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Sport
Joe Vitale

Predicting College Football Playoff rankings after wild Week 12

Survive and advance was the theme of Week 12. At least it was for college football’s top-four, plus USC.

The top-four won by a combined 26 points. None played a ranked opponent and if it weren’t for Ohio State’s defensive score in the final seconds, it would have been 19 points. Georgia looked ugly in a 16-6 win over Kentucky, Ohio State vs. Maryland came down to the last drive, Michigan used a last-second field goal to beat Illinois and TCU did the same to beat Baylor.

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And then Tennessee vs. South Carolina happened. The No. 5 ranked Vols saw their playoff dreams die in Williams-Brice Stadium. Spencer Rattler and South Carolina absolutely torched Tennessee en route to a 63-38 victory.

Oh, then USC vs. UCLA – the most entertaining game of the day – happened. Quarterback Caleb Williams was fantastic, and the Trojans kept their CFP hopes alive with a 48-45 win.

Did you think we were done there? Nope. The night ended with a great game between Oregon and Utah, which the Ducks won 20-17.

Other fun ones included: No. 13 UNC losing to Georgia Tech, No. 14 Ole Miss losing to Arkansas, No. 20 UCF losing to Navy, No. 22 Oklahoma State losing to Oklahoma, and No. 24 NC State losing to Louisville.

Predicting the CFP rankings after Week 12:

25
UTSA Roadrunners (9-2)

Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Rice, 41-7

24
Texas Longhorns (7-4)

Syndication: Austin American-Statesman

Week 12: Beat Kansas, 55-14

(Longhorns Wire)

23
South Carolina Gamecocks (7-4)

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Tennessee, 63-38

22
Oregon State Beavers (8-3)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Arizona State, 31-7

21
Cincinnati Bearcats (9-2)

Syndication: The Enquirer

Week 12: Beat Temple, 23-3

20
Tulane Green Wave (9-2)

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Week 12: Beat SMU, 59-24

19
Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Lost to Arkansas, 42-27

18
UCLA Bruins (8-3)

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Lost to USC, 48-45

17
North Carolina Tar Heels (9-2)

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Lost to Georgia Tech, 21-17

16
Utah Utes (8-3)

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Lost to Oregon, 20-17

15
Florida State Seminoles (8-3)

(Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

Week 12: Beat Louisiana, 49-17

14
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-3)

Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Boston College, 44-0

(Fighting Irish Wire)

13
Washington Huskies (9-2)

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Colorado, 54-7

12
Kansas State Wildcats (8-3)

Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat West Virginia, 48-31

11
Penn State Nittany Lions (9-2)

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Rutgers, 44-0

(Nittany Lions Wire)

10
Oregon Ducks (9-2)

Syndication: The Register Guard

Week 12: Beat Utah, 20-17

National title odds (via BetMGM): +8,000

9
Clemson Tigers (10-1)

Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Miami, 40-10

National title odds: +2,000

8
Alabama Crimson Tide (9-2)

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Week 12: Beat Austin Peay, 34-0

National title odds: N/A

7
Tennessee Volunteers (9-2)

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Lost to South Carolina, 63-38

National title odds: N/A

6
LSU Tigers (9-2)

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat UAB, 41-10

National title odds: +3,000

(LSU Wire)

5
USC Trojans (10-1)

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Week 12: Beat UCLA, 48-45

National title odds: +2,000

4
TCU Horned Frogs (11-0)

(Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

Week 12: Beat Baylor, 29-28

National title odds: +1,500

3
Michigan Wolverines (11-0)

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Week 12: Beat Illinois, 19-17

National title odds: +900

2
Ohio State Buckeyes (11-0)

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Maryland, 43-30

National title odds: +250

1
Georgia Bulldogs (11-0)

Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports

Week 12: Beat Kentucky, 16-6

National title odds: -145

Click here to place your bets at BetMGM.

Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.

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