The Showdown - Alabama vs. SMU for the Playoff Spot

Alabama's Case

The Alabama Crimson Tide had an interesting season. They finished the regular season with a 9-3 record and unfortunately missed out on the SEC Championship Game. All their losses came within SEC play against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. However, they do have a notable win over conference champion Georgia. Wins over South Carolina and Missouri are also highly regarded. In terms of key metrics, their Strength of Record is ranked 9th, Game Control is 6th, FPI is 6th, and Strength of Schedule is 16th. These rankings suggest that Alabama has a strong overall profile.

Despite their solid performance, there are concerns. Analysts like Paul Finebaum have a somewhat grim outlook on their chances. As he pointed out, in the Charlotte game last night, the situation changed. SMU's comeback made an impact on the committee's perception. But Alabama's previous achievements and their reputation in the college football world still give them a fighting chance.

SMU's Stand

As an ACC team, SMU finished the season with an impressive 11-2 record. Their only losses were to a 10-win BYU team early in the season and in the ACC Championship Game to Clemson on a last-second field goal. In the key metrics, their Strength of Record is 15th, Game Control is 12th, FPI is 13th, and Strength of Schedule is 60th. The lower Strength of Schedule ranking reflects the nature of their ACC schedule compared to the SEC.

SMU's strong season and their late-game comeback have put them in a position to make a strong case for the playoff. They have shown that they can compete with the best and have the potential to cause an upset. The question now is whether their performance will be enough to secure a playoff spot.

The final College Football Playoff rankings are set to be revealed at 12:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, December 8th. Fans and analysts alike will be on the edge of their seats as we wait to see which team will emerge victorious and make it to the playoff.