Rose Bowl 2015: Full Preview and Predictions for Oregon vs. Florida State

The second-ranked Oregon Ducks will make a familiar trip to the Rose Bowl, this time with much different implications as they take on undefeated Florida State for a spot in the national championship game.

The College Football Playoff selection committee pegged the two teams for their first-ever appearance against each other in the history of both programs, and one of two national semifinals boasts nearly every exciting storyline you could dream of. 

From Oregon chasing its first national title against the defending champions to two of the nation's most decorated gunslingers going at it, there won't be any reason to change the channel throughout the afternoon of New Year's Day.

No strangers to the spotlight, both Florida State and Oregon are unlikely to back down in a national semifinal with legacies on the line.

2015 Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State

When: Thursday, January 1

Where: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California

Start Time (ET): 5 p.m.

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Odds (via Odds Shark): Oregon -8, as of December 7

Oregon vs. Florida State Preview

It's hard to imagine a program going undefeated en route to a national title, follow it up as the nation's only unbeaten a season later and emerge from that as the nation's third-ranked team. But that's exactly where Florida State is as it enters the Rose Bowl.

Of course, winning eight of your games by six points or fewer—many against unranked foes—will do that. As easy as the Seminoles made winning look a year ago, it's been like pulling teeth for them to grind out some of their 2014 victories.

But there wasn't any beating around the bush for Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich when he addressed Florida State's winning streak Sunday, per the Tallahassee Democrat's Corey Clark:

Helfrich's Ducks may not be able to boast an unbeaten record, but they were able to exact revenge on their only defeat of 2014. That came in the Pac-12 Championship Game, when Oregon trounced then-No. 7 Arizona 51-13 to make no doubt of their superiority out west.

That convincing of a win on Friday night spurred folks like Altoona Mirror's Cory Giger to laud them as the potential No. 1 seed:

The big Rose Bowl matchup centers around the battle at the quarterback spot, with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston going up against one of this season's Heisman hopefuls in Marcus Mariota. Ball security could loom large, as Winston has thrown a ghastly 17 interceptions on the year to Mariota's two.

Both quarterbacks have certainly shown the ability to take over games, which means it could really go either way. But if there's any doubt as to who has the better team around them right now, just remember that Oregon has won its last five games by more than 20 points, and Florida State has just two such wins all year.

Prediction

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Winston and Florida State have shown time and time again throughout ridiculous circumstances that they're a team of destiny.

With that said, the Seminoles are going up against a buzz saw that is ready to chop them to pieces. Oregon will have no trouble mixing it up with an unconventional attack to get to the 40-point plateau for the ninth straight game, and Florida State won't be able to notch crucial turnovers against a poised Mariota.

Winston will show championship pedigree by battling back in it late like he's known to do, but that will come with the 'Noles already facing a 20-point deficit. A few late touchdowns won't be enough to even cover the spread, as Oregon advances to the championship.

Prediction: Oregon 41, Florida State 30