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Phil Steele Reveals CFB Playoff Teams, National Champion Pick
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:26 am
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:26 am
247 Sports
quote:
College football preview magazine guru Phil Steele has come out of preseason hibernation and delivered the goods.
The longtime analyst revealed his picks for this year's College Football Playoff and national championship during a radio appearance this week on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, the first time he has given these nuggets of info in sync with his annual magazine release.
Steele is projecting Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Georgia in the final four with Nick Saban's Crimson Tide winning it all.
"I'm going with Alabama this year" Steele said, as transcribed by co-host Mark Heim for AL.com. "When I look at Alabama, I see their defense being stronger than last year with six starters back. They only lost five draft picks this year. That’s light for that side of the ball.
“You have to look at 44-16. That is going to be a highly motivating factor for Alabama."
Steele credits the rise of Shea Patterson and the fact Michigan gets Ohio State at home as primary factors for picking the Wolverines. Michigan has not beaten the Buckeyes during Jim Harbaugh's tenure, but is favored in that rivalry showdown this fall, as well as every other regular-season game, Steele says.
Georgia will get back to the Playoff after a one-year hiatus as potentially the SEC's champion. Kirby Smart is hoping to become the first former assistant to ever beat Saban. As it stands, Saban has a 16-0 chokehold on former pupils and faces off with three former assistants during the regular season — Will Muschamp, Jimbo Fisher and Jeremy Pruitt.
Georgia is looking to reach the SEC Championship for the third straight year after winning the conference during the 2017 campaign before ultimately falling one play short of a national title in overtime vs. the Crimson Tide.
"SEC Country is OK with it, but the rest of the country is like, ‘Oh my goodness,’ but I’m picking two SEC teams this year," Steele said. "When you look at Georgia, they are loaded both offensively and defensively. They’re a better team than they were last year. And last year, they gave Alabama everything they wanted in the SEC Championship Game.
“I think you have an undefeated Georgia and an undefeated Alabama battling for the SEC title game. I still think the loser makes the playoffs.”
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Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:27 am to TideSaint
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Steele is projecting Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Georgia in the final four with Nick Saban's Crimson Tide winning it all.
He must've forgot Les Miles is at Kansas now. Playoff lock.
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 11:28 am
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:30 am to TideSaint
Two SEC teams? So I'm assuming Bama and UGA undefeated in the SEC Championship game and both winner and loser get into the playoff or is there another scenario?
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:30 am to TideSaint
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:31 am to TideSaint
I am not to sure about Michigan. Under Harbaugh they've managed to find a way to not find a way. My bet would be Oklahoma. When you look at their schedule its beat Texas and be heavily favored in every other game you are in.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:32 am to TideSaint
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Michigan
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:32 am to 1BIGTigerFan
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Two SEC teams? So I'm assuming Bama and UGA undefeated in the SEC Championship game and both winner and loser get into the playoff or is there another scenario?
Dude.
I even bolded his explanation.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:33 am to TideSaint
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Michigan
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:35 am to TideSaint
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I even bolded his explanation.
Alright, I'll read it...
ETA - That was at the bottom of a multi word post...give me a break.
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 11:49 am
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:35 am to TideSaint
quote:
Steele is projecting Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Georgia in the final four with Nick Saban's Crimson Tide winning it all.
quote:
Michigan
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:40 am to TideSaint
Michigan should be in, but I don't trust them under Harbaugh. They still haven't beat Ohio State under him. I would think Oklahoma, Washington, or Ohio State would get that last spot
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:41 am to TideSaint
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Dude.
I even bolded his explanation.
That's what I was thinking.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:41 am to CBandits82
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Michigan
Here's a man who doesn't believe in Justin Fields.
While I understand the kid hasn't proven much at all, I also understand Michigan has proven plenty. They can't beat OSU. That's just effin reality.
I'm going with Oklahoma over UM in the playoff.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:41 am to TideSaint
quote:
Steele is projecting Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Georgia in the final four with Nick Saban's Crimson Tide winning it all.
SHOCKER
But really, I doubt they let 2 teams from SEC get in
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:42 am to chillmonster
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I'm going with Oklahoma over UM in the playoff.
100%
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:45 am to Vecchio Cane
Best chances for a team not named Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State to make the playoff? In order of what I believe is more likely.
-Michigan
-Notre Dame
-Texas
-LSU
-Florida
-Oregon???
-Michigan
-Notre Dame
-Texas
-LSU
-Florida
-Oregon???
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 11:48 am
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:48 am to Ssubba
quote:
Best chances for a team not named Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State to make the playoff? In order of what I believe is more likely.
-Michigan
-Notre Dame
-Texas
-Florida
-Oregon???
Oregon & LSU over Florida. A&M tied with Florida.
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:53 am to chillmonster
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Oregon & LSU over Florida. A&M tied with Florida.
Edited in LSU after posting. Not sure if I buy the Aggie hype, especially with Clemson on their schedule. I don't think there is much of a chance at 10-2.
Notre Dame should maybe go below Texas too. Though if they can somehow knock Georgia off in week three they might go on a tear. Notre Dame-Michigan in week 7 could be huge.
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 11:55 am
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:57 am to HailToTheChiz
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I doubt they let 2 teams from SEC get in
I think they'll let two SEC teams in, but I'm not sure it will be the loser from the SEC Championship game. That game is too close to the playoffs and almost like a play-in game. The second team would have to be a one loss SEC team that didn't make the Championship game and lost early enough in the year for people to want a rematch.
This post was edited on 6/13/19 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 6/13/19 at 11:57 am to TideSaint
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I think you have an undefeated Georgia and an undefeated Alabama battling for the SEC title game. I still think the loser makes the playoffs.
this is 100% dependent on what the rest of the P5s do, which seems obvious I know. Of course there's no way to prove it, but I will always contend that had we beat bama last year they would have been left out of the playoffs. I just don't see the committe (last year I mean) putting in a 1 loss non-conference winning bama in over a 1-loss Big12 winning OU. That's assumign that CU/UGA/ND would be in.
Anyways...my point is that regardless of who wins in a hypothetical 12-0 vs 12-0 bama/uga, I still think winning a major conference is an ultimate trump card assuming equal or lesser losses.
Furthermore, I would hate that even if it did happen. It's like..ok these teams just played in early December, let's have them paly again 4 weeks later? It amkes the first meeting entirely irrelevant.
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