Georgia facing elimination game? ESPN analyst disputes a 3-loss Bulldog team is automatically out of CFP
Georgia has won 2 of the past 3 national championships, so the Bulldogs have earned some leeway when they slip up.
Last Saturday in Oxford, Georgia slipped up — again. The Bulldogs were thoroughly outplayed by Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss team, falling 28-10 and suffering their 2nd loss of the season. Georgia also lost at Alabama in late September, and this Saturday night the Bulldogs will host Tennessee in another showdown game.
If Georgia loses again, which is entirely possible, surely having 3 losses would be the death of the Bulldogs when it comes to making the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Right?
Well, not necessarily, said ESPN college football analyst Heather Dinich during an appearance Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show.
“As much as people keep throwing out elimination games each week, I would really hesitate to eliminate a 3-loss SEC team,” said Dinich. “All 3-loss SEC teams are not created equal.”
"I would really hesitate to eliminate a three-loss SEC team."@CFBHeather gives us a history lesson on why some three-loss teams wouldn't be totally out of the CFP race. pic.twitter.com/FVVpOD6SjI
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 12, 2024
Dinich backed up her bold words by giving everyone a slightly surprising Playoff history lesson. According to Dinich, in the first 10 years of the CFP, there have been 13 3-loss teams ranked in the Playoff committee’s top 10 on selection day.
Dinich’s point: don’t just dismiss Georgia if the Bulldogs happen to lose again on Saturday night.
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ESPN’s FPI matchup predictor believes Georgia has a good chance of winning, giving the Bulldogs a 61.8% chance to beat the 8-1 Volunteers.
I will go on to say that ZERO 3 loss teams make the playoffs.
I agree, but in this new era we need to stop just looking at number of wins and losses. Georgia has played 3 teams currently in the top 10 on the road, a 4th ranked team on a neutral site and will play another top 10 team in Athens. Also having 2 Power 4 teams in the OOC schedule should be also considered.
There are several teams even in the SEC that only play 2 ranked teams the whole season.
I thought and many would agree that UGA had one of the weakest schedules in all of college football in 2023. That being said, they have certainly stepped that up in 2024. I certainly think SOS should be considered, but 3 losses is the straw that breaks the camels back, in terms of considering SOS.
You are choking. Don’t panic. Relax. In years past, you have lost 1 game and that’s all it took. This game is no different. If you lose it, that is all she wrote. You will continue your slide.
Agreed. Dawgs lost to tough teams on the road. Losing this one at home closes the door.
OleMiss has finished inside the top twelve twice with a 9-3 record back in 2014/15. However, that required a lot of help from other teams losing.
There are likely going to be too many 10+ wins team, especially from the SEC and BIG10, that would block out a potential 3 loss UGA.