After a ho hum first round do the quarters bring the heat?
When the format of the college football playoff was announced, the biggest football fans among us thought this would be wonderful. Basically a month of games that could replace some of the television time on minor bowls or mismatches and give us banger after banger of white knuckle this-is-for-it-all kind of vibes. The first week of this new playoff? Decidedly not that.
Sure, it was great to see the run up and celebration of things like home field hosts and weather-impacted games, but the first round of this new normal to conclude our college football season was anything but exciting. A completely chalk kind of weekend was great for our gambling ledger but decidedly less dramatic and less Cinderalla than we all hoped for. Whether that’s because teams 5-8 were that good or teams 9-12 that bad remains to be seen, but this weekend’s quarterfinals will tell us all we need to know as over the next two days we cut the number from eight to four.
It’s a new New Years tradition, but what else are you going to do? Go to some overpriced champagne toast or spend time with your family? God, that sounds terrible. One worse than the other, but I love champagne. Here’s what you need to know for the next four games in our College Football Playoff party, taking place over the next two days…
Fiesta Bowl: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Boise State Broncos
Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. EST
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Things to be tracking:
- In some respects it’s the latest have versus have not, and likely a talking point either for or against the magnitude and merit of the Big Ten.
- The Nittany Lions’ stout front seven, led by All-American Abdul Carter, will be tested by Ashton Jeanty’s explosive running.
- Boise State clocks in as an 11-point underdog, and neither team has dominated the number this year. The Broncos are 7-5 against the spread and Penn State is 7-7
Peach Bowl: Texas Longhorns vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. EST
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Things to be Tracking…
- In a best on best, Texas’ defense has to contain Arizona State’s dynamic playmaker Cameron Skattebo. As he goes, so goes ASU.
- The Sun Devils have been a surprise this season, winning the Big 12 title after being picked last in the preseason poll.
- It’s a moment for redemption for the SEC, as Texas is one of two teams remaining after a rough bowl season for the nation’s top football conference.
- Arizona State clocks in at an 11-point underdog, their first time as a double-digit underdog all season. When they are an underdog they are 4-2 straight up and 4-2 against the spread this season.
Rose Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Oregon Ducks
Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. EST
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Things to be Tracking…
- In a rematch of one of the regular season’s most exciting games, most would say that the winner of this game is the presumptive favorite to complete their mission and win the national championship.
- It’s a receiver showcase as Oregon’s Justius Lowe returns to the lineup and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith will be featured for the Buckeyes.
- Most believe Ryan Day is continuing to coach for his job. Is it National Championship or a pink slip for Day?
- The over/under for this game is 55 points, and that seems low. For the first half.
Sugar Bowl: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Georgia Bulldogs
Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 8:45 p.m. EST
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
Things to be Tracking…
- Stop me if you’ve heard this before… Notre Dame in a large bowl game against a talented SEC team. Historically, this is usually disaster for the Irish, so treat your Fighting Irish fan friends with a little grace on Wednesday.
- It’s a classic great defense versus balanced offense that will be front and center when Georgia has the ball. Taking the reps though will be backup QB Gunner Stockton for the Dawgs, but don’t forget that at football factories like Georgia the roster is littered with five-star talent that would start anywhere else. He also led Georgia to a comeback victory in the SEC Championship.
- The Irish are looking for their 12th straight win and will have to do so as a two point underdog. In that 11-game winning streak the Irish are 10-1 against the spread.
Let’s hope that this round of the college football playoff leaves us all a bit more satisfied than the first round. On paper, we’ve finally got the bangers we demanded. Now let’s see if they deliver.