Week 8 12-team College Football Playoff prediction

With Ohio State and Penn State both off in Week 8, the focus of the college football world was firmly on the SEC, and the best conference in the sport (Yeah, I’m willing to admit it, are you?) delivered with some excellent games. First, in the afternoon slate Tennessee knocked off Alabama at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, and then in primetime, Georgia went into Austin and stole a huge win from the Texas Longhorns. 

The top of the SEC continues to be in a state of flux with the conference actually being led by Texas A&M and LSU, both with a non-conference loss and undefeated record in conference play. Tennessee has had an elite defense all year, and on Saturday, redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava hit just enough deep shots to take down the Crimson Tide, if he can continue to take baby steps in the passing game with his immensely talented arm, then the Volunteers will stay in the 12-team College Football Playoff picture. After falling out last week, they’ve climbed back into my prediction. 

Georgia, has also climbed up in this latest prediction, but not to No. 1. The Bulldogs defense looked the best it has all season with linebacker Jalon Walker wrecking Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s gameplan so badly that he turned to Arch Manning at quarterback for a stretch at the end of the second quarter. Despite returning to Kirby Smart’s identity, quarterback Carson Beck threw three interceptions and with games against Ole Miss and Tennessee still looming, I feel better about the Longhorn’s chances of making the SEC title game.

The unbeatens in the SEC, LSU and A&M, will play this week in College Station. The winner could have a clear path to the conference championship game, and I’m picking A&M at home, so I’ll keep them at No. 11 in my latest 12-team prediction. 

The other notable change comes from the Big 12. I finally allowed Iowa State to sneak into this prediction last week and immediately regretted it. Kansas State is the better football team and despite being the third highest-ranked team from the conference, the Wildcats should be considered the favorites to win it. Both BYU and Iowa State needed last-second drives at home to tamp out upset bids on Saturday.