Sporting News thinks the 2020 college football playoff field will be loaded with traditional powers.
The popular website dropped its bowl predictions for the upcoming season, and the playoff field is Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Oklahoma. (RELATED: David Hookstead Is The True King In The North When It Comes To College Football)
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It’s hard to disagree with the field put forward by Sporting News, but it’s also the easiest group to pick.
Here’s how I look at it. Clemson is going to the playoff pretty much no matter what happens. Short of the entire team refusing to play, they’re not losing a game.
So, that’s one slot locked up before a single game is played.
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After that, it gets pretty murky, but Sporting News did take all the favorites. As much as I hate Ohio State, they’re going to be favored in every regular season game and favored to win the conference.
The only two teams in the B1G that can keep it close with them are Penn State and Wisconsin. However, they’ll only play the Badgers in the B1G title game.
When it’s just one game, anything can happen, but it’s still the safest pick.
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In the Big 12, Oklahoma finds itself in a very similar situation. Outside of Texas, I can’t envision anyone capable of hanging with Spencer Ratter, Lincoln Riley and company.
It’d be a monster upset if they lost a conference game, other than maybe to Texas.
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That leaves us to just the SEC. Well, now we’re in a dogfight. I actually think the SEC has the narrowest gaps between talent. Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Florida are all going to be very good.
With a group that’s so tight, you have to take the one with the proven track record. That’s obviously Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.
Now, can Mac Jones elevate his game to a championship level? We’ll see, but I’ve learned to never bet against the six-time national championship winning coach.
As for the Badgers, we’re slated to end up in the Citrus Bowl against Florida. While that might satisfy some people, it doesn’t satisfy me.
I expect to ball out in 2020, and I just can’t wait for the games to start. Let’s get to work!
Never forget who is the true King in the North when it comes to college football. pic.twitter.com/vtbKyAPdYe
— David Hookstead (@dhookstead) August 10, 2019