College Football Playoff Championship 2015: Breaking Down Semifinal Matchups

Let's be honest: There are some great matchups in the bowl games, and most of us would watch just about any football game offered, but the only games people really care about this December and January are the playoff contests. 

For months, we debated which teams deserved to reach the last four. We have those teams now, and they're about to settle things on the field. 

So with that in mind, you'll find an overview and a breakdown of each semifinal matchup below. It's going to be fun, folks. Let's take a closer look at each game.

Oregon vs. Florida State

If this game comes down to the wire, you have to imagine Florida State will find a way to win. After all, the Seminoles have won seven games by one touchdown or less, including four in a row to close the season. Jameis Winston and Co. know how to be clutch when it matters. 

On the other hand, Oregon has a habit of ending things before the fourth quarter begins. The Ducks have had just two games decided by a touchdown or less and are 1-1 in those games. They've won eight straight games by 12 or more and have scored at least 42 points in all but two games.

It's hard to imagine a Florida State team that has given up 26 or more points to Oklahoma State, NC State, Notre Dame, Louisville, Miami and Georgia Tech slowing down Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and his talented crop of weapons. 

Mariota may receive the plaudits, but it's important to remember that Royce Freeman rushed for 1,299 yards and 16 touchdowns this season and that six players have 350 receiving yards or more, including Byron Marshall (61 receptions for 814 yards and five touchdowns) and Devon Allen (684 receiving yards, seven touchdowns). Dwayne Stanford and Pharaoh Brown each have six receiving scores, meanwhile.

Florida State's defense isn't as good as it was a year ago and has struggled in games against less talented offenses. The Ducks are going to run rampant and will win this game. 

Alabama vs. Ohio State

At first, we questioned how Ohio State would manage without Braxton Miller. All J.T. Barrett did in relief was post Heisman-esque numbers. Then, we wondered how the Buckeyes would fare in the Big Ten Championship Game without Barrett.

Three touchdown passes and a 59-0 victory later, Cardale Jones proved Ohio State would be just fine. 

That was Wisconsin, however. Alabama is a whole new beast.

The Buckeyes haven't faced a team as balanced as Alabama this season, in large part because no other team in the nation is as balanced as the Crimson Tide. Blake Sims and Amari Cooper are a handful in the passing game. T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry form one of the better backfield duos in the country. The defense isn't as impervious as prior Nick Saban teams but is still quite good, holding opponents to 16.6 points per game, fourth in the nation.

Yes, the Buckeyes contained Heisman finalist Melvin Gordon. But Wisconsin was far more one-dimensional than Alabama will be. The difference with this Crimson Tide team is offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who has opened up the passing game.

Cooper, for one, is thrilled he did, as he told Zach Braziller of the New York Post:

"

He’s a genius as a coach. He deserves a lot of credit. He likes to throw the ball and not only does he likes to throw the ball, he comes up with really good schemes to get players open and get his playmakers in space.

I was really happy when he got hired because I saw what he did with Marquise Lee and Robert Woods at USC. Both of those guys had 100 catches. I was confident I would have a good year with him.

"

He's had a heck of a year.

Still, underestimate the Buckeyes are your own peril. They beat Michigan State and Minnesota on the road in consecutive weeks. They've overcome injuries to two excellent quarterbacks. They score 45.2 yards per game (fourth in the country) and rush for 260.8 yards per contest (11th). They've scored 31 or more points in every game but one. 

The Buckeyes are legit. They just aren't legit to knock off the country's most balanced team. Alabama will win this one, but it will be tighter than many people think.