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College football bowl games: Ranking every 2019-2020 bowl team

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson Tigers. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers looks to pass in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers looks to pass in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Alabama Crimson Tide, 95.27

  • Roster Strength: 89.18 (6)
  • Team Performance: 92.10 (4)
  • Head Coach Rating: 97.00 (2)

Alabama may have fallen to No. 12 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings, and enter the Citrus Bowl ranked No. 13, but the Crimson Tide has never fallen farther than No. 4 in the CFB Winning Edge power rankings. Even though our Roster Strength numbers account for injury, and the loss of Tua Tagovailoa was the most impactful of the season, Alabama still has the sixth most talented roster in the country. With Tua, the Tide would rank No. 2 in Roster Strength.

As for the bowl game, all non-NFL Draft scout’s eyes will be trained to quarterback Mac Jones, who has thrown for 1,176 yards and 11 touchdowns and three interceptions as Tua’s backup and replacement. Jones has completed 69.8 percent of his passes and averaged 10.1 yards per pass attempt during the regular season but threw two brutal pick-sixes in the loss to Auburn that knocked the Tide out of the playoff conversation. With Tagovailoa weighing his NFL future, Jones has an early opportunity to step into a leadership role he would likely inherit in 2020 should Tua leave Tuscaloosa.

3. LSU Tigers, 95.78

  • Roster Strength: 91.75 (2)
  • Team Performance: 92.96 (3)
  • Head Coach Rating: 92.00 (5)

LSU enters the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 seed, and for good reason. Based on the resume, the Tigers have a strong case to be the most deserving team atop the committee rankings. LSU is also a heavy favorite over No. 4 Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl semifinal, and as a result of its top seed, is now the betting favorite to win the national championship according to most sportsbooks at this stage in the process.

But would LSU be a favorite against either Ohio State or Clemson in the final? Probably not. In fact, the market-setting oddsmakers at Circa Sports listed both ahead of the Tigers before the conference championship games.

Nevertheless, quarterback Joe Burrow likely locked up the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 349 yards and four touchdowns in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, which improved his numbers to 4,715 passing yards and an FBS-best 48 touchdowns and only six interceptions, while averaging 10.7 yards per pass and completing 77.9 percent of his attempts. Incredible.

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