College football Week 9 buzz - Utah-Oregon, SEC, Michigan CFP drama, upset picks, more - ESPN

Week 9 is the final week of games before the first College Football Playoff rankings are announced on Tuesday. Right now there are six undefeated Power 5 teams for four playoff slots. However, the SEC could be on the outside looking in.

According to the AllState Playoff Predictor, the Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Florida State Seminoles and Michigan Wolverines have the highest percentage chance to reach the CFP. The Georgia Bulldogs are fifth in that metric and the Washington Huskies, who are also undefeated, are eighth behind two one-loss teams.

UGA gets the Florida Gators in Jacksonville this week. One of the one-loss teams in the CFP race, the Oregon Ducks, are in Salt Lake City to face the Utah Utes, who just upset the USC Trojans.

ESPN insiders Heather Dinich and Adam Rittenberg break down these matchups, look ahead to the CFP rankings, assess Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Heisman chances and answer other pressing questions.

Jump to a section:
Can Utah pull another upset?
Committee's view of Michigan | Expecting CFP drama?
The best from the Group of 5
Heisman hype for Marvin Harrison Jr.
| Assessing Billy Napier
Upset picks | Emptying the notebook

Dinich: One opposing Pac-12 coach told me this week that Whittingham has been there so long «you know what you're going to get,» and that's a fundamentally sound team with an excellent defense, strong in the trenches, and a productive running game that opens up the play-action pass.

«There's a reason they won the league the past couple of years,» the coach said. «When you're that good in the trenches, you're going to get a shot.»

It has also helped that they're finally settled at quarterback with Bryson Barnes knowing now that Cam Rising is not playing this season.

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