NCAA Football Playoff 2014-15: Full TV Schedule, Odds and Projections
If you set the controversial arguments aside and take the first ever College Football Playoff for what it is, there's no denying the two semifinals offer everything a fan would want.
There's the Rose Bowl, which pegs last year's Heisman Trophy winner in Jameis Winston against the likely 2014 Heisman winner in Marcus Mariota. Take a gander across the bracket, and you'll find Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer looking to put the Buckeyes' recent SEC woes in the past against the conference he coached in some four years ago.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
That only scratches the surface of the storylines set to unfold throughout two semifinal matchups that show exactly why this new format was created—to give four worthy schools the chance to duke it out against each other.
Let's take a look at the full television schedule for the CFP games, and everything else worth knowing.
| Jan. 1 | No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State | 5 p.m. | ESPN | Oregon -8 |
| Jan. 1 | No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | Alabama -10 |
| Jan. 12 | TBD (Projected Finalists Below) | TBD | ESPN | N/A |
Note: Schedule per ESPN.com; odds according to Odds Shark, as of December 7
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State
Given the prestige of the Oregon and Florida State football programs over the course of recent history, it's pretty amazing that January 1 will mark their first ever meeting.
As ESPN Stats & Info noted, it's long overdue:
But while the programs will be meeting for the first time in the Rose Bowl, that's not really what will have the folks talking entering this high-flying matchup.
Instead, it's the matchup of quarterbacks that will likely peg two Heisman Trophy winners against each other. Reigning champion Winston faces this year's hopeful Mariota—the winner keeping their national title aspirations alive.
Winston vs. Mariota has undoubtedly grabbed the headlines in the hours after the announcement, but Sports Illustrated's Martin Rickman noted another appetizing matchup under the radar:
While the two offenses have similar star power, the Ducks and Seminoles could not have finished their respective seasons differently. Florida State is still undefeated, but well-documented struggles have led to each of its last four wins coming by five points or fewer. The Citadel, Wake Forest and Syracuse are the only foes the 'Noles have beaten by more than two scores.
On the other hand, Oregon has been an absolute wrecking ball, outscoring every one of its last seven opponents by 18 or more. A once-suspect defense is also coming to play, having held Arizona's prolific offense to 13 points in their rematch in the Pac-12 title game.
The Seminoles defense has had to force big turnovers to get here, which Mariota simply doesn't give up with only two picks on the year. Meanwhile, Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu leads a Ducks secondary that will feast on Winston's growing interception problem.
Despite the undefeated record, Florida State has shown that it might not belong here. Oregon will leave no doubt of that, although the Seminoles won't go down without a fight.
Prediction: Oregon 41, Florida State 30
Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State
For all of the beating Ohio State has taken against SEC foes in national championship games over the last few decades, how sweet would it be to supplant the conference's flagship program in the first ever playoff?
It would be more than sweet for Meyer's Buckeyes, but nevertheless unlikely. Top-ranked Alabama has already seen its nine-point line grow to double digits since the announcement, per Odds Shark.
Of course, the mighty Crimson Tide would probably be decent-sized favorites against any team with the way they've closed out the season. They held on in must-wins over then-No. 1 Mississippi State and Auburn, before hounding Missouri in the conference title game.
They will be going up against an Ohio State team fresh off a 59-0 beating of Wisconsin, but the Buckeyes will trot out freshman Cardale Jones—who, to his credit, played magnificently against the Badgers—against the stingy Alabama defense. That's not the ideal position for Jones to be in, as SBNation.com's Spencer Hall alluded to:
There is one aspect that could help him, which is the lack of film Nick Saban and Co. will have on the youngster, as Aaron Suttles of The Tuscaloosa News points out:
Despite his inexperience, Jones' big arm should be able to take the top off the Tide offense similar to the success Nick Marshall had in the Iron Bowl. But Alabama's defensive front will create too much havoc for the young quarterback to deal with, forcing some errant throws that the Tide will snatch for big turnovers.
Meyer has worked his magic before in these moments and should do so again with ample time to prepare for a susceptible Alabama defense. But Blake Sims' increased consistency and a multifaceted running game will have 'Bama winning a close one.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Ohio State 24
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
