College Football Playoff Semi-Finals
Alabama (#1) - TCU (#4): Kansas gave TCU fits, you’d better believe that Alabama head coach Nick Saban will look that tape multiple times. Alabama 40, TCU 17
Oregon (#2) - Florida State (#3): Florida State has the firepower to keep up with Oregon, but their one good half, one bad half performances will get them killed here. Oregon 55, Florida State 21.
National Championship Game
Alabama - Oregon. The cheap and easy scouting report is that “Alabama will struggle with Oregon’s team speed.” The harder and correct scouting report is “Oregon can’t deal with Alabama’s toughness and the Alabama coaching staff wouldn't take any of Oregon's coaches for any role whatsoever.” Alabama 35, Oregon 28.
The rest of the Playoff system bowls (note: this is based on the voting of who is the appropriate team at this moment):
Rose Bowl: UCLA (Pac 12 rep) - Ohio State (Big Ten rep). Ohio State is rising up the charts after beating Michigan State. It’s hard to see them as anything other than beating creampuffs. UCLA 31, Ohio State 20.
Sugar Bowl: Mississippi State (SEC rep) - Baylor (Big 12 rep). Baylor is a good team, but they only look good against lesser teams. Mississippi State is too big, too fast and too mean for team. Mississippi State 35, Baylor 20.
Orange Bowl: Duke (ACC rep) - Ole Miss (at large). This will get ugly. Ole Miss 45, Duke 6.
Cotton: Marshall (Group of 5 rep) - Georgia (at large). This also will get ugly. Marshall is bad even by Group of 5 standards. Georgia 64, Marshall 10.
Fiesta Bowl: Michigan State (at large) - Kansas State (at large). Michigan State is hard to figure out. They have a good defense + running game and a top flight pro prospect at QB. Yet they underwhelm. They’ll underwhelm in this game also. Kansas State 30, Michigan State 17.
Peach Bowl: Arizona State (at large) - Auburn (at large). Arizona State hasn’t seen anything like Auburn’s offense. Auburn 70, Arizona State 30.