While the Georgia Bulldogs should obviously care about what teams they have played, and what teams they will play on their schedule en route to a probable College Football Playoff berth, the emerging giant in Lubbock can no longer be ignored. Texas Tech also has one loss on its resume, one that is worse than Georgia's to Alabama in the Red Raiders losing to Arizona State, but there is this...
Texas Tech is the presumptive favorite to win the Big 12, while Georgia might get boxed out of an SEC Championship Game appearance, even if the Bulldogs were to win their final three games over Texas, Charlotte and Georgia Tech to finish the regular season at 11-1. That 13th data point for Texas Tech to finish at 12-1 as Big 12 champions could result in them leapfrogging Georgia in the playoff field.
Look no further than where the College Football Playoff Selection Committee has the Red Raiders...
- Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)
- Indiana Hoosiers (10-0)
- Texas A&M Aggies (9-0)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
- Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1)
- Ole Miss Rebels (9-1)
- Oregon Ducks (8-1)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2)
- Texas Longhorns (7-2)
- Oklahoma Sooners (7-2)
- BYU Cougars (8-1)
- Utah Utes (7-2)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (8-2)
- Miami Hurricanes (7-2)
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-1)
- USC Trojans (7-2)
- Michigan Wolverines (7-2)
- Virginia Cavaliers (8-2)
- Louisville Cardinals (7-2)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (6-3)
- Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2)
- Tennessee Volunteers (6-3)
- South Florida Bulls (7-2)
- Cincinnati Bearcats (7-2)
Texas Tech moved up this week by overtaking Ole Miss as the team ranked directly behind Georgia.
- Ohio State Buckeyes (9-0)
- Indiana Hoosiers (10-0)
- Texas A&M Aggies (9-0)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
- Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-1)
- Ole Miss Rebels (9-1)
- Oregon Ducks (8-1)
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-2)
- Texas Longhorns (7-2)
- Miami Hurricanes (7-2)
- South Florida Bulls (7-2)
Texas Tech may have the talent to compete in the SEC, but the Red Raiders play a Big 12 schedule...
Georgia Bulldogs should expect Texas Tech Red Raiders to overtake them
Look. This may not be the worst thing in the world. There is a chance that Alabama, Indiana, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech all have one or fewers losses after the conference championship games. Alabama would have to beat Texas A&M in Atlanta, but that is very possible. That 13th data point could be enough for the Selection Committee to shoe-horn Texas Tech ahead of Georgia here.
Truth be told, this may not be the worst thing in the world for Georgia. If the Dawgs were to somehow be the No. 6 seed at 11-1 with only a three-point home loss to Alabama, that might create an easier pathway through the playoff than being the No. 5. Let Texas Tech take their beating vs. Alabama, Texas A&M or what have you. Georgia could beat an ACC or Group of Five team before the No. 3 seed.
In the end, water will find its level here. Having an 11-1 SEC seeded any lower than No. 6 is utter blasphemy at this point in time. Then again, we all saw how getting a first-round bye is not all that it is cracked up to be. It is all about pathway. The most important thing for Georgia right now is to avoid getting Alabama on the schedule for as long as possible, or at least up until the national semifinals.
Right now, the Selection Committee has spoken that it wants to put Texas Tech ahead of Georgia...