Monday, January 20, 2025

CFP National Championship - Ohio State vs Notre Dame

     It always comes too fast, but my football friends, we have reached the final College Football game until August. Ohio State and Notre Dame are set to battle for the first ever, 12-Team Playoff National Championship. This post will cover everything you need to know about the big game tonight. Both teams have had incredible seasons with ups and downs to get to this finale, but here we go, it's time to crown a National Champion!


CFP National Championship

#8 Ohio State vs #7 Notre Dame

     Both the Buckeyes and Irish had their stumbles throughout the season, but once the playoffs started, these two teams proved the be the most resilient. The Buckeyes hosted Tennessee for a 42-17 drubbing followed by a trip to the Rose Bowl where they dismantled the #1 ranked Oregon Ducks 41-21, avenging a loss from the regular season. Finally, they earned their place in this game by outlasting Texas in a closer than expected fight with the Longhorns, winning with a sack, scoop and score to punch their ticket with a 28-14 score. Ohio State's defense has been sensational throughout the entirety of this season, but especially during the playoffs. They're giving up just over 17 points per game in the playoffs and are allowing just a 38% conversion rate on third down for their opponents. Ohio State has also racked up 16 sacks over their 3 playoff games, flexing their muscle on the line of scrimmage with one of the nation's best pass rushes. Notre Dame has done well to manage the line of scrimmage, but did lose the rushing battle to Penn State in the semifinal game. The Irish don't give up a tremendous amount of sacks, primarily due to Riley Leonard's rushing ability. Ohio State will have a tall task containing him in the pocket, as he averages nearly 60 yards per game on the ground. Complimented by Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price in the backfield, this could most difficult rushing attack Ohio State has faced all season. This will be the focal point of Notre Dame's attack as they aren't known for big plays downfield. They rank 58th in plays of 20+ yards, and with Ohio State's pass rush bearing down, I don't expect a ton of success in the passing game. They need to execute well on the early downs, especially running, so third and long situations are heavily focused on the downfield pass. This is one of my first keys of the game for both teams, Ohio State needs to force Notre Dame into passing situations so they can unleash the pass rush, and Notre Dame needs to run the ball with all three of their stars to keep the defense on their heels. My second key is one of the primary indicators of victory in almost every game of football, turnovers. Notre Dame leads the nation in takeaways with 32. Ohio State has done fairly well to take care of the rock, but Will Howard has 10 picks on the season including 2 in the playoffs. The Fightin' Irish defense is always in good position, so throws need to be extremely accurate and ball carriers will have to cover with two arms heading into traffic. Extra possessions in short fields will quickly tip the scales in this game. Last, but certainly not least, the final key to victory is star power. Both of these teams have very impressive rosters, but Ohio State has been dubbed all season long as the "best roster that money can buy". The NIL world has opened up so many new strategies to roster building, and both teams have taken advantage of the portal. If Ohio State can get the ball into the hands of their star players consistently, they should win this game. Notre Dame has playmakers, you don't get to a National Championship game without them, but there are few players in the nation that can compete with Jeremiah Smith. The true freshman has 1,227 yards with 14 TDs and was embarrassing secondaries in the first two playoff games. Texas had a game plan to take him out of the game and it worked, he had 1 catch for 3 yards. Notre Dame has a great secondary and they love to play man-to-man coverage. This is likely going to be challenged early by Ohio State as they want Smith to have shots downfield, especially one-on-one. Containing Smith for two straight games will be a challenge, we'll see if Notre Dame is up for it. All of these factors are my focal points of the game, and I'm sure they're front of mind for head coaches Ryan Day and Marcus Freeman. Day has been torn apart for falling in the big games, and most importantly against Michigan during his career. Marcus Freeman is in just year 3 as the head man, and even as a Buckeye alum, he's all in with Notre Dame. This team clearly loves him, and honestly, college football does too. I find myself rooting for Notre Dame more often than not (much to the delight of my Uncle Joe), and his decision making and coaching game plan truly inspire me as a young coach. The full team hockey switch from punt to the offense against Georgia was one of the smartest and well executed coaching moves I have seen in all my years covering college football, and for that reason I'm picking the Irish. Ohio State is uber talented, they have a majority of the stats in their favor, but again, they've been inconsistent. Separate of that loss to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame has not flinched and Marcus Freeman is my true X factor to tip the scale. Irish win the Natty 23-21.


Thank you for reading my National Championship predictions and enjoy the game!


#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Back to where it all began. Four Team Playoff!

      Hello Football Fans and welcome to semi-final week! We've made it back to the beginning some would say as we have 4 teams remaining in the playoffs. Notre Dame vs Penn State and Ohio State vs Texas for the two semi-final games. This post will preview both of those games as we inch closer to the championship on January 20th. Thanks for reading and enjoy!


CFP Semifinal: Capital One Orange Bowl

#7 Notre Dame vs #6 Penn State

     The Irish and Nittany Lions meet in South Florida as both Marcus Freeman and James Franklin look to be the first black head coach to lead their team into a national championship appearance. A lot more than just history is on the line as both programs have been missing that top level win since the calendar year started with a 19. James Franklin and Penn State are 1-14 versus AP top 5 teams during his tenure, but the benefit of the extended field playoff has his team finally sitting in the semifinals. Drew Allar has been taking care of the ball well this season, just 7 picks on the year. He hasn't done anything spectacular in the first two playoff games, so Notre Dame's 8th ranked defense will be a major test of his decision making abilities. One key stat around him is that he's been sacked 5 times in the two playoff games against SMU and Boise State, so look for Notre Dame to apply extra pressure and razzle him. Both teams rely heavily on the rushing attack, and this is where I believe Penn State has an edge. Two 1,000+ backs, in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton have been demolishing defenses all year long. Both backs have tremendous vision and almost always find a way to gash the defense for 8 yard runs at least once or twice a drive. Notre Dame has stuffed some of the more prolific rushing attacks in the nation, but stopping these two is another beast. Offensively for the Irish, their run game is led by RB Jeremiyah Love and QB Riley Leonard. Love is a bit questionable for this one after being banged up against Georgia, so expect to see a good dose of Jadarian Price mixed in. There's a good chance we won't see much of (if any) Abdul Carter, the star defensive end for Penn State, so expect Notre Dame to run toward his vacancy. Neither team has tremendous talent out on the edges, so I wouldn't expect a particularly high scoring affair. This should be old-school, hard-nosed, grind it out football. Penn State Tight End Tyler Warren could get some favorable matchups against Notre Dame's safeties, but with pressure on Drew Allar it could be difficult to throw downfield. I've picked against Penn State the entire playoffs, mostly because I just loved SMU and Boise State more, but the Nittany Lions always prove me wrong. Notre Dame has been steady as a rock since the lost to Northern Illinois (welcome to the Mountain West by the way), so both teams bring a lot of consistency to the table, beating the teams they should. I do want to see an all BIG 10 Championship to shut up all the narratives, so I'll pick Notre Dame and expect Penn State to prove me wrong yet again. Hoping my "good luck" from my predictions will rub off on the Irish in honor of my Uncle Joe who will be thrilled I picked his team to go to the Championship. Irish win with some key turnovers and pressure on Drew Allar 26-23.


CFP Semifinal: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

#8 Ohio State vs #5 Texas

     There are only a few matchups I'd root for the giant meteor more than this one, but nonetheless, Ohio State and Texas are set to meet in the College Football semifinal. Oddly enough, the hopes of the SEC rest on the shoulders of the Longhorns, one of their newest members who just finished their first season in the conference. Despite all the talk about how many extra spots should be reserved for the SEC, they are in danger of not having a team in the National Championship game for the second straight season. Texas escaped being pushed into the fires of Hell by the Sun Devils in a 39-31 double overtime win. The Longhorns star kicker missed two game winning field goals late in the 4th, and Arizona State was a 4th and 13 stop in the first overtime from being in this semifinal game. Credit to Texas and Quinn Ewers is due because they stepped up with the pitchfork at their throat to make some big time plays in overtime. However, this was a very typical style for Texas this season. Not necessarily the overtime comeback, but if you watched that game, you saw Texas hit some big plays early and then sit on their lead doing nothing for a majority of the game. Their defense held strong for a while, but I think if you have him enough attempts at it, Cam Skattebo would break down the Wall of China simply by running into it so many times. He wore down the Longhorn defense and led the comeback for Arizona State. I'm not sure Ohio State will be in too deep of a hole they will need to forge a comeback, but it is proven that it can be done. The Texas offense is extremely unimpressive once you shut down the run. Until proven otherwise, I will continue to be a Quinn Ewers critic because he has not been impressive their past few games. Versus Texas A&M he had two redzone turnovers and a pick 6. Against Georgia he completed less than 60% of his passes and threw two picks. Against Clemson and Arizona State he had a pick each and some very inaccurate throws. Ohio State's defense will come after him early and often, they are the #1 defense in the nation and rank 3rd with 47 sacks. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel was sacked 21 times this season, 8 of them were from Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes look like a completely different team since the Michigan lost, and this is the team we expected all year long. Jeremiah Smith is an 19 year old man amongst 22 year old boys out there, racking up an average of 17.5 yards per catch. The Texas secondary hasn't seen a wide receiver corps as talented as this one and if Will Howard can keep playing at the level of the past couple of games, he will certainly be the best QB on the field in this game. There will be a large Texas crowd on hand in Dallas as this game is hosted at Jerry World, but make no mistake, Ohio State is ready to steam roll the Longhorns. It may not come as easy as it did against Tennessee and Oregon, especially with Texas looking to slow down the run, but I have Ohio State by at least two scores in this game. I don't think Texas' offense will be able to keep up once the Buckeyes get going and unless Quinn Ewers can play absolutely mistake free football, the SEC National Champion hopes will die with Texas losing 34-21 in the semifinals. Horns down and I'll go with the BIG 10 Buckeyes.


Thanks for reading my CFP semifinal predictions! Enjoy the games and be sure to watch for my Championship Predictions post along with others.


#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

December 31st - January 4th Bowl Games & CFP Round 2

      Welcome to the final week of Bowl Games! Holiday travels once again had me miss a game, but we all know I wouldn't pick Iowa to win. This post has a full slate with the rest of the Bowl Games along with my predictions for Round 2 of the College Football Playoffs. No time to waste, so let's get to the picks.


ReliaQuest Bowl

#11 Alabama vs Michigan

     We kick things off with a rematch of last year's semi-final game in the Rose Bowl between Alabama and Michigan. While we may not get all the fireworks from last year's matchup, this game has potential to spark some HEATED debates throughout College Football social media. With all the complaints that Alabama should be in over Indiana and SMU following round 1, the SEC faithful better pray this game doesn't go the way of the Wolverines. We saw Michigan absolutely smash Ohio State at the line of scrimmage, giving up just 77 rush yards in that win. Alabama's success this season has gone almost entirely with the performance of QB Jalen Milroe. His up and down play throughout the year has been difficult to overcome in some games, leading to their 9-3 record with 3 conference losses all on the road. He's expected to play in this one, and should have an opportunity to shine as Michigan will be missing a few key players who are opting out ahead of the NFL draft. Defensive Tackle Mason Graham is the big name that will be missing, but their lackluster offense will also be without Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, the top two rushing threats for the Wolverines. I still like the Maize & Blue to stifle up the run game a bit more than Bama would like, but unfortunately the firepower leans the way of the tide. Michigan can certainly cause headaches, but Bama will get revenge for last season. Roll Tide 23-14. I would love to see all the SEC fans handle a Bama loss in this game though.


Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

Louisville vs Washington

     Jeff Brohm's second season in Louisville didn't quite follow the hype of the first one, but with all 4 losses coming by 1 score, the Cardinals are just on the edge of breaking into the top ranks. They'll take on a Washington team that followed up a National Championship appearance with a 6-6 record. This was obviously impacted by the departure of HC Kalen Deboer and a number of impact players leaving, but I think Jedd Fisch has things moving in the right direction after his first season. The Huskies ranked 40th in scoring defense, allowing just 22.8 points per game and are +3 in turnover margin. Good signs as they head into year 2 with the BIG 10 conference. For this game, both teams will be missing a number of key defensive players who have left for the portal, and their starting QBs from throughout the season. Washington Freshman QB Demond Williams Jr. has played a bit throughout the season, but stepped in against Oregon and played well with 201 yards and 1 TD through the air. Hopefully he'll have RB Jonah Coleman to support him. For the Cardinals, there won't be many options for offensive production as QB Tyler Shough, top WR Ja'Corey Brooks and other offensive weapons are all opting out or in the portal. The ACC has not faired well in Bowl Games, so give me a BIG 10 victory with the Huskies winning behind rising star Demond Williams Jr. 27-21.


Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

#15 South Carolina vs #20 Illinois

     South Carolina was one of the hottest teams making a push through the back half of the season, winning 6 straight games to finish things out. Close losses to LSU & Alabama kept them from being a top team in the SEC, but they're a young team with a lot of their production coming back. It all starts with QB LaNorris Sellers who nearly 3,000 total yards and 24 total TDs. The freshman QB was dynamic for the Gamecocks this year and should cause a number of headaches to the Illinois defense who gave up over 220 rushing yards to both Oregon and Penn State earlier this season. The Illini did receive good news as QB Luke Altmeyer will be returning for next season, but he'll be without star wideout Pat Bryant in this bowl game. It would be great to have another BIG 10 victory in this game, but I don't know if the Illini have the gumption to stop Sellers and company. They won't have to deal with RB Raheim (Rocket) Sanders or Defensive End Kyle Kennard from South Carolina, but I like the Gamecocks to win here. South Cackalacky 30, Illinois 17.


Kinder's Texas Bowl

Baylor vs LSU

     A very surprising season from the Baylor Bear lands them in a bowl game with a very frustrating season from LSU. The Tigers opened things up in 2024 with a last second loss to USC, and then had 6-game winning streak until they were thoroughly beat down by Texas A&M, Alabama & Florida in a 3-game run. The Tigers will have QB Garrett Nussmeier returning in 2025, but many of his weapons and protections will change, even for this bowl game. LSU is hit hard by the portal and players opting out for the NFL draft, so Brian Kelly will be looking for younger players to step up. Nussmeier has plenty of arm to push the ball down the field, but despite Baylor's 85th ranked pass defense, they do have 13 interceptions on the season. Three of those picks are from Safety Corey Gordon Jr. who has left for the transfer portal, but don't sleep on Dave Aranda having a good scheme built up for this one. Offensively, for the Bears, QB Sawyer Robertson took over the starting job (despite favored QB Dequan Finn from Toledo expecting to be the guy) and played very well this season, throwing for 2,626 yards with 26 TDs and 7 picks. He added another 4 TDs on the ground and will certainly give LSU headaches as they struggled with dual threat QBs late in the season on that 3-game losing skid. Dave Aranda will also be against a school he coached at previously, helping the Tigers win the 2019 National Championship as the Defensive Coordinator. This would be a major statement win for Aranda and the Bears, but a serious concerning loss for Brian Kelly and the Tigers. Something tells me things need to heat up a bit in Baton Rouge so give me the Bears for a fun win and some offseason drama being sparked. Sic 'Em 34-31.


Tax Slayer Gator Bowl

Duke vs #14 Ole Miss

     No one has been more vocal on their team being one of the best not to be included in the 12-team playoff than Rebels HC Lane Kiffin. Leading up to the Tennessee/Ohio State game, Kiffin made it very well known his team would have been a stronger opponent and likely even the victor in each of the first 3 playoff games. His phone must have stopped working after watching Tennessee get throttled by Ohio State, because we haven't heard another word from him, but nonetheless, this is is prove it moment. There are a number of key players on defense opting out of this game as they've already committed to other schools in the transfer portal, but Jaxson Dart is expected to play. He'll likely be without some of his top receiving threats, and the Blue Devils rank 35th in passing defense so that will be an interesting saga to watch. Unfortunately for Manny Diaz and the Duke faithful, starting QB Maalik Murphy has decided to transfer again (now to Oregon State). Murphy racked up 2,933 yards with 26 TDs and 12 picks on the year for the Blue Devils, while also adding 2 more TDs on the ground. The ex-Longhorn/Blue Devil will be replaced by Sophomore Henry Belin IV who has 1 career attempt and completion for 7 yards. This will be a bit of a trail by fire before Tulane transfer Darian Mensah comes in next season with his reported $8 million dollar NIL deal. I think Ole Miss should take care of things here, but beating an under-manned Duke team does not mean you should be in the playoffs. Win your regular season games. Rebels 38, Blue Devils 17.


SERVPRO First Responders Bowl

North Texas vs Texas State

     Unfortunately this game won't have much spark to it as a majority of the star players from each team are all off to new schools via the transfer portal. This is certainly a double-edged sword because it's great these players will get the opportunity to compete at a Power 4 level, but it practically decimates the G5 teams they're leaving, especially for Bowl Season. With so many starters on both sides of the ball out, it's really difficult to make any well-analyzed predictions. I'll take Texas State as the Mean Green had to beat Temple by 7 in the finale to get to this bowl game. Bobcats win 34 - 24 and be sure to watch for names like QB Chandler Morris (NT -> UVA), WR DT Sheffield (NT -> Rutgers), TE Oscar Hammond (NT -> Oregon State), RT, Alex Harkey (TS -> Oregon), RB Ismail Mahdi (TS -> Arizona) and DB Josh Eaton (TS -> Michigan State) at their new schools next year. 


Duke's Mayo Bowl

Minnesota vs Virginia Tech

     All but 1 loss for PJ Fleck and the Gophers came by 1 score this season, and their rugged defense ranked 10th in scoring, allowing just 17.5 points per game. Virginia Tech had a number of close calls of their own, losing 5 of their 6 by 1 score. I would expect this one to be close after both teams have battled all season, but one key stat stands out in this game. Third downs will determine this game because while the Gophers allow opponents to convert 39.75% of them, Virginia Tech is not far ahead allowing 39.55%. Flipping to each team's conversion rates, the Hokies are converting just over 37% while the Gophers are ranked 18th in the nation with 46.2%. If Minnesota can stay ahead of the chains and keep their run game going with RB Bhayshul Tuten (1,159 yards, 15 TDs & 6.3 ypc), they should find a path to victory. Virginia Tech has also been hit harder by the portal with multiple starters committing to other schools in the transfer portal. Give me another BIG 10 over ACC win as the Gophers take it 26-21.


Bahamas Bowl

Buffalo vs Liberty

     The Bulls and the Flames meet in the Bahamas as the rest of us experience a polar weather set for early January. Liberty has a number of key players who have left in the transfer portal, but the biggest name is star QB Kaidon Salter who signed with the Prime Time Buffaloes. The school named Buffalo doesn't have many players leaving and are riding a 4-game win streak. I'll take the Bulls to win 38-20 in the Bahamas.


College Football Playoffs: Round 2

VRBO Fiesta Bowl

#6 Penn State vs #3 Boise State

     The first game of round 2 for the College Football Playoffs takes place in the desert as Penn State and Boise State meet in the Fiesta Bowl. Both teams have a lot of good history with this game as the Nittany Lions are 7-0 all time and the Broncos (very famously) are 3-0. Someone will have their first Fiesta Bowl loss tonight, and all eyes will be on Ashton Jeanty. Especially after Colorado was demolished by BYU and Travis Hunter was looking scared to make tackles, Jeanty has an even bigger stage to prove why he should have the Heisman trophy. He'll be up against the toughest run defense he's faced this season as Penn State ranks 7th allowing just 100 yards per game on the ground. They were gifted a few touchdowns from SMU as Kevin Jennings threw some pick sixes, but I think Boise's offense is ready for this moment. Utilizing Ashton Jeanty in the passing game will help alleviate some pressure and open up QB Maddux Madsen to start slinging it. He's got just 3 picks on the season, so if he can keep that number same by the time 2025 starts, Boise will be in good shape. For the Nittany Lions, Drew Allar and company have to be ready for a heavy pass rush. Boise State's defense has vulnerabilities, but they rank 2nd in the nation with 51 sacks, averaging just under 4 per game. Penn State's protection is strong, but Boise will be looking to keep them behind the chains and force some 3rd and longs. SMU did not live up to my upset predictions against Penn State, but Boise is better known for those. I'm still not convinced Penn State is the team to make a full championship run, but they always seem to beat the teams of lower talent. Jeanty is not a lower talent though, and I'm taking the Broncos behind a REAL Heisman performance with Ashton Jeanty. Boise State with another Fiesta Bowl shocker 29-27.


Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

#5 Texas vs #4 Arizona State

     Round 2's most predicted victory already has Texas waiting in the semi-finals according to most analysts. Arizona State is out-manned as they come into Atlanta without their leading receiver Jordyn Tyson. The did play without him in the Big XII Championship, but the Longhorn defense does pose a few more threats. Starting up front, they have 41 sacks on the season, so protection of QB Sam Leavitt will be key if the Sun Devils want to sustain drives. They will need to establish the run game, which isn't often difficult when you hand the ball to Cam Skattebo. He's also a dangerous weapon in the passing game, so Texas will need to key on him no matter where he goes on the field. Defensively for the Sun Devils, they need to stop the run. Quinn Ewers is prone to mistakes and if Arizona State can force more third down scenarios where they can potentially force turnovers due to longer throws, they could make this game interesting. The Sun Devils are +14 in turnover margin and have 15 picks on the season. I think many of the analysts are overlooking this team, especially when Texas' defense was torched for 336 yards through the air by Clemson last week. Look for Skattebo to have a big game, but I will lean to the Longhorns as their defense is eventually just overwhelming for opponents. There are multiple rumors of Quinn Ewers being offered multi-million dollar NIL deals despite still playing in the Playoffs right now, so we'll see what happens there. I don't think we'll see him in a Texas or an NFL uniform next season, but for now, he leads the Longhorns to a tougher win that most thought possible. Texas 31, Arizona State 21.


Rose Bowl

#8 Ohio State vs #1 Oregon

     The Granddaddy of them all once again features a BIG 10 and (former) PAC-12 matchup as Ohio State and Oregon meet for the second time this season. The Buckeyes looked like the best team in the nation against Tennessee, racking up 473 total yards and 42 points on the Vols. In the first meeting with Oregon, the Buckeyes had 467 yards while Oregon had 492, but turnovers played a big part as Ohio State lost two fumbles. This game is expected to be the best of round 2, and I hope we get the best of both teams. If Ohio State brings the team from against Tennessee, they'll be in good shape. Amazingly, they actually threw to their star wide receivers and had tremendous success when their best players had the ball in their hands. Shocking, I know, but expect more dynamic passing attacks as they challenge the Ducks 9th ranked pass defense. Oregon is coming off their BYE from the first round after beating Penn State 45-37 in the BIG 10 Championship. Drew Allar threw for 226 with 3 TDs and 2 picks in that game, so success through the air is possible against the Ducks. Offensively though, few teams have been able to slow down Oregon. Heisman Finalist Dillon Gabriel has been stellar this season at QB for the Ducks, completing 73.2% of his passes and utilizing his legs to keep from taking many sacks, only 13 all year. Senior wideout Tez Johnson is a very dangerous downfield threat, but as usual for the Ducks, my key player is RB Jordan James. He always seems to have the big run at the right time and can keep the chains moving for Oregon. Ohio State didn't have to deal with star RB Dylan Sampson from Tennessee due to his injury, but James will bring a punch to the Buckeye defense they didn't see in the first round. I'll have to break my rule of not wanting to play a team twice in the same season, but I think Dan Lanning and Oregon have things rolling in the right direction. Another Rose Bowl thriller as the Ducks edge out the Buckeyes 27-24.


Allstate Sugar Bowl

#7 Notre Dame vs #2 Georgia

     The final game of round 2 features the Fighting Irish against the Georgia Bulldogs. Despite their first round BYE, the Bulldogs won't be fully healthy as starting QB Carson Beck had surgery following an injury suffered against Texas in the SEC Championship. Sophomore QB Gunner Stockton will step in and attempt to lead Georgia to the semi-final round. His rushing ability opens up some new opportunities in the offensive play calling, but Notre Dame's defense is not an easy one to navigate. They will be without star defensive lineman Rylie Mills, so there could be a few more rush lanes, but they often close quickly with the speed of their linebackers. Offensively for the Irish they don't bring anything spectacular to the table, but a consistent pummeling from the run game of Jeremiah Love and Riley Leonard. They lead a rushing attack that ranks 11th in the nation with nearly 225 yards per game on average. I expect this to be a low-scoring defensive match, but with an inexperienced QB, I'll take the Irish to beat Georgia. I was expecting an Oregon/Georgia finale, but I'm not sure they'll have enough to overcome the injury to Carson Beck. We'll see if they prove me wrong, but I'll take Notre Dame 20-14.


Thanks for reading my bowl and playoff predictions! Enjoy all the games and Happy New Year to all as we head into 2025 with more chaos ahead for College Football. I'll have a Husker Bowl Game/Season reflection post soon along with more playoff predictions as we move into the semi-final round.


#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando