Stanford stunned and falls from projections, but could re-surface as dangerous opponent to top seeds

For a while, it looked like Auburn would be the team to fall out of the projections, but their "look what I found" miracle TD keeps the Tigers in the projections.  So that kooky play keeps Auburn burning up the standings, now up to #6.  But, their Bama game will determine whether their upward mobility continues.

It was the end of Saturday's upset of Stanford that shook up the projections.  Missouri sneaks back in, but do not count out the Cardinal!  They are the first team looking in, and if they end up in the First Round, a #1 or #2 would not want to meet them with Stanford trying to make a fourth straight Final Four.

And it seemed like Oregon was going to cruise into the tourney as an at-large, while Stanford would continue to do all of the heavy conference tourney heavy lifting.  Now, Oregon is back to the conference title game probably, and the increased risk of picking up loss #2.

Now, Clemson is in the position of trying to win out and avoid a conference championship, yet still make the tourney, maybe the top 6.


So, here are the projections!

First Round:

In Jacksonville:

#7 Clemson (at-large) versus #10 Central Florida (AAC) 

 

In Las Vegas:

#8 Missouri (at-large) versus #9 Fresno State (automatic non-AQ) 

 

Quarterfinals:

Sugar Bowl:

#1 Alabama (SEC) versus Fresno State or Clemson/UCF winner

Fiesta Bowl:

#4 Baylor (Big XII) versus #5 Oregon (Pac-12)

Orange Bowl:

#2 Florida State (ACC) versus UCF or Missouri/Fresno State winner

 

Rose Bowl:

#3 Ohio State (Big Ten) versus #6 Auburn (at-large) 

 

Semi-Finals in Indianapolis, Championship in Pasadena