma State. A win with a sizable margin on Saturday and a loss in the top 4 could potentially lead to a surprise appearance in the playoff for Oklahoma.

7. Baylor Bears

Baylor is the seventh ranked team in the country and it seems extremely unlikely they will be able to jump Oklahoma, Utah and Georgia to qualify for the College Football Playoff. They are fortunate to have a difficult game against 6th ranked Oklahoma, and if they win by a large margin, the committee may have a dilemma on their hands. Baylor has had a relatively easy schedule this year as there only game against a top 25 team was against Oklahoma. They blew their lead late in that game and ended up losing by 3. They have a chance for revenge on Saturday when they play Oklahoma again, this time with far more on the line.

Predictions:

Ohio State: Wins and drops to #2 Seed

LSU: Wins and moves to #1 Seed

Clemson: Wins and remains as the #3 seed

Georgia: Loses and remains as #4 seed

Utah: Loses and falls to #9 seed

Oklahoma: Wins and moves to #5 seed

Baylor: Loses and falls to #8 Seed