Our 2018-19 College Football Playoff predictions sort through the title contenders to tell you the four teams that’ll finish out the season playing for the national title. You’ve seen how we predict the 2018 college football season playing out in our 2018 College Football Preview. The 2018-19 College Football Playoff begins on Saturday, December 29, 2018 with the semi-finals with the National Championship on January 7, 2019. Find out who will win the national championship this season in our 2018-19 college football playoff predictions.
2018-19 College Football Playoff Preview
- 2 teams return to the playoff this year to face two newcomers to the College Football Playoff
- 7 teams will get consideration for the Playoff
- Only one undefeated team will make the playoff
- It’ll be all conference champions in this year’s CFB Playoff
2018-19 College Football Playoff Predictions
The Playoff Contenders
There will be seven legit contenders for the four spots in the College Football Playoff this season. One thing we know to be true, the four team are coming from the Power 5. So sorry group of 5 teams, even if you run the table, you’re not going to make the playoff. The 7 contenders are Clemson (ACC), Texas (Big 12), Ohio State and Wisconsin (Big Ten), Washington (Pac-12) and Alabama and Georgia (SEC). Here are our 2018-19 College Football Playoff predictions:
The 1 Seed
Clemson is #1. Going undefeated and winning a Power 5 Conference is a guaranteed birth in the playoff. Since they’re the only undefeated team, they’ll be the #1 seed.
The 2 Seed
The #2 seed is going to the champions from the best college football conference in the country, Georgia. The Bulldogs will be repeat SEC Champions and play in the 2-3 game of the College Football Playoff again this season.
The 3 Seed
The #3 goes to another conference champion. This team ran away with their division and got avenged last year’s Big Ten Championship loss against Ohio State. The Wisconsin Badgers are the third seed in the CFB Playoff.
The 4 Seed
At the four seed, it gets very interesting in our 2018-19 College Football Playoff predictions. Would the committee consider putting two teams from the same conference in for a second straight season? Ohio State and Alabama each are projected to go undefeated in the regular season and lose in their respective conference championship games. I don’t see either with a signature non-conference win that puts them in contention so let’s knock them out.
That leaves us with two conference champions in consideration. Out of the Big 12 we have the Texas Longhorns and the Washington Huskies from the Pac-12. Each is projected to have one loss. This will come down to strength of schedule and Texas plays the tougher non-conference and could face a common foe. We project USC to face Washington for the Pac-12 title. That would give the committee a common foe. Washington would need style points in thrashing USC for the Pac-12 championship to overcome a strong schedule from Texas.
Semi-Final #1 – Orange Bowl on December 29, 2018
#1 Clemson vs. #4 Texas
This should be a low scoring, defensive battle. Clemson’s front will be big problems for Texas. Tom Herman will try to outscheme that Clemson D but I think Clemson will be too much. Take the Tigers to advance to the title game.
Semi-Final #2 – Cotton Bowl on December 29, 2018
Kirby Smart’s squad will be playing with purpose and should be the most motivated team in the playoff. Blowing a double digit half time lead in last year’s championship game should keep this team laser focused and I think will pull away from Wisconsin in this game.
National Championship Game on January 7, 2018
#1 Clemson vs. #2 Georgia
These teams have been here before. Both were in the playoff last year. Clemson won it two years ago while Georgia lost the title game in OT last year. Each team will be tested. This comes down to the team with more playmakers…and I think that team is the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Georgia Bulldogs will win the National Championship this season!
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See more in our 2018 College Football Preview. Access data driven college football predictions all season long.