CFB Playoff Preview & Predictions

            The college football regular season has been played and the College Football Playoff Final Four has been set. It hasn’t gotten to this point without huge speculation and controversy and teams being left out. Teams with good resumes like Penn State (11-2, Big Ten Champions), Michigan (10-2) & Oklahoma (10-2, Big 12 Champions). 

The final four has been set and goes as follows:

#1. Alabama (13-0, SEC Champions)

#2. Clemson (12-1, ACC Champions)

#3. Ohio State (11-1, Share of Big Ten East Division Champions)

#4. Washington (12-1, Pac-12 Champions)

Matchups Will Be

#1 Alabama vs. #4 Washington

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

2PM CST ESPN

#2 Clemson vs. #3 Ohio State

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

6PM CST ESPN

           

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide		#4 Washington Huskies
	Quarterback	^^^
^	Running Back	^
	Wide Receivers	^^^
^^^	Tight Ends
^^^	Offensive Line
^^^	Defensive Line
^^^	Linebackers
^^^	Cornerback	^^^
^^^	Safeties
^^^	Special Teams

            This game should be closer than a lot of people expect it to be. I feel Washington has more offensive firepower as terms as explosive plays than Alabama. If Washington finds ways to make those explosive plays against Alabama’s stout defense and make the game a shootout, it’s going to be tougher game for Alabama. I feel Washington QB Jake Browning can spread the ball to his playmakers around the field. The thing that Alabama defenses historically have had a struggle with is mobile QB’s that can throw as well and Jake Browning just doesn’t have the mobility to make them fear that. QB Jalen Hurts has been tremendous as far as his running ability but when forced to make the necessary throws down the field he’s struggled a bit on that aspect. If Washington can take his legs away and make him throw consistently they have a shot to pull off the upset.

My Pick: Alabama 31-20

PlayStation Fiesta Bowl

#2 Clemson Tigers		#3 Ohio State Buckeyes
^^^	Quarterback	^^^
	Running Back	^^^
^^^	Wide Receivers
^^^	Tight Ends	^^^
	Offensive Line	^^^
^^^	Defensive Line
	Linebackers	^^^
	Cornerback	^^^
^^^	Safeties	^^^
^^^	Special Teams

            Now I’m going to say this beforehand I’m going to try hard not to be so bias with me being a huge Ohio State fan in all. This matchup will be the more competitive of the 2 Semi-Final matchups. This game will be a more physical brand of football which favors Ohio State because of the more dominant running game and offensive line. If it becomes a shootout it favors Clemson because of Clemson QB Deshaun Watson & his ability to thrown the ball down the field, and Ohio State & QB J.T. Barrett hasn’t kept a consistent passing game all season long. Ohio State’s defensive backfield with S Malik Hooker & CB Gareon Conley among others can make life difficult for the Clemson receivers. It will be a closely contested contest with Ohio State running the ball to keep Deshaun Watson off the field.

My Pick: Ohio State 28-24

National Championship Game

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide		#3 Ohio State Buckeyes
^^^	Quarterback	^^^
	Running Back	^^^
^	Wide Receivers	^
^^^	Tight Ends
^^^	Offensive Line	^^^
^^^	Defensive Line
	Linebackers
^^^	Cornerback	^^^
^^^	Safeties	^^^
^^^	Special Teams

            This National Championship game is going to be similar to the 2014-15 National Semi-Final Sugar Bowl game. Both teams play a very physical brand of football. Both teams pound the rock a ton. Both teams have mobile QB’s that can create plays with their legs. Both teams had more talented rosters in the 14-15 game they still play the same style of football. This matchup is a toss-up pick’em kind of game and will be hard to choose a winner. Ohio State has the one thing that exposes Alabama’s weakness which is a mobile QB in QB J.T. Barrett. Will the National Championship pressure make Alabama Freshman QB Jalen Hurts crack? Ohio State offensive has more to throw at the Alabama defense than the Alabama offense can throw at the Ohio State defense despite having the big TE O.J. Howard. It will be a chess matchup between Alabama HC Nick Saban & Ohio State HC Urban Meyer. Each coach will have specific game plans for each other and will make the matchup that much more intriguing.

My Pick: Ohio State Wins the National Championship

31-28