College Bowl Picks 2024-25: Predictions For Bracket, Top Matchups After Poll Release

Some of the teams playing in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff carry some real concerns with them.

The Ohio State Buckeyes come with a massive concern about their potential in the playoff after they fell flat against the Michigan Wolverines two weeks.

The Indiana Hoosiers, which lost to Ohio State by 23 points in November, have a giant question mark hanging over them from the loss in Columbus.

Perhaps the most stable team of the eight first-round participants is the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, which have put up consistent results for the last few months while other programs displayed flaws.

No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 30: Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) reacts during the game against the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 30, 2024, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Both Tennessee and Ohio State come into the first round of the College Football Playoff with something to prove.

Each team lost their most recent notable game. The Vols dropped a 14-point loss to Georgia on November 16 and the Buckeyes suffered a humiliating loss to Michigan on November 30.

Most of Tennessee's trouble has come away from home. The Vols lost to Georgia and Arkansas on the road and struggled to beat Oklahoma back in September.

The Vols even fell behind 17-7 to Vanderbilt after one quarter in their last game.

Ohio State proved it could play with top-ranked Oregon in a one-point loss and it beat the other two Big Ten playoff teams, Penn State and Indiana.

However, the Buckeyes' perceived strength in the matchup is not that big because they struggled in all facets against Michigan.

Ohio State's defense is its best unit, and if it can keep Nico Iamaleava under wraps, the Buckeyes should pull away from the Vols.

The Buckeyes offense was only dominant in one of the three top-10 battles from Big Ten play. Will Howard needs to play much better for OSU to not just win, but also to make a statement that it can win the national title.

Prediction: Ohio State 24, Tennessee 16

No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 30: Jaden Greathouse #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs a route during the first half against USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)

Indiana and Notre Dame combined to lose two games in the regular season, but there is a far different perception about both teams going into the playoff.

Indiana's reputation was rocked by the 38-15 loss to Ohio State in Columbus, while Notre Dame put together a long string of double-digit victories since its Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois.

Notre Dame is the better overall team on paper. Its defense only allowed two teams to eclipse the 20-point mark.

The Irish offense put up between 49 and 52 in four of the team's last five victories, and if that pace keeps up on December 20, the Hoosiers might not stand a chance.

Indiana held five of its last six opponents under 20 points, but the one exception in that trend is the loss to Ohio State and that's the result that matters most right now when discussing Indiana's potential.

Prediction: Notre Dame 35, Indiana 17

No. 15 South Carolina vs. No. 20 Illinois

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CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 30: Colin Bryant #45 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Gerald Kilgore #23 of the South Carolina Gamecocks after a play against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

The Citrus Bowl is one of the best non-playoff matchups on the bowl schedule.

The South Carolina Gamecocks played some of the best football in the second half of the regular season, while the Illinois Fighting Illini are one of the more consistent programs in the Big Ten.

Shane Beamer's team reeled off six straight wins, including three triumphs over Top 25 opposition.

Illinois comes into the New Years' Eve matchup on a three-game winning run of its own in which it scored 38 points in each contest.

LaNorris Sellers and Luke Altmyer are two of the most underrated quarterbacks in the country. The expectation is for both players to put up some impressive numbers in the Citrus Bowl.

If anything, the SEC-versus-Big Ten clash should be a terrific appetizer to the Fiesta Bowl between the Boise State Broncos and the winner of the first-round clash between the SMU Mustangs and Penn State Nittany Lions.

Prediction: South Carolina 31, Illinois 28