Memphis Lagniappe's Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions are published weekly on Monday afternoons to show a possible college football playoff format. Similar to the NCAA basketball tournament, 11 conference champions receive automatic bids. 5 additional spots are available for at large bids.
Round 1 games would be hosted by the higher ranked seeds. Rounds 2 - 4 would incorporate the bowl system with host cities/bowls bidding to host the games. The "Big 4" BCS bowls would be permanent playoff hosts on a round-rotating basis (Championship, semi-finals and 1 round 2 game).
The pre-season playoff field for the 2012 season is:
1. USC (PAC 12 Champion)
2. LSU (SEC Champion)
3. Alabama (At Large SEC)
4. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champion)
5. Oregon (At Large PAC 12)
6. Florida State (ACC Champion)
7. Georgia (At Large SEC)
8. Michigan (Big 10 Champion)
9. Arkansas (At Large SEC)
10. South Carolina (At Large SEC)
11. Boise State (Mountain West Champion)
12. Louisville (Big East Champion)
13. Houston (C-USA Champion)
14. Louisiana Tech (WAC Champion)
15. Ohio (MAC Champion)
16. Florida International (Sun Belt Champion)
Number Of Teams by Conference:
SEC (5), PAC 12 (2), ACC (1), Big 10 (1), Big 12 (1), Big East (1), C-USA (1), MAC (1), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1), WAC (1), Independent (0)
Match ups round by round assuming higher seeds win.
Round 1
(16) Florida International at (1) USC
(9) Arkansas at (8) Michigan
(12) Louisville at (5) Oregon
(13) Houston at (4) Oklahoma
(11) Boise State at (6) Florida State
(14) Louisiana Tech at (3) Alabama
(10) South Carolina at (7) Georgia
(15) Ohio at (2) LSU
Round 2
(8) Michigan vs (1) USC
(5) Oregon vs (4) Oklahoma
(6) Florida State vs (3) Alabama
(7) Georgia vs (2) LSU
Round 3
(4) Oklahoma vs (1) USC
(3) Alabama vs (2) LSU
Championship Game
(2) LSU vs (1) USC
