Entering Week 9, 14 FBS teams are alive for the College Football Playoff. After a light Week 9 — four contenders have a bye, and there's only one game between playoff contenders — two of those teams will be eliminated.
Alabama, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State off this week, and a few contenders are heavy favorites, including Oklahoma (vs. Kansas State) and West Virginia (vs. Baylor), but five teams hit the road and two others — Florida and Georgia — play a huge neutral-site game in Jacksonville.
Which teams will be eliminated from playoff contention in Week 9?
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Georgia
I've gone back and forth on this game several times and, ultimately, I can't shake Georgia's LSU loss. Losing to a top-three team on the road is one thing; annihilation is another thing.
If Florida loses, they're not officially out. If they won out — and got some help — the Gators would have wins over LSU and either Alabama or LSU in the SEC Championship, in addition to a few quality wins.
If Georgia loses, they're out. They'd have the 20-point loss to LSU and wins over Kentucky and Alabama or LSU in the SEC Championship.
Florida 24, Georgia 17.
Georgia is officially out.
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Iowa
Kirk Herbstreit joined The Hot Route this week to talk about the playoff chances of dark horses Iowa, Kentucky and Washington State. And while I agree that Iowa could go 11-1 (and use another Wisconsin loss) to reach the Big Ten Championship, I think they lose a close one at Penn State in Week 9.
A two-loss Big Ten West team has no chance.
