College football expert explains why his prediction model put Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff

There's actually logical reasoning why the Oklahoma Sooners could make the College Football Playoff this season despite last year's struggles.

Using his own prediction model, CBS Sports' Bud Elliott projected the Sooners to just make his 12-team CFP field as the No. 11 squad in the country. In this scenario, OU would play No. 6 Clemson in the first round. OU was also one of four SEC teams, and the lowest-seeded from the conference, to make the CFP. Also in this case, with a win over Clemson for OU, it would be the Red River Rivalry in the quarterfinals against No. 3 Texas.

CBS Sports' Bud Elliott predicts Sooners to make CFP

During CBS Sports' "Cover 3" podcast, Elliott's co-hosts gave him grief for putting the Sooners in the CFP after they went 6-7 last season in their first year in the SEC. There's reason for OU to turn things around, though, with new play-callers on both sides of the ball and loads of new talent on offense, including quarterback John Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott.

The "Cover 3" panel forced Elliott to explain the decision.

"If Oklahoma beats Michigan (Week 2), the SEC is gonna have a huge bragging rights chip over the Big Ten this year," Elliott said. "That's a pivotal game. And I do think Oklahoma will beat Michigan, because I don't like what Michigan did at receiver this year. I'm not really sure who Bryce Underwood is gonna throw the football to.

"I think Oklahoma will be more ready to win early in the season. So I think Oklahoma can go 9-3 and get in there. They do have a really nice defensive line, secondary looks like it's coming together a little bit, receivers way improved because simply not every single person on the roster is hurt and the offensive line should be somewhat improved. And obviously, I think (Brent) Venables turning over the offense to a guy who's a proven OC and not his buddy like he had running it last year is also a major improvement."

Elliott added that the model has often put one of OU, Florida or LSU in that CFP spot for the SEC.

That all-important Michigan game will be at 6:30 p.m. CT on Sept. 6 in Norman.

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