As we approach the mid-season of college football, we now have a better sense of where teams could end up when bowl season rolls around. In this article, we will cover my predictions for the New Year’s Six Bowl games, and then the four teams I believe will make the CFB Playoffs. Lastly, we will preview my prediction for the national championship game.
Sugar Bowl – Alabama against Oklahoma State
I predict that Alabama will lose to Georgia in the SEC Championship and end up out of the playoff. There are a lot of questions with them after the Texas and Texas A&M games, especially about the health of Bryce Young. They will take on Oklahoma State, who I believe is the best team in the BIG 12. They have a grinder of a schedule. Due to their strength of schedule, I see them dropping a game or two and landing in the Sugar Bowl.
Rose Bowl – Michigan against UCLA
I would love to see this matchup. Michigan is a great team, but Ohio State is better. That is why I have them in the Rose Bowl instead of back in the playoff. UCLA has been a surprise team so far this season. They started the season unranked and are now undefeated and ranked 11th. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a great quarterback, and they are looking good. I still believe USC will be the team from the PAC 12 to make the playoff, so that leaves UCLA in the Rose Bowl. I’m sure none of their fans would be complaining if this happened.
Orange Bowl – NC State against Tennessee
North Carolina State only has one loss, and it’s to Clemson on the road. They had a scare early against East Carolina but have looked much better since then. Tennessee has been another surprise team. Some people thought Tennessee would be improved, but not at the level they have been playing at in 2022. Their offense looks unstoppable at times, and they are currently ranked sixth in the country and sit at 5-0. I think this would be a great game if it ends up happening.
Cotton Bowl – Penn State against Cincinnati
Penn State is another team that is outperforming expectations. They are undefeated and ranked tenth. They have a game at Michigan on Saturday. After that, we will be able to see how good of a team this is. I see the Nittany Lions losing two games to Michigan and Ohio State and ending up in the Cotton Bowl. There is always one Group-of-Five team in the NY6, so I went with Cincinnati. Coming off of the playoffs last year, Cincy lost a close game early in the season at Arkansas. If the Bearcats can run the table the rest of the year, I expect them to play in January. They are the Group-of-Five team that I believe has the best chance of going undefeated the entire season.
CFP Semifinals
Peach Bowl – 1 Georgia against 4 USC
I see Georgia running the table and winning the SEC Championship. They get the fortune of playing Tennessee at home, which is gigantic. They looked shaky against Missouri, but the Bulldogs were dealing with injuries. They bounced back with a 42-10 blowout win against Auburn. I see them facing USC from the PAC 12. They look better under Lincoln Riley, and I can see them running the table. Caleb Williams is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and the defense looks better than I thought it would. The Peach Bowl will be a good game, but I see the Dawgs winning this one.
Fiesta Bowl – 2 Ohio State against 3 Clemson
The Fiesta Bowl is sure to be a great game. Ohio State has looked good, and I have them going undefeated and winning the Big Ten. If they can get Jaxon Smith-Njigba back, they will be even better. They are the team I am most confident about making the playoff. Clemson keeps improving week by week. I believe they will go undefeated and win the ACC. Their offense and DJ Uiagalelei look better, and the defense is too talented to continue struggling. Clemson will make it back to the CFP, and this will be a great game where Ohio State wins in a close one.
More Sports News
National Championship
1 Georgia against 2 Ohio State
A game that a lot of people would love to see. Undefeated and top-ranked Georgia versus undefeated and second-ranked Ohio State. The best two teams from the best two conferences. This matchup would be a great, back-and-forth game, and I believe that Georgia would come out on top and repeat as National Champions. I predict it comes down to Georgia’s defense stopping CJ Stroud and Ohio State on a few pivotal drives.
