The staff at Fighting Irish Wire pick the winners of the College Football Playoff semifinals. Find out who we think will play for a championship.
I for one, hate the long layoffs in the College Football Playoff, but the wait is over and the semifinals get started later tonight.
Tonight the festivities start as the Ole Miss Rebels will face the Miami Hurricanes. It’s a Big Ten regular season rematch concludes the action, as the Oregon Ducks will take on the Indiana Hoosiers.
While many Notre Dame fans will be hate-watching the remainder of the CFP, and rightfully so, the games will still be played. FIW writers Tim Healy and Michael Chen give their best guesses as to who will play for a title in just over a week below.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Ole Miss Rebels - Tim Healey
My heart wants Miami to lose, because of the Notre Dame/Miami CFP debate. Even though I argued both teams should be in, and Alabama out, I didn't like how the Hurricanes' brass handled things. But Miami has been hard to bet against this playoff.
That said, the Hurricanes are on a heater and seemingly out to give me again, so…
Miami 31, Ole Miss 28.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Ole Miss Rebels - Michael Chen
This Miami team got hot at the right time, and has absolutely dominated in the trenches. They’ve made timely plays in the playoff, and have a very tough opponent in Ole Miss. You have to tip your cap to the Rebels, as they’ve continued to win despite their head coach Lane Kiffin bolting to LSU. The Hurricanes find a way to win in a slugfest.
Miami 24, Ole Miss 17
Oregon Ducks vs. Indiana Hoosiers - Tim Healey
Experience versus upstart talent. I am torn on this one -- Oregon has been a competitive team for years now and the program is used to being in big games. But Indiana might actually be the best team in the country, and the Hoosiers had no problem slamming the door on a blue-blood program like Alabama. Indiana has already beaten Oregon once this year, too, and that was at Oregon. So Indiana is unlikely to be cowed by the Ducks' recent pedigree.
On the other hand, Ole Miss has quietly shaken off the Lane Kiffin drama and showed heart and grit coming back in a game that Georgia controlled early. I wouldn't be shocked if they win.
Indiana 35, Ducks 28
Oregon Ducks vs. Indiana Hoosiers - Michael Chen
It took me a while to believe in Indiana, but I eventually got there. They’ve rolled through their schedule, defeating the Ducks, Ohio State and Alabama. This team is for real. As for Oregon, they’re pretty good in their own right, but there is a major concern here, their running backs. Injuries and transfers have gutted the position, and they’ll need to move the ball on the ground. The Ducks won’t be able to, and it’s the Hoosiers playing for a championship.
Indiana 34, Oregon 21
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: FIW staff picks the winners of the College Football Playoff semifinals
Category: General Sports
