ESPN’s Brad Edwards was the BCS guru for the network during that era.  Now, think of him as college football’s version of Joe Lunardi.

Edwards released his weekly “Playoff Predictor” on Tuesday.  According to Edwards, the predictor will “use ESPN’s Football Power Index and the eye test to determine which teams are still alive in the chase for the inaugural College Football Playoff.”

The rankings will account for perceived team strength (including injuries) and remaining schedule difficulty (including conference championship games).

In Tuesday’s predictor, Georgia is the lone SEC team predicted to make the playoff as the third seed.  Edwards has three teams as his “next three out” and four teams in “the pack.”

Here are the SEC teams represented in ESPN’s Playoff Predictor, according to Brad Edwards:

Front Four

3. Georgia
The teams best positioned to reach the playoff after week 1.  

FPI’s chance of winning out: 3.7 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 30.8 percent

Edwards is assuming for now that the SEC champion will be a lock to make the four-team playoff, and the Bulldogs looked like the best team in the conference for him.  Georgia’s schedule all of a sudden looks very favorable looking down the road.  The ‘Dawgs miss Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M and both Mississippi schools this season, and get Auburn at home, a game in which the FPI gives them a 52 percent chance to win.  Georgia may not face another top-20 team until the SEC title game.

Next three out
These teams are in striking distance, as long as they have enough weeks and/or top-10 opponents remaining.

7. Alabama
FPI’s chance of winning out: 2.3 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 17.2 percent

Edwards has his “next three” all coming from the SEC West.  It’s safe to believe the winner of the toughest division in college football has a good chance of getting in.  Even though Bama didn’t look all that impressive in their season-opening win over West Virginia, they’re still the west favorite because both Auburn and Texas A&M have to visit Tuscaloosa.

8. Auburn
FPI’s chance of winning out: 1.3 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 15.3 percent

Auburn’s offense looked in mid-season form in the win over Arkansas Saturday, but the Tigers’ schedule is brutal.  They have to go on the road to four of the top-16 teams in the FPI rankings.  Gus Malzahn’s team will need to survive a few of those games before its considered a legitimate contender.

9. Texas A&M
FPI’s chance of winning out: 1.0 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 9.6 percent

A&M had arguably college football’s most impressive win in week 1.  The Aggies still have several tough road tests, and will have to perform throughout the bulk of its SEC schedule.

The pack
This is an OK place to be in September, a position of concern by late October and a distressing spot by mid-November.

13. LSU Tigers
FPI’s chance of winning out: 0.2 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 2.9 percent

16. Ole Miss
FPI’s chance of winning out: 0.2 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 4.6 percent

20. Mississippi State
FPI’s chance of winning out: 0.6 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 7.7 percent

24. Florida Gators
FPI’s chance of winning out: 0.0 percent
FPI’s chance of winning the conference: 6.0 percent