Now that’s how you make an opening weekend statement.
SEC teams posted a supremely dominant 13-1 record in Week 1 of the college football season, with Tennessee as the lone loser of the conference.
As a result, the first edition of the new ESPN College Football Playoff Predictor is SEC heavy, with Alabama (No. 1), Georgia (No. 6) and Auburn (No. 7) cracking the top 10.
Alabama, No. 1 in the AP poll, cruised to an easy 51-14 vs. Louisville. Georgia, No. 3 in the AP poll, shutout Austin Peay 45-0. Auburn, No. 7 in the AP poll, edged previously No. 6 Washington 21-16.
Here’s the @CFBPlayoff predictions after Week 1 using ESPN’s playoff predictor analytics.
ND sitting REALLY pretty after that win vs Michigan.
Clemson should be around 85% in my opinion. pic.twitter.com/IyT0iUXrcB
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) September 5, 2018
The ESPN College Football Playoff Predictor was created by “studying the selection committee’s rankings during the season and on selection day each of the last four seasons.”
Alabama is projected as having a 65 percent chance to reach the College Football Playoff, 41 percent chance to make the championship game and 25 percent chance to win the championship.
Georgia is projected as having a 27 percent chance to reach the College Football Playoff, 13 percent chance to make the championship game and six percent chance to win the championship.
Auburn is projected as having a 24 percent chance to reach the College Football Playoff, 11 percent chance to make the championship game and five percent chance to win the championship.
All three teams return to action on Saturday Sept. 8 for Week 2.
Alabama hosts Arkansas State at 3:30 p.m. (EST) on ESPN2. Georgia travels to No. 24 South Carolina at 3:30 p.m. on CBS. Auburn faces visiting Alabama State at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.