The Michigan Wolverines and LSU Tigers are grouped in the College Football Playoff tier rankings from CBS Sports’ Thomas Casale of teams that would be 9-point underdogs against the Ohio State Buckeyes and Alabama Crimson Tide, the undisputed top two teams in the country, according to a growing contingent of college football analysts. The Texas Red Raiders are Casale’s third team.
Ultimately, Casale sees Michigan and LSU, two of the last five national champions, missing the 12-team field. Texas Tech, on the other hand, is Casale’s projected Big 12 Champion and auto-bid qualifier.
“I don't see either LSU or Michigan making the playoff this season. The Tigers and Wolverines would each need to run the table, which won't be easy considering LSU plays No. 2 Alabama and the Michigan faces No. 1 Ohio State,” Casale wrote.
“I make these three teams roughly 9-point dogs on a neutral field against either Ohio State or Alabama with Texas Tech having the most upside.”
Moore safe if Michigan misses CFP but Kelly might not be at LSU
Sherrone Moore can survive in Ann Arbor if the Wolverines missed the College Football Playoff. The same cannot be said of Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge if the Tigers missed the CFP for the sixth year in a row.
Moore has a freshman quarterback who the program went all in on with a historic eight-figure payday this offseason. Oracle CTO Larry Ellison will continue funding Moore’s program until the head coach loses the donor base. The Wolverines aren’t the team in need of worrying here, assuming the season doesn’t go too far off the rails anytime soon.
No, that’d be LSU, since Kelly might’ve already lost the booster class. Having to give up money in his contract was Kelly’s first sign of trouble. Mike Gundy did the same thing for the Oklahoma State Cowboys this past offseason before his team underperformed on the field and he was fired in Stillwater.
The “Million Dollar Match Challenge” and the top transfer portal class it produced have been misfires, to say the least. Being 5-2 through seven games with the possibility of several more losses, with the Texas A&M Aggies, Alabama, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Oklahoma Sooners all remaining on the docket, has Kelly’s Tigers tenure on life support. Even one more loss could spell the end, but two would definitely seal the deal.
It’s only year two for Moore, who had to deal with a three-game suspension amid the fallout from the Connor Stalions sign-stealing saga. He’ll be okay if there isn’t a massive step forward.
Kelly is in his fourth year, and there’s no signs of progression. Joe Sloan looks like a bad hire at offensive coordinator after losing Mike Denbrock, and the defense is not equipped to carry the load in SEC play.
The college football head coaching Grim Reaper is coming in the form of Blue Blood programs looking to bury their rivals. That Reaper is probably not coming for Moore, but most certainly for Kelly.