College Football Playoff Preview, and Why Expansion was Too Late

The College Football Playoff is finally set, with four teams competing for this season’s National Championship.

Big Ten Champion Michigan is the #1 overall seed, beating out the other undefeated squad in this playoff, the PAC-12 Champs, the Washington Huskies.

Rounding out the final four are the Big-12 Champion Texas Longhorns, and sneaking in with an SEC Championship, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Four absolute giants in the College Football realm, but did the committee get it wrong? One loss Georgia was left out after spending the entire season as the #1 ranked team, and so were undefeated ACC Champs, the Florida State Seminoles.

First, let’s dive in to the matchups at hand, as we can’t change the decision that’s already been made.

But if you stick around until the end, I may have some words on why the CFP committee stinks, why Florida State got screwed, and why this season was perfect for an eight team playoff.

College Football Playoff Preview

Rose Bowl

#1 Michigan vs #4 Alabama

Michigan has looked dominant, but can they close out this season?

Matchup Information

• Venue & Location: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)
• Date: Monday, January 1st, 2023
• Kick Off: 5:00pm Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada.

Spread

• Alabama +2 (-110)
• Michigan -2 (-110)

Moneyline

• Alabama +115
• Michigan -135

Total

• Over 46 (-110)
• Under 46 (-110)

Read more about our Rose Bowl Preview!

Can Milroe and the Tide sneak into another Championship Game?

After getting beat by TCU in last year’s CFP semifinals, the Wolverines should be coming for blood on New Year’s Day.

Everyone saw the viral reaction when they realized they’d play Bama instead of FSU, but don’t let that fool you, Harbaugh will have this team fired up.

While Alabama did beat a very good Georgia team in the SEC Championship, they barely escaped Auburn two weeks ago, and have not looked like a National Championship caliber team.

I think this Michigan team is very focused, and ready to run over whomever stands in their way.

Our guy, Eddie Griffin, has more thoughts on this game below.

Click Here for our Rose Bowl Preview!

AllState Sugar Bowl

#2 Washington vs #3 Texas

How long can the Huskies stay perfect?

Matchup Information

• Venue & Location: Caesar’s Superdome (New Orleans, LA)
• Date: Monday, January 1st, 2023
• Kick Off: 8:45pm Eastern
• Broadcast: ESPN

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Bovada.

Spread

• Texas -4.5 (-115)
• Washington +4.5 (-105)

Moneyline

• Texas -195
• Washington +165

Total

• Over 64.5 (-110)
• Under 64.5 (-110)

Read more about the Sugar Bowl Preview Here!

Can Ewers lead the Longhorns to a Title appearance?

The undefeated Washington Huskies are 4 point underdogs in the AllState Sugar Bowl in NOLA. While a perfect record speaks for itself, this Longhorns team has looked so good, all year.

Texas is beating teams by an average of 18.6 points, with that number up to 29.3 in their L3 games. Washington is just a few points behind them, beating opponents by an average of two touchdowns, but doing so by less than a field goal in their L3 games.

Yes, the Huskies have played and beaten four Top 20 teams in their L5 games, including Washington State who was ranked as high as #13 this season.

Texas has arguably had some easier matchups over the past few weeks, but I think the Longhorns are more battle tested, and with a solid win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, they know they are capable of winning it all.

I strongly lean with the Longhorns, but our guy, Eddie Griffin has more of his own thoughts below.

Click Here for our Sugar Bowl Preview!

How Can You Leave Out Florida State?

Alright, let’s be real. The College Football Playoff Committee makes up criteria, year by year, in order to put whomever they wish into this minuscule, four team playoff.

Yes, I am aware they came out and said, “We are here to pick the BEST 4 teams”. But, they even messed up that subjective selection.

First off, that is not what they have done in past years, sorry, Cincinnati Bearcats in 2021. Plus, putting in the “best” four teams might not reward the teams who should be competing for a National Title.

Let’s break it down.

In my eyes, you can go two routes. You can put the four “best” teams in the playoff, or you can put the four “most deserving” teams in the playoff.

These aren’t just bowl games, this is a chance at a National Championship in the most prestigious college sport in the country. This is a big deal.

Personally, I think they should go the most deserving route, however, let’s look at both of them.

The BEST 4 Teams Route

Georgia is out of the CFP for the first time since 2021

If you truly want to put the best four teams in a playoff to figure out the national champion, here is how you do it.

Michigan is obviously #1 overall, and you pair them up with Georgia. The Bulldogs were the consensus #1 team all year long, and they lost by a field goal in the SEC Championship. In prior years, the CFP Committee has rewarded SEC teams for strength of schedule, as it is normally the toughest conference in college football.

At the #2 and #3 spots for the best teams, you get a Texas vs Alabama rematch. Both are one loss Conference Champions, with Bama’s one loss coming to Texas, and the Longhorns losing a rivalry game to #12 ranked Oklahoma by 4 points. The rest of the season, these squads handled business and dominated opponents.

Both of these games are great for ratings, and it’s hard to deny that those four squads are the best 4 teams in College Football. Yes, Washington is an undefeated conference champion, but the PAC-12 was not as good as expected with Utah and USC, so unfortunately for them, I think you leave them out of the best four.

There it is folks, the best four teams.

• #1 Michigan vs #4 Georgia
• #2 Texas vs #3 Alabama

Now, let’s discuss the other route.

The MOST DESERVING 4 Teams Route

Florida State deserved a chance at a National Championship

Now, this one is incredibly simple. And like I said, this is the way it should go.

If you are limiting the Championship opportunity to just four teams, then you need to reward the four most deserving teams throughout the season. Otherwise, why do we even bother playing these games?

It’s really simple. You have three undefeated Power 5 Conference Champions: Michigan, Washington, and Florida State, and then Texas gets in with their head to head win over Alabama.

It really is that simple.

Yes, Florida State lost Jordan Travis, but they beat an SEC rival, and won their Conference Championship without him. You have to reward the other players on that team for their work during the regular season.

Why else do we play the actual football games?

No, I’m not going to argue that Florida State is a Top 4 team without Travis, because they clearly aren’t, however, a 13-0 Power 5 Conference Champion deserves a chance to win the National Title.

And I’m willing to die on that hill.

Everyone keeps pointing to TCU getting blown out in the Championship last year 65-7 by Georgia, but they fail to mention them actually winning a CFP game by beating Michigan 51-45 in the semifinals.

Would Florida State probably get destroyed by any of the four teams in the playoff? Probably.

But the fact that they went undefeated, including beating LSU, an SEC team, on a neutral site, is enough for me to give them a chance at the National Championship.

And it’s a shame the committee was able to leave them out. They punished an entire team because of a freak injury.

No one can argue, that the four most deserving teams are as follows:

• #1 Michigan vs #4 Texas
• #2 Washington vs #3 Florida State

Expansion was One Year Late

Did Marvin Harrison Jr. and the Buckeyes deserve a shot at the Title?

This is the last year with a four team playoff, as next year 12 teams will compete for the Ship, with the Top 4 receiving a bye. But this year in particular was perfect for an 8 team playoff.

Here’s what an 8 Team Playoff would look like, with the specific matchups being my own personal selections.

• #1 Michigan vs #8 Ohio State (Is any CFB fan actually against this?)
• #2 Washington vs #7 Oregon (Yes, we get a Huskies/Ducks Trilogy)
• #3 Florida State vs #6 Georgia (Bit of a landslide, but at least FSU gets a chance)
• #4 Texas vs #5 Alabama (Rematch of the regular season showdown)

This. This is what College Football Fans truly deserved. Marquee matchups, eight deserving teams, battling for a chance to be crowned National Champion.

Nevertheless, we can’t dwell on the past, and the Corrupt CFP Committee has made their incorrect decision.

All we can do is hope for this sort of competition next season, when the College Football Playoff finally sees some much needed expansion.

Interested in More Content?

Follow me on X @Shaggy_Bets for all of my picks and sports opinions!

Be sure to check out all things Betting News on X and Twitch!

Tune in to one of our several weekly streams! You won’t regret it!

And go get some MERCH at our Betting News Store!

HAPPY MONDAY ?

Big Vibes Await ?

BASKET CASE ??
12:30 EST
SPACES

AFTERNOON BETSPRESSO ☕️?
4:30 EST
TWITCH

Come for the Winners, Stay for the Vibes ???@SweatpantJesus@Shaggy_Bets@vsaaauce@cookitup31@WMMacMiller@gretzkybetzkys@JustSukhhttps://t.co/yujuOwRnSN

— Betting News (@YourBettingNews) December 4, 2023

In need of a sportsbook? Check out one of our favorites below and sign-up for a bonus!

Still Here?

Check out everything we have to offer at Betting News!

We really are All About the Game!

[su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#15BB9D” class=”mb-5″]

• Michigan vs Alabama Preview
• Washington vs Texas Preview
• Heisman Trophy Odds
• NCAAF Consensus Picks
• ESPN Bet: Conflict of Interest?

[/su_list]