On Saturday, the CFB Playoffs will begin starting with the Peach Bowl followed by the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Three years ago, Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes became the first National Champions to win two games in the Bowl Season.The following year, Nick Saban and Alabama fought off a very capable Clemson Tigers team to claim the second Playoff National Championship.
The Bowl Season, which starts in mid-December and continues into January, can at times, feel excessive. Though, for the players, families, and schools involved, it can mean everything. A chance to end their college careers with one very special moment.
The four teams that were selected by the Committee will get the opportunity at College Football immortality.
The field includes three conference champions, and a one loss Ohio State team that ran the gauntlet in the toughest conference in the country. Alabama (SEC), Washington (PAC-12), and Clemson (ACC), all claimed their conferences, with No. 1 seeded Alabama completing an undefeated regular season.
On New Year’s Eve, the Peach Bowl and Fiesta Bowl will play hosts to the two semi-final games while the National Championship game will take place on January 9, in Tampa, Florida at Raymond James Stadium.
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl:
- No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide
- No. 4 Washington Huskies
- 3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Prediction: Alabama 45, Washington 24
Alabama Crimson Tide:
Nick Saban can further cement his iconic legacy with a second Playoff National Championship following an undefeated season. This Crimson Tide team was a complete team and even in the 10-0 win over LSU, they were able to keep the Tigers off the board with their stifling defense.
Last year, Jalen Hurts was used to emulate Clemson superstar Deshaun Watson prior to the National Championship Final.
Thus, protecting Hurts will be the key in Alabama winning back to back championships, and in Cam Robinson, the Tide have the best in the business.
On the defensive side, Defensive Player of the Year, Jonathan Allen and outstanding linebacker, Reuben Foster, will look to provide plenty of pressure to Washington quarterback, Jake Browning. The pair has combined for twelve sacks.
Key Wins: (8) #25 wins including a win over #15 Florida in the SEC Championship
Key Loss: None
SEE ALSO: Week 17 predictions: The final countdown
Washington Huskies
The Huskies will be considered major underdogs at kickoff on Saturday. In fact, many analysts believe that Washington is not one of the four best teams in the country.
If you examine their strength of schedule, it falls well outside the top ten, and below teams like Michigan and Penn State, who have one more loss, but better resumes. If there was any doubt of Chris Peterson’s Huskies ability to dominate, it was on full display when they completely outplayed Colorado in the PAC-12 Championship.
In his Sophomore year, Jake Browning has taken large strides in becoming an elite college quarterback. His 42 touchdowns this year, have dwarfed the 16 in his freshman year. He’ll need to be sharp to keep the Huskies in the game, against a very stingy Alabama defense.
The defensive secondary has been a force all year for Petersen. If Washington has any chance in the Peach Bowl, the “Baby Legion of Boom” will need to lock down, as Jalen Hurts has shown, he is at his weakest when there is pressure in his face.
Key Wins: #7 Stanford, #8 Colorado
Key Loss: #20 USC
Playstation Fiesta Bowl:
- No. 2 Clemson Tigers
- No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes
- 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN
- University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Prediction: Clemson 37 Ohio State 34
Clemson Tigers:
It has been a long year for the Clemson Tigers, a long year to erase the memories of last year’s National Championship Game.
In last year’s game, Deshaun Watson gave Nick Saban and Alabama all they could handle, ending the day with 478 total yards, but just coming up short in the loss.
This year, the Tigers have not been as sharp, as they were a year ago, but find themselves, as ACC champs, and National Championship contenders. Again, this Tigers team goes as their quarterback goes.
If Watson and standout wide receiver, Mike Williams can continue their lethal connection, Clemson could set up a rematch with Nick Saban and Alabama.
It will be up to tackling machine, Ben Boulware to slow down the rushing attack of the Ohio State Buckeyes. The senior linebacker will look to end his collegiate career as a National Champion, something that eluded him a year ago.
Key Wins: #3 Louisville, #12 FSU, Win over #23 Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship Game
Key Loss: Pittsburgh
Ohio State Buckeyes:
The Buckeyes were the only team in the final four not to win their conference championship. That does not mean they are not deserving to be here. Ohio State’s only loss was on the road in Happy Valley, to Big Ten Conference champs, Penn State.
With Ezekiel Elliot, Michael Thomas, and Joey Bosa making their way in the NFL, Junior quarterback, J.T. Barrett was left to lead the 2016 Buckeyes.
Though he has not repeated the magic he brought to Urban Meyer’s squad in 2014, he does have them in a position to win two National Championships in three years, no small feat. Barrett will rely on his backfield mates, Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel to spark the offense.
Weber leads State on the ground, with a 1,000 yard rushing season, while Samuel has been the receiving leader. The struggles this season, have been well-documented, tight wins against Michigan State and Northwestern, and loss to Penn State really magnified deficiencies.
The key to victory for the Buckeyes lies with their head coach, Urban Meyer, who did the unthinkable in 2014, beat Alabama.
Key Wins: #3 Michigan, #8 Wisconsin, #10 Nebraska
Key Loss: Penn State
Staff Picks:
| Writer | Peach Bowl | Fiesta Bowl | National Champion |
| Robby Sabo | Ohio State | Alabama | Ohio State |
| Christian Kouroupakis | Ohio State | Alabama | Alabama |
| Jeremy Fialkow | Clemson | Alabama | Clemson |
| Jason Leach | Clemson | Alabama | Alabama |
| Skylar Darel | Clemson | Alabama | Alabama |
| Billy Nayden | Clemson | Alabama | Alabama |
| Justin Weiss | Ohio State | Alabama | Alabama |
| David Hong | Ohio State | Alabama | Alabama |
| Emmanuel Berbari | Ohio State | Alabama | Ohio State |
| Zach Cronin | Clemson | Alabama | Alabama |
| Gregg Cambareri | Ohio State | Alabama | Alabama |
| Jackson Heil | Clemson | Alabama | Clemson |
| Garrett Ey | Clemson | Alabama | Alabama |