The College Football Playoff Preview
by Davidson Baker & Eli Milligan
DB:
Believe it or not, I went to school with Zach Terrell. Around six years ago, I was a freshman at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Zach Terrell was in his Junior year at Quarterback and I saw him torch defenses every Friday night. Basically what i'm saying is Zach Terrell and the fighting P.J. Fleck's have rowed the boat beautifully all season, and it's been a feel good story for many more people than just myself.
That being said, Wisconsin gets the chip off their shoulder and avoid a Boise State sized debacle.
Wisconsin 31 Western Michigan 20
It's that time of the year once again. The college football season is drawing to a climactic conclusion (or so we hope). The committee took heat week in and week out but felt as though they picked the BEST four teams to represent the third installment of the college football playoff. While the NCAA hopes the ratings can pick up from last years NYE debacle, the quality of the games will surely need to improve from a year ago if it has any chance to top last years woeful numbers.
What people often forget, is that when the committee formed, they had a vision of putting vital importance on not only the two semifinals, but all of the "New Year's Six" games. The common goal for every powerhouse team is to finish in the top four (for now, hopefully), but finishing your season with a berth into a game on the national stage isn't to shabby either. That being said, we took all six new year's six bowl games and gave our outlooks, things to watch for, and predictions.
Initials EM* denote text from Eli Milligan, DB* from Davidson Baker
CAPITAL ONE ORANGE BOWL
6) Michigan (-7.5) vs. 11) Florida State
EM:
Defense is the word here.... In one of the toughest conferences in football, Michigan allowed 105 points in said conference. In three games against non conference teams they allowed 45 points. Overall, 150 points given up on the season. On the flip side, Florida State's strength is in the secondary led by Senior Cornerback Marquez White, and by catalyst factorback Dalvin Cook. However, Michigan can beat you in so many different ways. Jabrill Peppers is the X-factor, he just adds another dimension to the defense. He can line up in the box as a hybrid safety to stop the run or even a full on linebacker if needed. His impact in the return game has to be noted. The defense will prove too much for Deondre Francois and company, and the Wolverines get the statement win here.
Michigan 23 Florida State 17
DB:
The only thing in my mind that Florida State has the edge in for this matchup is location. Essentially it's a home game for Jimbo's bunch. The Maize and blue will surely travel well though. Wilton Speight will be looking to shake off the haunting nightmare that sealed the Wolverines fate in this game, and I don't think Deondre Francois & Dalvin Cook have faced a defense quite like Jim Harbuagh's all year long. I expect this game to be a little more blown open than the experts think. I like the Wolverines by a couple of possessions as the maize and blue try to make a statement on the eve of the Playoff that they so desperately wanted to be a part of.
Michigan 28 Florida State 13
Michigan 28 Florida State 13
GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC
15) Western Michigan vs. 8) Wisconsin (-6.5)
EM:
There's no longer any secrets about Western Michigan, they can score. However the badgers are a great defensive team. At times this season the badgers have struggled to put points on the board against opponents equal to their skill level. Despite Western Michigan having a soft schedule they are riding high at 13-0 and have something to prove. Also, the way Wisconsin lost the Big 10 title game definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm calling the upset here as P.J. Fleck and company will row the boat to victory to cap off a historic season.
Western Michigan 31 Wisconsin 17
There's no longer any secrets about Western Michigan, they can score. However the badgers are a great defensive team. At times this season the badgers have struggled to put points on the board against opponents equal to their skill level. Despite Western Michigan having a soft schedule they are riding high at 13-0 and have something to prove. Also, the way Wisconsin lost the Big 10 title game definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. I'm calling the upset here as P.J. Fleck and company will row the boat to victory to cap off a historic season.
Western Michigan 31 Wisconsin 17
DB:
Believe it or not, I went to school with Zach Terrell. Around six years ago, I was a freshman at Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Zach Terrell was in his Junior year at Quarterback and I saw him torch defenses every Friday night. Basically what i'm saying is Zach Terrell and the fighting P.J. Fleck's have rowed the boat beautifully all season, and it's been a feel good story for many more people than just myself.
That being said, Wisconsin gets the chip off their shoulder and avoid a Boise State sized debacle.
Wisconsin 31 Western Michigan 20
ROSE BOWL
9) USC (-6.5) vs. 5) Penn State
EM:
As much as I LOVE Penn State. Like, really, I love this Penn State team. However, the Trojans have arguably been one of the best teams in CFB throughout the final six weeks of the season. Saed Blacknall had a monster game against Wisconsin and will test the talented secondary of the Trojans. But the offense that USC has compounded is going to be tough to stop. USC in September was averaging 359 YPG and since then they have averaged 524. In total defense they are 17th in the nation. If any team will test the legitimacy of Penn State's playoff claim it is USC. Fight on.
USC 38 Penn State 27
DB:
I think this is going to be the best game of all bowl games including the playoff games. This clash of two football powerhouse giants pits two of the hottest teams in college football against each other, and it just oozes with potential. Penn State has shocked the world week in and week out since their late September 49-10 embarrassment courtesy of Michigan. Since that game, the Nittany Lions are 9-0 and have beaten their opponents in those games by an average of almost three touchdowns. The Trojans are on fire too. Since their last loss against Utah, they have won 8 straight and beaten opponents by around 19 points per game. The tracksheets of these two teams are almost identical, which makes this game even more difficult to pick.
At the end of the day, Adoree Jackson and company will be too much for James Franklin's bunch, I like the trojans in a very tight contest.
USC 27 Penn State 24
EM: Baker mayfield, Dede Westbrook and Joe Mixon are incredible talents, NFL caliber players. Despite the recent news that has come out regarding Mixon, he got a get out of jail free card sitting out the season two years ago. Expect the high flying offense to power through the tiger defense. One of the most dynamic offenses in football and a playoff team from last year. Don't let the record fool you the Sooners are no slouches.
EM:
As much as I LOVE Penn State. Like, really, I love this Penn State team. However, the Trojans have arguably been one of the best teams in CFB throughout the final six weeks of the season. Saed Blacknall had a monster game against Wisconsin and will test the talented secondary of the Trojans. But the offense that USC has compounded is going to be tough to stop. USC in September was averaging 359 YPG and since then they have averaged 524. In total defense they are 17th in the nation. If any team will test the legitimacy of Penn State's playoff claim it is USC. Fight on.
USC 38 Penn State 27
DB:
I think this is going to be the best game of all bowl games including the playoff games. This clash of two football powerhouse giants pits two of the hottest teams in college football against each other, and it just oozes with potential. Penn State has shocked the world week in and week out since their late September 49-10 embarrassment courtesy of Michigan. Since that game, the Nittany Lions are 9-0 and have beaten their opponents in those games by an average of almost three touchdowns. The Trojans are on fire too. Since their last loss against Utah, they have won 8 straight and beaten opponents by around 19 points per game. The tracksheets of these two teams are almost identical, which makes this game even more difficult to pick.
At the end of the day, Adoree Jackson and company will be too much for James Franklin's bunch, I like the trojans in a very tight contest.
USC 27 Penn State 24
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
14) Auburn vs. 7) Oklahoma (-5.5)
EM: Baker mayfield, Dede Westbrook and Joe Mixon are incredible talents, NFL caliber players. Despite the recent news that has come out regarding Mixon, he got a get out of jail free card sitting out the season two years ago. Expect the high flying offense to power through the tiger defense. One of the most dynamic offenses in football and a playoff team from last year. Don't let the record fool you the Sooners are no slouches.
Oklahoma 41 Auburn 38
DB:
DB:
My Sooners had a disappointing season despite winning their last nine games and winning yet another Big 12 title. That says something, really. Goes to show you how disappointing the first three weeks were, with two losses to Houston and Ohio State it certainly deflated this team and gave them every reason to lie down and quit, which they obviously did not. Auburn is the second best team in a weak SEC, and has lacked the consistent solution at QB that team has desperately needed. It can definitely be a shootout in New Orleans here, with Oklahoma's offense being as explosive as their defense is putrid. The bias is coming out from me on this pick. Boomer Sooner, Stoops delivers another 11 win season with all the chips on the table for a magical run next season.
Oklahoma 45 Auburn 31
CHIK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL (College Football Playoff Semifinal #1)
4) Washington vs. 1) Alabama (-14.0)
EM:
Roll Tide.
Alabama 34 Washington 10
DB:
.........What he said.
CHIK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL (College Football Playoff Semifinal #1)
4) Washington vs. 1) Alabama (-14.0)
EM:
Roll Tide.
That is all.
Alabama 34 Washington 10
DB:
.........What he said.
I briefly considered giving UW the benefit of the doubt by noting the very down year the SEC had. That being said, Jake Browning's numbers in his two biggest games of the year are certainly less than stellar. Browning completed 43 % of his passes and averaged only 188 yards in those games. Jake Browning and the entire Washington football program for that matter will need to be nearly perfect to win this game. In a nutshell, Bama's repeat bid rolls on. (no pun intended)
Alabama 35 Washington 16
Alabama 35 Washington 16
PLAYSTATION FIESTA BOWL (College Football Playoff Semifinal #2)
3) Ohio State vs. 2) Clemson (-3.0)
EM:
Ohio State is bringing the salsa to Glendale. Deshuan Watson will bring the fire but Ohio State is playoff tested so cue the Herm Edwards soundbite because Urban Meyer plays to win the game.
Ohio State 31 Clemson 21
DB:
DB:
Deshaun Watson is the best player on the field in this game, and will need to play like it in order to set up the all-so-likely Title game rematch. Ohio State is led by J.T. Barrett and a vastly overlooked and underrated unit on defense led by Senior Linebacker Raekwon McMillan. The real question surrounding this clash will be which Deshaun Watson will show up to this game. Will it be the heisman trophy runner-up? Or will it be the often-times turnover prone Quarterback we've seen too often this season. For me, the margin of error is too thin with all the marbles on the table. The buckeyes defense will create turnovers and score off of them, something they do very well. That will surely decide the outcome in this mouthwatering matchup.
Ohio State 27 Clemson 23
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
3) Ohio State vs. 1) Alabama
EM:
It will be a blood bath outlined by the two best coaches in college football squaring off. Interesting to note that both Saban and Meyer are Bellichick disciples (yet another testament to his greatness). But I think this time Saban wins and his defense will show up and show the buckeyes out. Because they are REALLY GOOD in case you haven't noticed. Even if the SEC myth is real Alabama is the best team point blank they are built to win this game. The buckeyes will not go down without a fight, but they will go down. So bring on the Bear Bryant Vs. Nick Sabah argument because he will get yet another ring in Tampa on January 9th.
Alabama 23 Ohio State 17
DB:
This one shapes up to be an absolute classic. The upbringing of these two legends of the sport tells a tale of two coaches that both got their first head man gigs at rival schools, Saban at Toledo in 1990 and Meyer at I-75 rival Bowling Green in 2001. The all time meeting tally is tied at 2 a piece, with all four games coming at neutral sites. Meyer won with Florida in 2008, but then watched Saban's Bama teams win the following two years after. Meyer then struck revenge in the Sugar Bowl semifinal in 2014, and now assuming we have this rematch, I'm sure it would certainly not lack fireworks.
Enough with the history lesson, this game has the potential to be legendary. NFL type bodies will be flying all over both sides of the ball on both sidelines. Jonathon Allen will have his hands full trying to wreck havoc on a very experienced and talented offensive front for Ohio State. This game has deja vú written all over it, Ohio State just like two years ago, is very young and inexperienced on both sides of the ball. The recipe is proving to be cooking for an Ohio State upset like two years ago. At the end of the day, Jalen Hurts can become a mainstay household name in his true freshman campaign with a stellar performance in Tampa on January 9th. I believe the Crimson Tide are a little too talented for the Bucks in this powerhouse program clash for all the marbles.
Alabama 27 Ohio State 17
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