Around CFB: Which teams make the best case for a playoff spot?

The annual debates and arguments are sure to occur when the first College Football Rankings are revealed on Tuesday night.

Oklahoma fans will argue the Sooners’ unbeaten record regardless of opponents is sufficient to get into the all-important top four.

Oregon fans will contend two victories over ranked opponents should cancel out an upset loss.

Cincinnati faithful will debate that a win over Notre Dame makes up for an otherwise mundane schedule.

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Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker’s performance against Michigan could be his eventual Heisman moment. 

The Alabama contingent will say Alabama should be included because…well because they’re Alabama.

Smug Georgia fans will watch all the drama and figure it doesn’t really matter because their Bulldogs are going to win it all, anyway.

Information is like ammunition in a debate. Therefore, here’s a well-stocked arsenal on the dozen teams — the undefeated and one-loss Power Five members — that deserve consideration.

Georgia (8-0)
• Best win(s): No. 12 Auburn, 34-10; No. 18 Kentucky, 30-13
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 37-28 (56.9 percent)
• Skinny: The Bulldogs are the slam dunk No. 1 seed. Only one of their opponents (Vanderbilt) has a losing record. They are one of two teams with victories over two currently ranked opponents. All but one victory was by 17 points or more.

Cincinnati (8-0)
• Best win(s): No. 8 Notre Dame, 24-13
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 24-32 (42.8 percent)
• Skinny: Even with the victory over Notre Dame, strength of schedule could keep the Bearcats out. UCF (5-3) is their only other opponent with a winning record. They’ve had back-to-back unimpressive wins over (2-6) Navy and (1-7) Tulane.

Oklahoma (9-0)
• Best win(s): Unranked Texas, 55-48
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 26-40 (39.3 percent)
• Skinny: Maybe the softest 9-0 record ever. Victories over Tulane (1-7), Nebraska (3-6), West Virginia (4-4) and Texas (4-4) were by a touchdown or less. A controversial non-whistle saved the Sooners against Kansas (1-7).

Michigan State (8-0)
• Best win(s): No. 9 Michigan, 37-33
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 27-30 (47.3 percent)
• Skinny: The Spartans had not beaten a winning team until coming from behind to top previously unbeaten Michigan last week. Now, the question is how good is Michigan?

Wake Forest (8-0)
• Best win(s): Unranked Virginia, 37-17
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 27-30 (47.3 percent)
• Skinny: The Deacons are the best team in the ACC. But overall? They allowed 34 points to Louisville, 37 to Syracuse and 56 to Army. Woof.

Alabama (7-1)
• Best win(s): No. 15 Ole Miss, 42-21
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 24-24 (.500)
• Skinny: The Tide is probably the second-best team in the country. Alabama defeated Florida and Miami when they were ranked. A loss to Texas A&M doesn’t look so bad and a win over Mississippi State is looking better and better.

Baylor (7-1)
• Best win(s): No. 17 BYU, 38-24
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 23-26 (46.9 percent)
• Skinny: Only loss was to currently ranked No. 11 Oklahoma State. Consecutive victories over West Virginia, BYU and Texas raised eyebrows.

Michigan (7-1)
• Best win(s): Unranked Wisconsin, 38-17
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 30-27 (52.6 percent)
• Skinny: Wolverines have a lot of wins over mediocre teams and one loss to a pretty good one.

Notre Dame (7-1)
• Best win(s): Unranked Wisconsin, 41-13
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 29-27 (51.7 percent)
• Skinny: Victories over Florida State (3-5), Toledo (4-4) and Virginia Tech (4-4) were by a field goal. Two pick-sixes in the final two minutes caused the lopsided margin of victory over Wisconsin.

Ohio State (7-1)
• Best win(s): No. 22 Penn State, 33-24
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 27-29 (48.2 percent)
• Skinny: Buckeyes have been dominant since a surprising home loss to Oregon. Of course, some of that dominance is due to facing poor opponents.

Oklahoma State (7-1)
• Best win(s): No. 14 Baylor, 24-14
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 24-24 (.500)
• Skinny: Wins haven’t come easy for the Cowboys. They beat FCS Missouri State by a touchdown and struggled against Tulsa. They needed a blocked field goal to escape Boise State, 21-20. But they came from behind to beat Texas and topped Baylor, so there’s that.

Oregon (7-1)
• Best win(s): No. 6 Ohio State, 35-28; No. 25 Fresno State, 31-24
• Combined record of FBS teams beaten: 24-26 (48 percent)
• Skinny: Their only loss was in overtime to Stanford, so the Ducks are undefeated in regulation. Hey, that argument worked for Les Miles and LSU in 2007.

Kyle Robertson/USA TODAY NETWO

CJ Stroud has been unstoppable in his past few games, leading Ohio State to six straight wins. 

Heisman watch (If my ballot was due today)

1. Kenneth Walker, Michigan State, RB: The transfer from Wake Forest has been a serious Heisman candidate all season. He moves to the forefront after a spectacular outing in a 37-33 victory over arch-rival Michigan. Walker rushed for 197 yards and scored five touchdowns. He also caught three passes. Walker averages 149.2 yards per game to lead the nation. He’s rushed for 1,194 yards and 14 touchdowns.

2. Bryce Young, Alabama, QB: The Crimson Tide was idle last week. Young has passed for at least 348 yards and two touchdowns in each of the last three games. He’s thrown for 2,453 yards and 26 touchdowns with three interceptions.

3. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State, QB: Stroud passed for 305 yards and a touchdown in a 33-24 victory over Penn State. He’s thrown for more than 2,270 yards and 23 touchdowns.

4. Matt Corral, Ole Miss, QB: Playing hurt, Corral still passed for 289 yards in a 31-20 loss to Auburn. He also ran for 45 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Corral has passed for 2,203 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s rushed for 519 yards and 10 TDs.

5. Sam Hartman, Wake Forest, QB:  The quarterback for a national championship contender is almost always in the discussion. It’s a stretch to call Wake a national championship contender, but the Deacons are unbeaten and ranked in the top ten. He’s passed for 2,475 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 208 yards and six TDs.

Predicted playoff participants

1. Georgia: Bringing back the old adage that defense wins championships.

2. Ohio State: The Buckeyes are rolling, but still must show they can roll good opponents.

3. Oregon: The Ducks are a good bet to get through the rest of its Pac-12 schedule unscathed. Their win over Ohio State looms larger by the week.

4. Oklahoma: Not buying the Sooners, but the committee always does.

Games to watch

No. 12 Auburn at No. 13 Texas A&M: The only matchup of ranked teams. The winner may be on the way to a New Year’s Six bowl.

No. 5 Michigan State at Purdue: The Spartans could be due for a letdown. A big win followed by a road game against a capable opponent is the definition of a trap game.

No. 10 Wake Forest at North Carolina: Perhaps the nation’s most surprising team against one of the most disappointing. It still wouldn’t be a major shock if the Tar Heels won.

No. 11 Oklahoma State at West Virginia: Another possible trap game. Three of West Virginia’s four losses are by six points or less.

Mississippi State at Arkansas: The trap game description fits here, too. Mississippi State looks to double down after last week’s win over Kentucky. Arkansas is just looking to get back on track.