The College Football playoffs had many questions to be answered entering championship weekend and with as many answers as we received, questions still remained unanswered. No. 7 Miami, who suffered an ugly 24-14 defeat at the hands of Pittsburgh, followed it up by being dismantled by the No.1 Clemson University Tigers in the ACC championship game. The University of Georgia Bulldogs routed the Auburn University Tigers 28-7 in the Southeastern Conference title game to cement their spot in the playoffs. Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma University Sooners had a cakewalk against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs 41-17, but the game all eyes were on was played at Lucas Oil Stadium. It featured the Ohio State Buckeyes and the University of Wisconsin Badgers.
The Buckeyes made a statement beating one of two undefeated teams left in college football but the question remained, would the playoff selection committee still take a two-loss Ohio State over a one-loss Alabama? Well, we found out Sunday they valued an SEC team more than a Big Ten champ. And it wasn’t the first time.
Last season the selection committee snubbed Big Ten champion Penn State for the Buckeyes. Given the reasons that justified the selection, many fans were left palms up and questioning if the process was fair. Well this year Urban Meyer and his team are on the outside looking in, feeling snubbed like their Penn State counterparts just a season ago.
Rose Bowl Semi Final:
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Oklahoma is a game that is looking to be a shootout. Georgia avenged a tough regular season loss to Auburn in a big way making a statement to Baker Mayfield and the Sooners that the SEC is here. On the OU side it comes down to the fact that Baker Mayfield has been unstoppable, shredding TCU on 15 completions over 23 attempts for 243 yards and four touchdowns. I’m taking the Sooners over the Bulldogs in a close one, but Baker Mayfield cannot be stopped and until I see a team that can contain him, I’m sold on Mayfield.
Sugar Bowl Semi Final:
The stage is set for what is a highly anticipated rematch of last season’s national championship game as No. 1 Clemson takes on No. 4 Alabama. After Alabama was rolled by Auburn in an Iron Bowl game that saw Jalen Hurts look anything but elite, the world waits to see if the Crimson Tide can bounce back.
On the other side of the ball, Clemson has one of the best pass rushes in football, in an early season bout getting to Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham 11 times, one shy of a school record.
Even without Deshaun Watson, Clemson is looking to be the favorite but if you ask me the only player to worry about is Baker Mayfield and those Sooners. Prediction for the championship: Oklahoma over Clemson.
