nov-28-3-reasons-to-bet-against-ohio-state-to-win-college-football-championship

3 Reasons To Bet Against Ohio State To Win College Football

Written by on November 28, 2016

Last Saturday proved to be one of the more memorable day’s in college football odds history, especially if you were one of the many people who tuned in to the Michigan and Ohio State Game. It was an end to end battle that went into double OT, and which ended up being decided by a call that will be debated for years to come. It certainly looked as though the Wolverines had stopped Ohio State on 4th down to clinch the game, and a playoff spot, but it was called a first down, and the Buckeyes then scored on the next play. It was a huge win for Ohio State, but one that is going to leave the Playoff Committee with a decision to make. Do you put a team that didn’t win its conference, or even its division for that matter, into the playoffs? Chances are that the Buckeyes will get in, most likely at the expense of Washington, but can they go on and win the whole thing? Here are 3 reasons why we believe they won’t.

Analyzing The 3 Reasons To Bet Against Ohio State To Win College Football Championship

 
 

Can’t Get Past Alabama

I think it’s fair to assume that Alabama will knock off the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship Game, which means they will enter the playoffs as the number 1 seed. Clemson should get the 2 spot with an ACC Championship win, with the final 2 spots potentially filled out by Big 10 teams. I believe the committee will put the conference winner at number 3, with Ohio State Buckeyes filling out the final spot. That would mean that the Buckeyes would have to meet Alabama in the semi-final, and I just don’t think they measure up to the Crimson Tide. Alabama Crimson Tide have looked like the team to beat since Week 1, and they have never really looked in any kind of danger, as they are just too strong at every position.

Too Many Close Calls Catches Up With Them

No matter who the Buckeyes face in the playoffs, they are going to have to play much better than they have been in the final few weeks to win it all. They had to go to OT to beat Wisconsin the week before losing to Penn State. They followed that loss by barely getting past Northwestern. They had big wins versus Nebraska and Maryland, but then struggled to beat a very poor Michigan State team before the controversial OT win over Michigan. If they perform that poorly against one of the big boys in the final four, they will be done like dinner.  

They May Not Even Make It In To The Playoffs

As I said at the start of this piece, the Playoff Committee is going to have a decision to make after all the Championship Games have been decided next weekend. My gut feeling is that Ohio State will be granted a spot, but we are heading into uncharted waters here. Let’s imagine for a moment that Penn State Nittany Lions wins the Big 10. You would have to assume that they would be in as a champion, and they would be ahead of Ohio State, a team they beat already, in the standings. If Washington wins their conference title, they will have a one loss season, just like the Buckeyes, but they will also be a conference champion. Strength of schedule goes to Ohio State, but will the Committee be ready to omit a champion in favor of a team that couldn’t win their division?