Pat Forde "If the playoff selection was held today"

"FOUR FOR THE PLAYOFF"

"Now that The Dash has laid out some trap-game scenarios for the teams at the top, let’s get back to the reality of the here and now. This is how The Dash would set the playoff, if today were Selection Sunday:"





"Top seed Alabama (7) vs. fourth seed Georgia (8) in the Orange Bowl."

"There was some legitimate internal debate about whether to put the Crimson Tide or LSU on top — strength of schedule to date favors the Tigers, but shock and awe and overwhelming dominance favors Alabama. When your first SEC road game is a 55-point victory, and you’re averaging a whopping 3.27 more yards per play than your opposition (7.37 to 4.40), and your average halftime score is 39 to 2 … you win."




"Second seed LSU (9) vs. third seed Ohio State (10) in the Cotton Bowl."

"As stated above, LSU got strong consideration for the top seed. A thorough beating of Miami on a neutral field plus the comeback win at Auburn — snapping the home team’s 13-game winning streak in Jordan-Hare Stadium — is strong stuff. LSU hasn’t done much of anything wrong at this juncture, it just hasn’t been as overpowering as Alabama. Last week: unranked. Next up: Louisiana Tech."

"Now that the Buckeyes have left home for a game, they (LSU & Ohio St.) are both eligible for inclusion and deserving. Ohio State has played three Power Five opponents and handled them all, including the first major test Saturday against TCU. With Urban Meyer out of exile and ready to coach his first game Saturday, there is little reason to think the Buckeye bandwagon won’t gather more steam. Last week: unranked. Next up: Tulane."





Also six teams that could shake up the college football picture.

"Baton Rouge (1). LSU’s legendary home field, Tiger Stadium, will be the host location for visits by both Georgia (Oct. 13) and Alabama (Nov. 3). For added measure there also is a home game in between against currently undefeated Mississippi State (Oct. 20). Those stand out as the most difficult tests remaining for both Georgia and ‘Bama — and it gives LSU its own aspirations for playoff inclusion."

"The Tigers are 3-0 themselves, thanks to a zesty roux of resilience, ball security, defense and just enough offense to get by. Ed Orgeron’s team is dead last in the Southeastern Conference in both pass efficiency (115.5) and passing yards per game (180), but they made just enough plays to upset Auburn on Saturday."

"If you’re going to win close ones, this stat matters most: LSU is the only school in the nation that has not committed a turnover this season. That’s a year after committing just eight, which also led the nation. Teams trying to beat LSU have to actually beat LSU, as opposed to waiting around for LSU to beat itself.