Does The SEC West Deserve Two Spots In The College Football Playoff?
According to the current rankings of the College Football Playoff committee, three of the top five teams are from the SEC West. So far this season the SEC West has dominated not only the polls, but their competition as well.
The usual suspects are off to fine seasons (Alabama, Auburn and LSU), but with the emergence of both universities from Mississippi, the SEC West division has truly taken over.
Mississippi State currently leads the polls sitting atop the pinnacle spot. Led at quarterback by Heisman hopeful Dak Prescott, the Bulldogs notched three significant wins versus SEC West opponents (Texas A&M, Auburn and LSU), even winning the three match-ups consecutively.
The Bulldogs aren't quite done yet however. The Bulldogs still have two away games scheduled at Alabama and at Ole Miss. Alabama currently only has one loss and if they defeat Mississippi State, the Crimson Tide would take the lead in the West.
While MSU can't afford to lose to Alabama, the Bulldogs could be beaten by Ole Miss and still win the West, considering the Rebels already have two losses.
Since the Bulldogs only really need to defeat the Crimson Tide, the future looks promising for MSU. Even if they are defeated by Ole Miss, a win versus Alabama and whatever teams potentially come out of the SEC East in the SEC Championship Game should absolutely earn them a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The Auburn Tigers are currently ranked in the No. 3 spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Auburn's sole loss came at the hands of the top ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Besides that blemish, the Tigers have been near perfect so far this season. Auburn has already defeated several tough opponents including Kansas State, LSU and Ole Miss.
However, if the Tigers hope to secure a spot in the Playoff, they still have work to do. Two tough rivalry games are on the horizon against Georgia and Alabama, but if the Tigers can win in Athens and notch another victory in the Iron Bowl, War Eagle should definitely find themselves in the College Football Playoff.
The final team currently shooting for the College Football Playoff is the No. 5 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide lost several weeks ago by a touchdown against Ole Miss, but since then have looked sharp.
Alabama defeated Tennessee and Arkansas post their defeat against the Rebels and most notably decimated Texas A&M 59-0. But Crimson Tide fans certainly shouldn't buy their plane tickets yet. The Tide has to travel to Death Valley this weekend to take on the LSU Tigers and with the game already scheduled for 8:00 p.m., I don't favor Alabama's chances.
Les Miles and the Tigers have been nearly unbeatable during night games at home since Miles took over and Tiger Stadium might just be the most intimidating stadium in college football.
If the Crimson Tide somehow escape Death Valley with a win, it doesn't get any easier from there. The very next week Alabama is scheduled to take on the No. 1 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Two weeks after that, Alabama takes on Auburn in the Iron Bowl. If Alabama beats LSU and Auburn, but loses to MSU, there's an outside chance they still make it into the College Football Playoff.
Florida State and Oregon both have cakewalks to finish their seasons so assuming they win out and adding Mississippi State to the picture, that leaves one spot left for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Playoff committee would then have to decide if a two-loss SEC team is more deserving than a potentially one-loss TCU or Michigan State.
In my humble opinion, I think a two-loss SEC team should absolutely earn the spot. TCU's biggest win was against a disappointing Oklahoma squad and Michigan State lost its only big match-up of the whole season already (vs Oregon). On the other side, Alabama or Auburn would have at least three significant wins versus SEC opponents as well as both teams having a win versus a top Big 12 program.
It's quite possible two teams from the SEC West division make the College Football Playoff. Miss State is a near lock at this point and the eventual winner of the Iron Bowl has potentially a fine chance as well.
But when it comes down to who actually deserves the spot, it's quite clear the SEC West is much more deserving of the field.
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