USA TODAY Sports updated bowl and Playoff projections heading into Week 5

The college football season really gets underway this weekend with conference play starting and a top-five match-up between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs. Not only will it be a great game, but it will have massive ramifications on the Playoff race.

The Crimson Tide qualified for the four-team Playoff in seven of its 10 years, so despite the coaching the chance, the Tide should still be annual contenders in the expanded 12-team format. With a win against the Bulldogs, the Tide would be in a great spot to make the SEC Championship and earn the No. 1 seed and first-round BYE.

But as of right now, Erick Smith of USA TODAY Sports projects the Tide to make the Playoff as an at-large team this year. In the first round, Smith projects the Tide to host the Iowa State Cyclones before moving on to face Miami in the Peach Bowl before ultimately losing to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl semi-final.

The SEC is projected to get four teams into the final 12. Smith also projects that the Auburn Tigers will not be bowling this Fall.

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