Joel Klatt released his preseason CFP bracket prediction and opted to take Michigan over Miami for the final at-large spot (No. 11). The two teams are projected to face No. 6 Oregon and the winner of that game would play No. 3 Clemson in the semifinals, per Klatt's bracket.
"I've got Michigan getting the last spot and Miami is the first one out. Michigan is the 11 seed."Joel Klatt
Klatt painted the picture of how the committee is going to look at the body of work for both programs. While Michigan may not have the most impressive wins in the nation, it will still be better than Miami, especially in the context that each team has the same record.
"Now, there's two teams left. 10-2 Michigan, 11-2 Miami, and or 10-3 Miami after Miami has lost to Clemson. Here's where this finally goes: Michigan has games against Oklahoma, Nebraska, USC, Washington, and Ohio State. I don't think any of those are going to jump off of the page as far as great wins. Miami is just not going to have the resume either."Joel Klatt
It shapes up to come down to Miami's game against Clemson. Klatt has the Hurricanes losing in the ACC championship game to the Tigers. That leaves them open to being left out of the playoffs. And Michigan will be able to get the nod from the committee since he projects the Wolverines to be ranked very high prior to a potential loss to Ohio State.
"If it gets to the point where both of those teams are two loss teams at the end of the year, at the end of the regular season, there's just no question Michigan's going to be ranked higher than them... Michigan would be 10-1 going into Thanksgiving weekend. They're absolutely going to be ranked higher than Miami, who I've got stumbling during the regular season."Joel Klatt
- Penn State
- Texas
- Clemson
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Oregon
- Notre Dame
- Kansas State
- Alabama
- LSU
- Michigan (over Miami)
- Boise State