South Carolina football's CFP odds after win over Clemson

COLUMBIA – South Carolina football defeated then-No. 12 Clemson 17-14 in their annual rivalry game, increasing but not guaranteeing its chances of making the College Football Playoff.

Because of the loss, the Tigers (9-3, 7-1 ACC), now ranked No. 17 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, must beat SMU in the ACC Championship on Saturday to earn an automatic bid to the CFP.

There’s nothing they can do for the No. 12 Gamecocks (9-3, 5-3 SEC) until Tuesday, when the next rankings are released. The final CFP announcement will be made on December 8th.

After Saturday’s win at Memorial Stadium, coach Shane Beamer argued his team should be among the chosen 12.

“The committee has a really tough job… I get it – we’ve had three losses,” Beamer said. “I understand that, but it’s hard for me to sit here and say we’re not one of the top 12 teams in the country. If you look at the strength of our schedule and our away wins. … We go to hostile environments every week.”

The CFP has grown from four to 12 teams this season, but it is well known that a team with three losses would have a difficult time making the playoffs.

Here’s how South Carolina can reach the CFP and why it might not:

South Carolina football may pass the CFP “eye test.”

The question often arises: “Who is currently playing the best football?”

South Carolina didn’t lose a game in November, finishing the season with a six-game winning streak and defeating four of its seven ranked opponents.

The Gamecocks then defeated No. 11 Texas A&M, then No. 25 Vanderbilt, then No. 21 Missouri and No. 12 Clemson.

Head-to-head matchups hurt South Carolina’s CFP chances

South Carolina finished 15th in the CFP rankings last week.

Both Alabama (No. 13) and Ole Miss (No. 14) were ahead of the Gamecocks. South Carolina lost to both SEC programs, 27-3 to Ole Miss on October 5th and 27-25 to Alabama on October 12th.

All three SEC teams have three losses this season, but with both Ole Miss and Alabama beating the Gamecocks, that likely hurts South Carolina’s chances of finishing ahead of them in the CFP rankings.

ESPN’s Playoff Predictor says Sunday’s odds are just 21% for South Carolina and 24% for Miami, No. 6 in last Tuesday’s rankings. Miami lost to Syracuse, and so is Clemson in the ACC title game, so perhaps South Carolina is on the line to reach the CFP, but it has two losses compared to South Carolina’s three.

South Carolina football’s CFP odds after win over Clemson

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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