Rivalry
Brief Recap of Conference Championship Week
– Boise St. 21 UNLV 7
Ashton Jeanty is a phenomenal player and reminded the nation that on Friday night of conference championship weekend, but it was Boise St.’s defense that stole the show. Holding a potent UNLV offense to 7 points.
– Arizona St. 45 Iowa St. 19
Arizona St. let the world know that they aren’t just a hot team, they are good. Their top receiver was out in this game in Jordyn Tyson, but that didn’t slow down their offense from dropping 45 on the Cyclones head.
– Georiga 22 Texas 19
Carson Beck hurt his elbow on his throwing arm during this game, so naturally Georgia lost…right? WRONG. Georgia found a way, and took the Longhorns to the butcher shop, winning on a 5-yard rushing TD in overtime.
– Oregon 45 Penn St. 37
Does this game say more about Oregon or Penn St.? I think it shows that there are flaws in the phenomenal Penn St. defense and Oregon, despite being undefeated, is vulnerable as well.
– Clemson 34 SMU 31
Clemson scored 21 points in the 1st quarter and then took their foot off the gas for the remaining 3 quarters. On the flip side, SMU scored 7 in the 1stquarter and then went nuclear in the 2nd half. Clemson still hasn’t played a full game of football yet and SMU is a threat to everyone in this year’s College Football Playoff.
1. 10 Indiana at 7 Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl Bracket)
Indiana proved to us that they aren’t just a Cinderella by going 11-1 and not getting out talented by Ohio St. in their late season matchup. Notre Dame looked vulnerable early on, but went on a rampage for the remaining 10 games, beating teams by an average of 30.7 pts. I think the key stat for this game is Indiana’s ability to stop the run – ranking 1st in the country in rush defense – which I think will cause the Irish to get creative with their running game. Look to see Riley Leonard and company to do a lot of QB runs, sweeps, and multi-back sets to throw the Hoosiers of their game. Despite that, I think the Hoosiers will make Riley Leonard have to beat them through the air, which won’t be enough – upset in the first game of the 12-team CFP.
Indiana 24 Notre Dame 20
Indiana +7.5
Under 51.5
2. 11 SMU at 6 Penn St. (Fiesta Bowl Bracket)
SMU is getting very disrespected in this matchup as the national media has essentially already crowned Penn St. a CFP semi-finalist by claiming Penn St. has the easiest path. As Lee Corso likes to say, not so fast my friend. Enter SMU and their legitimate rush defense that ranks 4th in the country and an offense that’s 6th in the country in scoring offense – that doesn’t happen by accident. Penn St. has beaten everyone this year by running the football well, putting Drew Allar in advantageous passing situations, and playing lights out defense. I think SMU is able to put Penn St. behind the sticks enough to make Drew Allar throw the football 25+ times (has only done this 5 times this year) and the Mustangs make it two upsets in a row to start the CFP.
SMU 31 Penn St. 27
SMU +8.5
Over 53.5
3. 12 Clemson vs 5 Texas (Peach Bowl Bracket)
Clemson has yet to play a full game to their potential this year – which could bode very well or horribly for the Tigers, depending on if they buck the trend or stay “consistent” with that. Texas has beaten teams this year by playing lights out defense and giving their offense numerous opportunities to put teams away. Clemson comes in as healthy as they have been all year in the wide receiver room with Tyler Brown being back, freshman phenoms Bryant Wesco and TJ Moore, and war-daddy Antonio Williams, which they will need with Texas being the number 1 pass defense in the country and top 5 in 20+ yard plays allowed. This game, in my opinion, will come down to 2 key stats – turnovers and tackles for loss allowed. Texas is 113th in the country in turnovers lost and Clemson is 8th in the country in forcing turnovers. Texas is 118th in the country in tackles for loss allowed and Clemson is 21st in the country in tackles for loss. Things will not be “alright, alright, alright” for Matthew McConaughey as the ROY Bus is cranked up, full of gas, and Dabo steals one in Austin.
Clemson 27 Texas 25
Clemson +11.5
Over 51.5
4. 9 Tennessee at 8 Ohio St. (Sugar Bowl Bracket)
This game has been the hardest for me to predict as both Tennessee and Ohio St. are very similar – Tennessee is inconsistent at wide receiver and Ohio St. is inconsistent at corner, Ohio St. and Tennessee both have average QB play, and both have suffocating defenses. When teams are this close and you’re in playoff games, the game will come down to about 6 plays and I trust Jeremiah Smith and the Buckeyes offensive weapons more than I do the Volunteers. Give me the Buckeyes to win on a late Jeremiah Smith big play.
Ohio St. 20 Tennessee 17
Tennessee +7.5
Under 46.5
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