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Preseason Prediction: Alabama 1, Ohio State No. 2

By Charlie Lockhart

Dec 31, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer adjusts his headset in the first half against Clemson during the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer adjusts his headset in the first half against Clemson during the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY Sports /
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Another prediction where Alabama and Ohio State are projected to be the top two teams in the nation.

Athlon Sports came out with their Top 25 preseason rankings and they have Alabama ranked as the favorite to win the national championship. Ohio State is ranked as the second best team in the country. In other preseason predictions I have seen thus far, the Crimson Tide and the Buckeyes seem to be everyone’s favorite to finish one and two, just sometimes the order is reversed.

Florida State is again predicted to make the playoffs from the ACC Conference. Many have USC being included in the final four, but Athlon has Pac 12 Conference foe Washington edging them out for the last playoff spot.

Here is a look at Athlon’s Top 10 team rankings:

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Florida State

4. Washington

5. USC

6. Penn State

7. Clemson

8. Oklahoma

9. Auburn

10. Michigan

You can split hairs on whether a team should be ranked a tad higher or lower, but I think it’s a good assessment of the college football landscape. In fact, most preseason predictions are pretty close with their rankings of the first dozen or so teams.

If everyone is correct in their predictions, it means we will have plenty of important games to keep our eyes on in the upcoming season. There will be key matchups in every conference, and most are late in the season.

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Can you imagine how excited the college football fans in the state of Alabama will be if the Iron Bowl will determine the SEC West champion once again? How about a showdown in the PAC 12 Championship game between Washington and USC to see who goes to the College Football Playoff?

There is a good chance the winner of the ACC Conference will be decided when Florida State and Clemson meet on November 11. And of course the final Saturday of November will see Ohio State traveling to Ann Arbor to face Michigan. There will be even more bad blood than usual because of the way last season’s game ended, and this year’s game may be another classic.

It just seems that everything is pointing to another exciting season of college football, with nearly every conference having at least two teams who could make the playoff. And you know for sure there are teams like Wisconsin or Oklahoma State, ranked outside of the top 10, who could become contenders as well. 

Next: Is Tyquan Lewis the Next Buckeye Great?

It’s going to be fun to see how things play out in the 2017 season. But I think those who are predicting that Ohio State and Alabama will be the last two teams standing at the end are correct.

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