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CFP Selection Sunday Drama: Can Miami Hurricanes Leap Alabama After SEC Title Blowout?

On3 imageby: Matt Shodell14 hours agocanesport

Two out of three will be in. Miami, Notre Dame and Alabama are vying for the final two playoff spots, which will be announced by the CFP Committee starting at Noon on ESPN. But as we wake up on Sunday morning the oddsmakers are favoring the Irish and Crimson Tide as the last two in.

That’s despite everything that could go right going right for the Canes this weekend.

BYU was blown out by Texas Tech, expected to end the Cougars’ chances and moving Miami up over the No. 11 team. The No. 9 Crimson Tide? They lost by three touchdowns to Georgia in the SEC title game.

So the big question now isn’t if Miami will pass No. 10 Notre Dame, which appears assured a spot with ‘Bama’s loss. It’s whether Alabama will drop below both the Irish and UM. The Canes need to be in the top 10 for the playoffs because two lower ranked conference champions are assured the final two spots per the rules.

As a refresher: The Canes finished 10-2 and beat 10-2 Notre Dame head-to-head … and Alabama finished 10-3 with a final 28-7 drubbing in the SEC title game to Georgia. The Crimson Tide also had a loss to Florida State, a common opponent that Miami beat.

But the CFP committee put UM on the outside looking in from the start of the rankings several weeks ago at an initial ranking of No. 18. Miami then charged up to No. 12 over the last two weeks. But the committee has seemed to give outsized weight to UM’s losses to non-top 25 opponents SMU and Louisville whereas Notre Dame lost to top 12 Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M and ‘Bama had quality wins against No. 3 Georgia and No. 14 Vanderbilt, with the team’s losses to the aforementioned FSU along with ranked Oklahoma and now Georgia. The committee also had previously said it does not like to punish conference title teams.

So now it’s wait-and-see mode.

The Canes certainly have a playoff-worthy resume.

The question is how much the CFP committee will respect it.

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