College Football Playoff predictions for Week 9: Who's in? Who's out?

How college football's playoff looks as we move into the Week 9 games

As we move past the midway point of the 2023 college football season, the postseason picture is starting to become a little clearer, even with there being more parity this year than in most, with several teams vying for a spot in the final four.

That includes some surprise contenders out of the Pac-12 in what appears to be the final season for that conference before next year's realignment, in addition to a pair of long-time Big Ten rivals whose annual season finale meeting will go a long way in determining what the playoff looks like.

College Football Playoff predictions for Week 9

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Florida State
4. Ohio State

4. Ohio State. We predict that Washington will enter the Pac-12 Championship Game in contention to qualify for the playoff, but will lose that game in a rematch against Oregon, which will move the selection committee to leave the Huskies out, and pave the way for Ohio State, which we project will lose to Michigan, to move into the final No. 4 position with two other high-quality wins under its belt.

3. Florida State. Our projected ACC champion. The Seminoles should be favored in their remaining regular season games, as well as the eventual conference title matchup against likely either Louisville or North Carolina. An undefeated Florida State is a sure thing for the playoff, where it hasn't been since its inaugural semifinal.

2. Michigan. We project the Wolverines will take down Ohio State and win the Big Ten championship for a third straight year, and the second straight season as an undefeated team, staying put at No. 2 in the rankings.

1. Georgia. We project Georgia will finish the season undefeated and beat projected West Division champion Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, moving one step closer to a historic three-peat.

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Rose Bowl Game

College Football HQ prediction: Michigan vs. Florida State

A physical matchup between two teams that play strong on the lines of scrimmage and a test for the dynamic Seminoles offense against a Wolverine defense that ranks No. 1 in scoring defense right now.

Sugar Bowl Game

College Football HQ prediction: Georgia vs. Ohio State

A rematch of last season's Peach Bowl, although likely lower scoring this time around as both offenses have taken a step backwards. Georgia is playing customarily violent football in the defensive front seven and can maraud the Buckeye protection, but OSU's receivers are still the class of college football and can test the Bulldog secondary.

National Championship Game

College Football HQ prediction: Florida State vs. Georgia

Jordan Travis sits at the helm of college football's No. 5 ranked scoring offense, armed with a cadre of skill targets who should find room against Georgia's second-level tacklers, while the Bulldogs' physical defensive front goes against FSU's multi-varied offense.

The national champion? Georgia makes history as the first college football team to pull off the three-peat since the 1930s.

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