The First CFP Rankings Projections

By Jonathan Willis What Will the First College Football Playoff Rankings Look Like?   The first College Football Playoff Rankings of the 2022 season will be released on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. There are six unbeaten teams left in the nation, but at least two of those teams will be left out of the initial top four by the CFP Selection Committee. That will lead to some consternation among some fanbases, yet the good news is that there is still one month left in the regular season.   College Football Playoffs Week 1 Projected Rankings  

1. Georgia Bulldogs (+210 to win the National Championship at BetOnline)

  The defending national champions have only been tested once this season. They needed a fourth quarter comeback to beat Missouri a few weeks ago, but they have won every other game by at least 17 points. Georgia will face its toughest test yet next week when it welcomes unbeaten Tennessee to Athens, but the Bulldogs are more than a touchdown favorite by the college football betting odds. Whereas Tennessee only has an elite offense, Georgia has a very good offense and an elite defense.  

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (+210 to win the National Championship at BetOnline)

  C.J. Stroud is the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at this point. Ohio State has the best offense in the country, and the Buckeyes have scored 44+ points in every game since their season opener against Notre Dame. Their defensive issues have been fixed with the addition of Jim Knowles, and their only remaining challenge is likely to be Michigan in their season finale. Ohio State is the most likely team to make the CFP, giving the Buckeyes the best chance of ending the South’s death grip on the sport.  

3. Tennessee Volunteers (+800 to win the National Championship at BetOnline)

  It’s been a magical year for Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers. Tennessee finally beat Nick Saban and Alabama, and the Vols also have blowout wins over LSU and Kentucky. They are in a precarious position in the SEC East though, as they are unlikely to make it to the SEC Championship Game. They will have to go into Georgia and beat the Bulldogs this week if they are to have a shot at playing in the conference title game. Otherwise, they are at the mercy of other teams.  

4. Michigan Wolverines (+1000 to win the National Championship at BetOnline)

  Michigan made it to the College Football Playoff last season. The Wolverines were blown out in the semi-finals by Georgia, and they would love a rematch. They have a strong defense and a great ground game once again, but the X-Factor this season is J.J. McCarthy. He is a more accurate passer than Cade McNamara, giving this offense more of a bite.  

5. Alabama Crimson Tide (+360 to win the National Championship at BetOnline)

  Although Alabama has one loss this season, the Crimson Tide should be in the top six of the initial CFP Rankings. They have good road wins over Texas and Arkansas, and they lost to Tennessee on a last-second field goal. They are ranked 3^rd in SP+, and they have looked better than undefeated teams Clemson and TCU. Alabama will be much better at the end of the season too when this young roster has had a chance to mature.  

6. Clemson Tigers (+1800 to win the National Championship at BetOnline)

  If Clemson had a solid quarterback, the Tigers would be a top four team. However, D.J. Uiagalelei has been average at best under center, hurting Clemson’s chances of making it to the CFP. This defense is certainly elite with Myles Murphy and Bryan Bresee up front, but there have been enough holes to make Clemson struggle in four of its eight wins.