Another thrilling Saturday has shifted the landscape of the College Football Playoff dramatically.
Teams that looked promising were No. 12 Miami and No. 19 Vanderbilt. The Hurricanes wrapped up their conference campaign with a solid 38-7 win against No. 22 Pittsburgh, while Vanderbilt triumphed over their in-state rivals Tennessee with a 45-24 victory.
These games unfolded during the initial half of Week 14, with Miami’s match kicking off at noon and the Commodores-Vols showdown beginning at 3:30 PM ET.
By noon Saturday, the odds for Miami advancing to the CFP stood at +150, closely followed by Vanderbilt at +350.
Over just 24 hours, oddsmakers reevaluated both teams’ chances significantly.
Interestingly, the Dukes of James Madison are now in the mix for the playoffs alongside Miami and Vanderbilt. This shift was somewhat unexpected, largely influenced by how the top conference champions performed.
Essentially, the CFP selection committee automatically qualifies the top five teams for conference titles for inclusion in the 12-team playoff, regardless of their rankings in the committee’s top 25.
This means a non-Top 25 team like JMU, boasting an 11-1 record, could make a surprise entry if they manage to defeat Troy (8-4) in their upcoming Sun Belt championship.
But there’s more to consider.
No. 21 SMU faltered against Cal, allowing the Duke Blue Devils (7-5) to secure a spot in the ACC Conference title game. This is remarkable given an unlikely five-way tie for second place in the ACC.
Anticipate some action, as all eyes will be on Tuesday night to see how the committee will address this chaotic Week 14.
