College Football Playoff Selection Show Results

After one of the strangest college football seasons on record, it all comes down to this – the College Football Playoff.

The CFP selection committee chose Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Notre Dame to take part in this year’s playoff to determine a national champion. It was surprising, yet not so surprising in a season when the unexpected is expected.

Best Online Sportsbooks

While there’s no doubting top-ranked Alabama and No. 2 Clemson, some might have issues with No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Notre Dame. Yet, here we are.

Alabama vs. Notre Dame Predictions

Team Page: Alabama Crimson Tide

Team Page: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

There are roughly 15 FBS schools whose nickname does not end with the letter “s” and two of them will meet in the first national semifinal on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl. Here’s how weird the 2020 college football season is: the Rose Bowl will not be played in Pasadena for the first time since 1942. The game will be played at AT&T Stadium in Texas due to coronavirus restrictions.

Alabama has not lost this season and has won every game by at least 17 points. The Tide’s toughest test was a 17-point win over Georgia. QB Mac Jones leads an offense that is second in the country in scoring (49.7 ppg) and has the fifth-best passing game (354.1 ypg).

Head coach Nick Saban’s defense isn’t so bad either. Alabama gives up 19.5 points per game, but in the five games prior to last week’s SEC title game the Crimson Tide allowed a combine 36 points.

Notre Dame knows a thing or two about defense as well giving up 18.6 points per game. Head coach Brian Kelly has a recipe for success – run the football and play defense – and the Irish execute it well. They have the nation’s 21 st -best rush offense averaging 217.6 yards per game. They will have to control the football and keep it away from Jones and the rest of the Tide offense.

The Fighting Irish were somewhat lucky to get into the CFP given they lost the ACC title game to Clemson. Notre Dame did, however, beat the Tigers earlier in the season. That plus an impressive win over No. 13 North Carolina, plus the fact that the Irish swept their ACC schedule earned them a shot in the playoff.

CFB Live Odds and Free CFB Picks

Clemson vs. Ohio State Predictions

Team Preview: Clemson Tigers

Team Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes

Clemson (10-1) will face Ohio State (6-0) in a rematch of last year’s No. 2-No. 3 semifinal. The Tigers, of course, won last year and ended up losing to LSU in the national championship game. The Buckeyes were the second seed last year, but wind up at No. 3 this year despite playing just six games.

The Big Ten didn’t start playing in 2020 until November and the Buckeyes had three games cancelled because of COVID-19. The conference actually altered their rules to allow Ohio State to play for the Big Ten title, which they won by beating Northwestern.

Last year’s semifinal loss to Clemson is still the only loss on record for Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. Both teams have first-round NFL draft picks at quarterback – Clemson with Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State has Justin Fields.

The big question will be whether or not the Buckeyes are at full strength. Ohio State won the Big Ten title game despite missing 22 players, including top wide receiver Chris Olave. The Buckeyes struggled in the first half against Northwestern, but RB Trey Sermon ran for 331 yards and scored twice in the second half.

Clemson’s defensive line will be a key for the Tigers. The unit isn’t nearly as talented as in year’s past, but they do have a pair of freshman in Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy who can turn up the heat. Plus, Ohio State’s offensive line, as big as it is, is prone to pressure giving up three sacks a game.

On the Outside

Texas A&M finished the season 8-1 but lost to Alabama 52-24 in the second game of the season. Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher lobbied for his team, but without a conference title or even playing for a conference championship the Aggies were left out.

Oklahoma’s two early season back-to-back losses kept it out of the playoff despite winning the Big 12 championship for the sixth straight season. The one school that really got snubbed was Cincinnati. The Bearcats went 9-0 with one of the best defenses in the country (16.0 ppg).

Cincy also has a very good offense that runs the ball (225 ypg) and can put up points (39.3 ppg). Their schedule, unfortunately, did not feature a game against a Power 5 team and that kept them on the outside where they finished No. 8 in the CFP rankings.

Check out our college football bowl schedule with betting odds.