By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent
Iron Bowl Recap
Alabama kept its playoff hopes alive with a 28-14 home victory over Auburn in the 89th Iron Bowl. Despite losing the turnover battle 4-2, the Crimson Tide never trailed and outgained the Tigers by a 457 to 399 margin. Alabama rushed for 201 yards, including 104 yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Jalen Milroe. Germie Bernard caught seven passes for 111 yards for Alabama, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith had eight receptions for 116 yards for Auburn. Cam Coleman, who caught Auburn’s lone touchdown from quarterback Payton Thorne, finished with seven catches for 78 yards as Auburn’s season ended with a 5-7 record. Head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first regular season ends with a 9-3 record, and Alabama is in decent position to receive the final at-large bid to the inaugural 12-team playoff. UA checked in at No. 11 in this week’s rankings, and while they can’t improve their position this weekend, they also can’t hurt themselves.
SEC Championship Game Preview and Prediction
Last week: 8-2; season: 97-31
Texas vs. Georgia (+2.5). The Longhorns, who made the SEC title game in their inaugural season in the conference, get a rematch with the only team to beat them this year. Georgia dominated Texas, 31-15, in Austin in October, and the game was never really close. Steve Sarkisian’s team had the benefit of a relatively light schedule by SEC standards, but the Longhorns took care of business and locked up a playoff spot with a rivalry win at Texas A&M last week. Both Texas and Georgia are in the playoff field, and Saturday’s winner receives a first-round bye. The loser will almost certainly host a first-round game, and since both teams are capable of winning a national title, there is a decent chance they will meet for a third time in the playoffs. Prediction: Texas 27, Georgia 24.
College Football Playoff Preview
The College Football Playoff picture is much clearer now, and the 12-team field will be finalized on Sunday, Dec. 8. The top four conference champions will receive a first-round bye in the playoffs. The next conference champion in the rankings is guaranteed a spot in the field but will likely play on the road in round one.
Texas and Georgia square off in the SEC title game, and the winner will earn a first-round bye. The loser is going to make the playoffs as an at-large, and they will likely host in the first round. Oregon and Penn State are meeting for the Big 10 championship, and the loser will also likely earn a home game round one.
The other three conference championship games are far less cut-and-dry. Clemson and Southern Methodist University meet for the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. If SMU wins, the Mustangs will be the No. 3 seed and Clemson misses the playoffs. If Clemson wins, the Tigers are guaranteed a spot but not a first-round bye. That will depend on their ranking compared to the champions of the Big 12 – who will receive an automatic bid – and likely the Mountain West Conference championship between Boise State and UNLV. The highest-ranked Group of 5 champion is guaranteed a playoff spot, but not a bye. However, if Boise State wins, the Broncos are currently ranked No. 10 and will likely be ahead of Clemson if they beat SMU, which would grant Boise State a first-round bye.
If SMU loses to Clemson, it’s po-ssible the 11-1 Mustangs drop out of the playoff field altogether. SMU is currently ranked No. 8, and the committee would evaluate the resumes of 11-2 SMU and 9-3 Alabama. One team would get in, while the other would not. Playoff committee director Warde Manuel said it’s possible that SMU does not make it if they lose, leaving the door open for Alabama to be the final at-large team in the playoff field.
Playoff Predictions
First round byes
Oregon (13-0), Texas (12-1), Clemson (10-3), Arizona State (11-2)
First Round
Notre Dame (11-1) vs. No. 12. UNLV (11-2)
Ohio State (10-2) vs. No. 11. Alabama (9-3)
Penn State (11-2) vs. 10. Indiana (11-1)
Georgia (10-3) vs. 9. Tennessee (10-2)
Quarterfinals
No. 8 Georgia over No. 1. Oregon
No. 5. Notre Dame over No. 4. Arizona State
No. 6. Ohio State over No. 3. Clemson
No. 2. Texas over No. 7. Penn State
Semifinals
No. 8. Georgia over No. 5. Notre Dame
No. 6. Ohio State over No. 2 Texas
Championship Game
No. 8. Georgia over No. 6. Ohio State
