CFB insider predicts how the Playoff committee will settle USC-Tennessee debate

There’s little doubt surrounding the earned spots in College Football Playoff by teams like the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes, but things get a little bit murky from there and there is a handful of teams currently on the outside looking in with a very real chance to make their way into the postseason.

That’s largely looked at as the likes of TCU, Tennessee and USC.

College football insider Andy Staples of The Athletic recently joined “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” to discuss how he thought things could realistically shake out.

When it comes down to the Trojans and the Volunteers specifically for the final spot, Staples says he sees the committee putting Tennessee in over USC even if they do finish as a strong conference champion because the former is simply the better team. Staples also said that advanced and predictive stats play a role here, even though he doesn’t think the committee is concerned with betting lines and things of that nature.

.@Andy_Staples from @TheAthletic joined the guys on @MacandCube to discuss if he expects @USCFB to jump @Vol_Football in the @CFBPlayoff rankings if both teams win out.

Whole interview: https://t.co/6I8JX3EPEw pic.twitter.com/LGvBStaxgK

— WJOX 94.5 FM (@WJOX945) November 18, 2022

As with all things with college football, anything can happen, and there’s sure to be controversy and mixed opinions abound regardless of who gets the No. 4 seed in the end.

Crissy Froyd

Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.