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Yes, it’s rivalry week.
And yes, No. 4 Michigan has to beat No. 10 Ohio State at Ohio Stadium on Saturday if the Wolverines even want to start thinking about the College Football Playoff.
But if Michigan did win “The Game” and then went on to beat Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship, the Wolverines would have an inside shot at making the playoff. As it stands, Alabama is No. 1, Clemson is No. 2 and Notre Dame is at No. 3.
It’s been that way for a while now.
And if those four teams do indeed make up the playoff, who would take home the title?
ESPN Stats & Info released its percentages on Wednesday:
If the #CFBPlayoff top 4 remains the same @ESPNStatsInfo says Clemson has the best chance to win the National Title. pic.twitter.com/kSbXnji6SP
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) November 21, 2018
Clemson, somehow, would be the favored team, while Alabama would have the second-best odds. Michigan is at 14 percent and would have the third-best odds, while Notre Dame brings up the rear.
This is of course different than anybody else’s odds, including Vegas’. If the Wolverines do make it to the playoff, though, there aren’t many people giving them much of a shot to win it all.
Kevin covers Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.