Four Best Teams?
College Football Playoff creates controversy again this year
By Colin Watts
Because it is the more experienced
Chieftain Staff
team, I am going to have to go with the
Four best teams, not the four most
Crimson Tide over the Tigers in this
deserving teams. That is what the Col-
matchup. I fi rmly believe that this will
lege Football Playoff Selection Commit-
go down as one of the best, if not the
tee has preached ever since the playoff
best, game of the 2017-18 season. The
made its debut in 2013.
experience will win it for Alabama, 24-
And this year, that is exactly what
21.
happened. The fi rst three teams were
expected, with Clemson (ACC Champ),
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Georgia
Oklahoma (Big 12 Champ) and Georgia Nick Saban is able to use something he
Led by Heisman winner Baker May-
really is never able to use, the underdog fi eld, Oklahoma is fi ring on all cylin-
(SEC Champ). The last spot, though,
status. Many people believed that the
was up for grabs between two teams:
ders. Fresh off a 41-17 thumping of TCU
Crimson Tide shouldn’t be in the play-
Alabama and Ohio State. Many people
in the Big 12 Championship, I would
off, and the committee has given Saban
believed, before the top four was an-
not want to play the Sooners. Mayfi eld
a chance to show why.
nounced, that Ohio State would get the
has been fueled by haters all through-
But Clemson will not be an easy
last spot over Alabama, due to the fact
out his career, and he is ready to win a
matchup for the Tide. The Tigers
the Buckeyes not only won the Big Ten,
national title. First-year coach Lincoln
arguably the strongest conference in col- steamrolled through the ACC, besides a Riley has led his team to victories at
lege football, but they
Ohio State, at Oklahoma
defeated an undefeated
State, and TCU twice.
Wisconsin team that
Georgia has quietly
was ranked No. 4 in the
had a very impressive
playoff rankings.
season. All talk in the
But Alabama got
SEC has been Alabama,
the last spot, putting
but the Bulldogs, led
two SEC teams in the
by freshman QB Jake
playoff. This sent the
Fromm and veteran,
College Football world
star RB Nick Chubb,
into a frenzy.
won the conference. On
Not only did many
the defensive side of
people dislike two SEC
the ball, Georgia plays
teams in the playoff,
with a nasty edge. Led
Alabama was not a
by Dick Butkus Award-
conference champion,
winner Roquan Smith,
and they scheduled
the Bulldogs have the
Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfi eld is ready to lead Oklahoma
a FCS team (Mercer),
sixth-best defense in the
while Ohio State beat
country.
fl uke loss to Syracuse on a Friday night.
Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship
The matchup with Oklahoma’s No. 1
QB Kelly Bryant has been sensational
game. While Ohio State was the more
offense will not be easy. I believe that
for the Tigers, and the defense has also
deserving team, the 31-point loss at
Mayfi eld will fi nd a way to tear up the
been great, ranking No. 8 in the country Bulldog defense and defeat Georgia,
Iowa ended up keeping the Buckeyes
in total defense.
out of the playoff.
37-24.
Yes, Clemson is a tough matchup for
Alabama, but Alabama is just as tough
No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama
National Championship
for Clemson. QB Jalen Hurts, who is
With Alabama getting the last spot, it
As for the big game, I believe that
sets up a rematch of last year’s National nicknamed “Mr. Clutch,” brings back
Alabama will come out on top. The
experience with his offense, and weap-
Championship against Clemson in the
Crimson Tide has unfi nished business,
Sugar Bowl. The 2 vs. 3 matchup will be ons Calvin Ridley, Damien Harris, and
after losing to Clemson on the last play
Bo Scarbrough will also help. If that
Oklahoma against Georgia in the Rose
last year. Hurts will carry his team to
wasn’t enough, the Tide have the No.
Bowl.
the title and defeat the Sooners in a
1-ranked defense in the nation.
In the Alabama-Clemson matchup,
shootout, 47-35.
B R OTHE R R IC E H IG H S C H O O L C H I E F TA I N
P AGE 7
D E C E M B E R 2017