ESPN Playoff Predictor: Tennessee currently has 74% chance to make the College Football Playoff
Tennessee has a 74% chance to make the College Football Playoff, according to the ESPN Playoff Predictor. The Vols are tied with Penn State for the seventh-best odds to make the 12-team playoff.
Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC) was ranked No. 7 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season, which were released Tuesday night. Penn State was No. 6 and Indiana came in at No. 8.
The Vols were seeded No. 8 in the bracket based on the playoff rankings, projected to host Indiana in a first-round playoff game at Neyland Stadium.
Vols would have 85% chance to make playoff with 10-2 record
ESPN’s Playoff Predictor gives No. 1 Oregon a 96% chance to make the playoff, with the Ducks leading the pack ahead of Miami (93%), Georgia (92%), Ohio State (91%), Indiana (87%) and Texas (78%).
Boise State is just behind Tennessee and Penn State, with the Broncos having a 71% chance to make the playoff.
After hosting Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5) on Saturday night (7 Eastern Time, ESPN), the Vols go to Georgia next Saturday. They host UTEP on November 23 and close the regular-season schedule at Vanderbilt on November 30.
Should Tennessee finish 10-2 with a losses at Arkansas and Georgia, the Playoff Predictor gives the Vols an 85% chance to make the playoff, a 27% chance to host in the first round and a 58% chance to go on the road in the first round.
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Should Tennessee win its final four games of the regular season and lose in the SEC Championship Game, the Vols would have an 83% chance to host in the first round and a 17% chance to go on the road.
Warde Manuel: ‘The loss at Arkansas was something that we discussed a lot’
Tennessee has won three straight home games — 23-17 in overtime against Florida, 24-17 against Alabama and 28-18 against Kentucky — since the 19-14 loss at Arkansas.
The Vols were ranked No. 6 in the Coaches Poll and No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday.
The College Football Playoff selection committee on Tuesday ranked Oregon No. 1, ahead of No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Miami and No. 5 Texas.
The first-round matchups Tuesday night were No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State, No. 11 Alabama at No. 6 Texas and No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 7 Penn State, along with No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee.
“Tennessee has an impressive win over Alabama at No. 11,” selection committee chair Warde Manuel said on a conference call with reporters after the rankings were revealed on ESPN, “and wins over North Carolina State and Oklahoma, 4-1 against teams above .500.
“The loss at Arkansas was something that we discussed a lot.”
