Josh Pate's Bold College Football Predictions for 2025

SEC Playoff Dominance Without Alabama

• 🎯 A bold prediction suggests the SEC will have five teams in the College Football Playoff, with Alabama not being one of them.
• ⚠️ This scenario requires significant separation between top SEC teams and for other conferences to be weaker.
• 📈 FanDuel currently lists 10 SEC teams among the top 21 in their odds board, highlighting the conference's depth.

Combined Wins for Nebraska, Kansas State, and Georgia Tech

• 🔑 A prediction posits that Nebraska, Kansas State, and Georgia Tech will collectively achieve at least 28 wins in the upcoming season.
• 📊 The current over/under win totals for these teams sum to 23.5, meaning each must significantly overachieve.
• 🏈 All three teams are noted to return their starting quarterbacks, possess high returning production, and have relatively easier conference schedules, making the prediction improbable but not impossible.

Conference Champions Lose in CFP Quarterfinals

• 🏆 The prediction is that conference champions will continue to lose in the CFP quarterfinals, mirroring last year's outcomes.
• 🏈 Examples from the previous year include Oregon, Boise, Arizona State, and Georgia all losing after winning their respective conferences.
• 🗣️ If this trend repeats, it would fuel a significant debate about the playoff format and the disadvantage faced by rested teams.

USC Reaches 10 Wins with Improved Defense

• 🚀 A prediction states that USC will achieve 10 wins and make the playoff, bolstered by Lincoln Riley's best defense as a head coach.
• 📈 This requires USC to significantly improve its defense, potentially ranking in the top 25 or top 30 nationally.
• ✅ Such defensive improvement is seen as heavily correlated with winning close games and achieving the 10-win threshold, which is well above their current win total of seven and a half.