2017 College Football Playoff Predictions
1. Ohio State (13-0)
Ohio State was a year ahead of schedule last year. Yes, they lost some talent to the NFL, but they are still the most talented roster in the country. They also have the one of the best coaches in the country. The Big Ten will not be as good next year as it was this year. JT Barrett will reemerge as a Heisman Candidate and prove that he is one of the best players in the country. Mike Weber, Binjimen Victor, and Demario McCall will all become premier playmakers and go-to players for Barrett. Weber will rush for 1,000 yards again, Victor will get 70 catches and 1,000 yards with his length, speed, and catching skills around the ball, and Demario McCall will be a great replacement for Curtis Samuel. The defense will return to elite form next year and the secondary will continue to ball-hawk.
2. Alabama (12-1)
Alabama looked unstoppable last year until the last second loss in the National Championship game. The biggest returning piece is Jalen Hurts. The Heisman candidate will come back next year as a sophomore and only be better. Nick Saban will be working his team all offseason until they return to true Alabama form. They will reload with playmakers on the perimeter and Bo Scarborough will be nothing but a stud next season. My guess is that this Alabama returns to form next season and despite a mid-season slip up they will dominate the rest and return to the College Football Playoff.
3. Florida State (12-1)
Despite Florida State losing a plethora of defense to the draft and do it all running back, Dalvin Cook, the team will become contenders once again. They bring back Deondre Francois who will improve and his freshman campaign, and lead this team. The defense had an absolutely amazing recruiting class and will return to dominant form. Jimbo Fisher will continue to coach like one of the best, and he will teach a young team many things along the ride. Florida State will lose in Week 1 to Alabama, (who they play in the playoffs) but they will be resilient and win out.
4. USC (12-1)
USC returns some of the most talent that they ever have. This group is headlined by sophomore quarterback, Sam Darnold. He will play out of his mind this year and become a Heisman candidate. Clay Helton has shown himself to be a premier head coach in college football, and he will now get an accomplishment to show that. We all know the results when USC is hyped up in the preseason, but I think that this team is different; they're better. USC slips up and loses against Stanford early in the season, but when it comes down to it, the committee realizes that this team is better than all the other bubble teams.
