Make your playoff predictions here!
The circus that is the College Football Playoffs is starting up later this week, and, as always, everyone has a LOT of opinions. Whether it’s the national angst that Alabama is in the playoffs or the random inclusion of Tulane and James Madison because a weird series of events stemming from all the major conferences getting too big gave them both auto-bids, there’s plenty of opinions out there that will quickly get proven right or swept away once the games start on the field.
And hey, Roll Bama Roll is a site of strong opinions, too, so here are my picks for each game of the playoffs this year. All odds are courtesy of the FanDuel sportsbook.
Round 1
#9 Alabama vs #8 Oklahoma
The Tide is currently favored by -1.5 despite playing in Norman. It’s pretty much a tossup game by the oddsmakers, but it does seem telling that Alabama is very slightly favored on the road. For what it’s worth, I also predict Alabama wins this. It’s going to be terribly ugly and we’re all going to feel awful afterwards, but Oklahoma only won last time on a pick-6, and I think Alabama at least avoids that while both offenses are engaged in a wet noodle fight. Something like 19-13 Alabama.
#10 Miami vs #7 Texas A&M
The Aggies are only favored by -3.5 here, despite being undefeated all the way up until the final game of the season. Most conventional wisdom says Texas A&M should win this one, but Miami has a QB who has a lot of big-game experience in Carson Beck, and Malachi Toney might be the most fun player in college football.
Meanwhile, I think Aggie is still smarting from their loss to Texas, and Battered Aggie Syndrome is still very much alive and real, and just waiting under their bed.
Let’s go with the upset here, Miami wins 35-31.
#20 Tulane vs #6 Ole Miss
What a joke. Ole Miss is favored by -17.5. They’ll cover. With the Kiffin drama now gone, I think this team is galvanized and absolutely blows out their first oppoenent.
#24 James Madison vs #5 Oregon
Another joke. Oregon is favored by -21.5 What a great playoff system, guys. Ducks win.
Round 2
#10 Miami vs #2 Ohio State
The Buckeyes will be favored by -9.5 in this one. Call me a little crazy, but I think Miami is hot at the right time and covers. I haven’t been a huge believer in OSU all season as they’ve coasted through their schedule. Still, picking the outright upset seems a bit too far.
You know what? Let’s just go out on a limb here: 28-27 Hurricanes
#5 Orgeon vs #4 Texas Tech
The Red Raiders are favored by -1.5 here. I think the Ducks are a perfectly good team, and are probably a bit more ready for big-time football. But I am a huge fan of the TTU defense, and I view that unit as something of a joker card here. Red Raiders advance in a solid win.
#9 Alabama vs #1 Indiana
The Sooners are favored by -6.5 here. Man, can you imagine the online discourse ahead of this game? The king of college football of the last 20 years, now the underdog to an upstart team that’s never been good… all with a coach who came up through Bama? If the Tide makes it to this game, it’ll likely be the most talked about game of the entire playoffs.
Unfortunately, I think the Alabama offense is just too broken at this point, and Indiana is, somehow, legitimately very good. 28-23 Hoosiers.
#6 Ole Miss vs #3 Georgia
The Bulldogs are favored by -5.5, and they should be. The Dogs have looked downright unbeatable outside of their game against Alabama, which they just avenged in a cathartic drubbing of Alabama in the SEC Championship. I do worry that getting that Alabama monkey off of their back may wind up carrying over into their next game the Dogs could be in for a let down… But, for now, I’m going to assume Kirby Smart keeps his team from falling victim to that and wins this one by 10.
Semifinals
#10 Miami vs #3 Georgia
Carson Beck playing his old team would make for some great entertaining storylines.
And also it’ll be a bloodbath. UGA wins and advances to the Natty. Yet again.
#4 Texas Tech vs #1 Indiana
I love the Red Raiders’ defense. Unfortunately for them, Indiana’s defense is just as good, AND they have an exceptional offense. It’s not a blowout, but this one’s never really in doubt either. Hoosiers advance.
National Championship
#3 Georgia vs #1 Indiana
My heart says Indiana. As does my head. But that nagging feeling in my gut says to never pick against UGA. The Dogs have only lost two games to teams not named Alabama in the last 5 seasons, and one of those was after their QB was injured.
Indiana has been fun – they have the Heisman winner, they’re the story of the year, and, by all metrics, are the best team in the country.
But with Kirby Smart in the the national championship game… How do you pick anyone else?
Bulldogs win. Again. And the rest of the country stays mad about the SEC.
Now’s your shot – give your entire playoff predictions in the comments below. When it’s all said and done, we’ll announce an RBR winner.
And in case we need a tie breaker – please predict the final total points scored in the Pinstripe Bowl of underachievers (Penn State vs Clemson).
Category: General Sports
