How many undefeated teams will we have at the end of conference championship weekend?

That's tough... I wouldn't be surprised if all of the following were undefeated:

 

UCF or USF

Clemson

Notre Dame

Alabama

 

I think I'll go with 4. UCF beats USF.

At this point, I went with 2. I think one of Clemson & Notre Dame will stumble. I also think LSU beats Alabama guaranteeing the SEC 2 playoff teams again.

Week 9 2018: 5 undefeated (Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, UCF, USF)

Week 9 2017: 8 undefeated, finished with 1 (UCF)

Week 9 2016: 9 undefeated, finished with 2 (Alabama, Western Michigan)

Week 9 2015: 11 undefeated, finished with 1 (Clemson)

Week 9 2014: 4 undefeated, finished with 1 (FSU)

Week 9 2013: 10 undefeated, finished with 1 (FSU)

Week 9 2012: 11 undefeated, finished with 2 (Notre Dame and Ohio State)

Week 9 2011: 8 undefeated, finished with 1 (Alabama)

Week 9 2010: 7 undefeated, finished with 3 (Auburn, Oregon, TCU)

Going all the way back to 2000, we’ve only had more than 3 undefeated teams before bowl season twice (2004, 2009) and the average is 1.833 undefeated teams since 2000.

I went with 2. I think Bama and Clemson make it through unscathed. I still think the AAC eats itself and ND drops a game somewhere.

Perhaps the crazier stats are:

- only 8 of the 18 years has an undefeated team won the national title.

- a 1 loss team has faced an undefeated team 8 times in the championship game or playoff and the 1 loss team has won 5 of those matchups.

IF Bama gets by LSU; they will go undefeated. UCF and Clemson are darn near locks. So I would say 3. Notre Dame is a bit Jeckyl and Hyde plus USC plays well at home. I think the Trojans trip them up at the end of the year.

Tough games remaining:

- Alabama: @LSU

- Clemson: @ Boston College (If they slip up this is the only real possibility, but it’s not going to happen)

- Notre Dame: @ Northwestern (I think this is where they lose), Syracuse (not because Syracuse is any good but ND is wearing the ridiculous Yankees uniforms that game and teams in pinstripes haven’t fared well recently in Yankee Stadium), @ USC