After an exciting college football season. After all the over-the-top hype of the revised College Football Playoff. All the debates. All the discussions. All the upset teams. We finally had our first week of CFP games, the first round 1 in history. And…it fell flat on its face. It was an awful disappointment. Blowout after blowout. Talking heads screaming about who was selected to play and why they were a bad choice. While I think the bracket was right, the games just stunk. SMU was awful, Indiana didn’t bring it, and Tennessee got embarrassed. Let’s hope that this round will be better. Here is our 2024 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals preview and predictions.
Rose Bowl – No. 1 Oregon vs No. 8 Ohio State
This should be the best game out of all of them. Ohio State is entering this game as a 2.5-point favorite. I get it. Their offense exploded last week. They held Tennessee and their offense and completely dominated from start to finish. The Ducks have a tall task with this game. They need a perfect game from Dillon Gabriel. This game was incredibly close the first time around, and it’s going to be the same this time. Prediction: Oregon 28 Ohio State 31
Sugar Bowl – No. 2 Georgia vs No. 7 Notre Dame
All year long, I have said that this isn’t the same Georgia team that we have been accustomed to seeing the last few years. Carson Beck is out for this game after undergoing elbow surgery. An unproven QB now must fill his spot. And Notre Dame is coming off a heater. They controlled and dominated Indiana. I truly believe that Notre Dame has a real shot to run the table and go all the way. Their offense is great, their defense has been showing up. I just haven’t seen enough good UGA defense to stop them here. Prediction: Georgia 19 Notre Dame 22
Fiesta Bowl – No. 3 Boise State vs No. 6 Penn State
I have said this for a while. I don’t think James Franklin teams show up in big games. Well, they proved me wrong last week. Penn State definitely showed up. But maybe it was an Indiana team that fooled us all. Boise State hasn’t fooled us. Ashton Jeanty is the best running back in the nation and should continue to shine on the biggest stage in this game. Boise State has just one loss all year and it was of the tightest of margins to Oregon. I am going with the Broncos here who are an 11-point underdog in this game to pull the upset. Prediction: Boise State 26 Penn State 24
Peach Bowl – No. 4 Arizona State vs No. 5 Texas
ASU is a two-touchdown underdog in this game. They have one of the best running backs in the nation in Cam Skattebo. They are aggressive on offense and their secondary has shined in big moments. But I do believe that they are slightly inexperienced in this spot. Texas knows what comes with a game like this and has a QB that has been here before. For that reason, I like the Longhorns in a shootout. Prediction: ASU 33 Texas 40