Introduction to the College Football Playoff
How old are we, dear friends? Old enough to have lived to see Indiana favored against Alabama in a football game. We’ve had a couple of years to let this out-of-nowhere, Curt Cignetti-led Hoosiers rise sink in, and the same amount of time to witness the subtle, yet unmistakable, decline of the post-Nick Saban Crimson Tide from ultimate superpower to College Football Playoff bubble dweller.
The Rise and Fall of Football Powerhouses
IU — basketball school no longer? Bama — nothing extra-special? Answer among yourselves. And while you’re doing that, ask yourselves if you can point to a time when Miami began to fall — hard — from superpower status while Ohio State started to ascend toward its football peak. I was at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., when the seemingly invincible 2002 Hurricanes — who rode in on a 34-game winning streak — were upset by the double-digit-underdog Buckeyes in double overtime for the national title. There haven’t been many nights like it.
The Current State of College Football
Miami finished the following season ranked fifth in the country but hasn’t ended up in the top 10 or with fewer than three losses since. OSU, meanwhile, is working on what would be its 16th top-five finish over the same period — if it successfully gets past the Canes. The playoff quarterfinals are here, with Texas Tech-Oregon and Georgia-Ole Miss as the other matchups. Let’s get to some predictions:
Cotton: No. 2 Ohio State (12-1) vs. No. 10 Miami (11-2)
Time, TV, location: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, ESPN, Arlington, Texas. Line: Ohio State -9½. Winner gets: Georgia or Ole Miss. Last we saw the Buckeyes, they were losing 13-10 to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game. So much for going 16-0. Instead, it’s the Hoosiers who have a chance to achieve that FBS first. But are the Buckeyes still the real best team in the land? They do have the best odds to win it all. They’d be favored in a rematch against the Hoosiers, at least for now. And if they overwhelm Miami, is anyone honestly going to be surprised?
Orange: No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1) vs. No. 5 Oregon (12-1)
Time, TV, location: 11 a.m. Thursday, ESPN, Miami. Line: Oregon -2½. Winner gets: Indiana or Alabama. Will Tech duo David Bailey and Romello Height, who have 22½ sacks between them, live in the backfield against the Ducks? It seems unlikely. Oregon’s offensive line finished as runner-up for the Joe Moore award, which goes to the best wall o’ beef in the country. With excellent pass blockers and a mobile quarterback in Dante Moore, the Ducks should be able to handle themselves. Oregon’s size and speed on defense will challenge the Red Raiders, who didn’t encounter an opponent this athletic in the Big 12.
Rose: No. 1 Indiana (13-0) vs. No. 9 Alabama (11-3)
Time, TV, location: 3 p.m. Thursday, ESPN, Pasadena, Calif. Line: Indiana -7. Winner gets: Texas Tech or Oregon. In the first round, Alabama rallied from a 17-0 deficit to win at Oklahoma. If that doesn’t scare the Hoosiers, nothing will. My money’s on “nothing will.” “You probably know more about the [Alabama] mystique than they do,” coach Curt Cignetti said in regard to his players. “Our guys just know what they see on tape.” On tape, the Crimson Tide can be found looking nothing like a true contender to win it all. That’s just reality.
Sugar: No. 3 Georgia (12-1) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1)
Time, TV, location: 7 p.m. Thursday, ESPN, New Orleans. Line: Georgia -6½. Winner gets: Ohio State or Miami. This is a rematch of a fantastic mid-October game, which Georgia won 43-35 at home after trailing most of the way. But there’s no forgetting how brilliant the Bulldogs looked during a fourth quarter in which they dominated the Rebels 17-0. That’s when the real Georgia stood up, and this team has been up ever since. The 28-7 revenge win against Alabama in the SEC championship was a serious exclamation point.
Conclusion
The stage is set for an exciting College Football Playoff, with several top teams vying for a spot in the championship game. The Big Ten’s Buckeyes, Hoosiers, and the Ducks are all looking strong, but only time will tell if they can make it to the semifinals. With their impressive performances and skilled players, these teams are certainly contenders, but they will face tough competition from other teams like Georgia and Ole Miss.
FAQs
Q: Who are the top contenders for the College Football Playoff?
A: The top contenders include the Big Ten’s Buckeyes, Hoosiers, and the Ducks, as well as Georgia and Ole Miss.
Q: What are the predictions for the Cotton, Orange, Rose, and Sugar games?
A: The predictions are: Buckeyes 24-13 over Miami, Oregon by a touchdown over Texas Tech, IU 27-21 over Alabama, and Georgia 38-24 over Ole Miss.
Q: What is the schedule for the playoff games?
A: The schedule includes the Cotton game on Wednesday, the Orange and Rose games on Thursday, and the Sugar game on Thursday.
Q: Who are the key players to watch in the playoff games?
A: Some key players to watch include David Bailey and Romello Height of Texas Tech, Dante Moore of Oregon, and the skilled players of the Buckeyes, Hoosiers, and Georgia.
