Clemson projected with best odds in ESPN Playoff Predictor |
A new ESPN metric gives Clemson the best chance to make the College Football Playoff this season.
And it's not even really close. The Playoff Predictor measures five factors - led by metrics in Strength of Record and Football Power Index, as well as number of projected losses, conference championship chances and whether a team is in a conference at all (like Notre Dame). Clemson is given a 67 percent chance to make the Playoff by the metric, which is 20 points higher than the nearest team (Alabama). The highest conference championship chances help there for Clemson, where they are given a 69 percent ACC title projection. The Tigers also have a 10-point margin on the nearest team (24 percent) in going all the way to Santa Clara for the championship. While the margin may be, Dabo Swinney's Tigers being on top isn't really a surprise here, as ESPN's FPI has projected Clemson as the top team in college football since February. Among the surprises in the top-tier is independent Notre Dame, with the fourth-best odds to make the Playoff (42 percent), trailing Georgia's third-place standing (46) and just ahead of projected Pac-12 champion Washington (41). While Clemson is out front, the SEC is given the best odds to take home the title (31 percent) with the Tigers-led ACC next-up (25). The predictor gives the SEC a 25 percent chance to grab multiple Playoff bids for a second-straight year. ESPN Playoff Predictor top-6 Team - Playoff chance; title game chance Clemson - 67 percent; 24 percent Alabama - 47; 14 Georgia - 46; 13 Notre Dame - 42; 10 Washington - 41; 11 Ohio State - 37; 9
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