College Football Playoff 2014-15: Odds, Schedule and Predictions for Semifinals
The anticipation of bowl season never fails, but it might be at an all-time high with the inaugural College Football Playoff on the horizon.
And what a first year for college football's new system. There were neck-and-neck battles for final spots, and what felt like endless controversy has been washed away by the prospect of two mouth-watering semifinals.
You'd have a tough time hand-picking a more prestigious group of four programs, especially in terms of where each program stands today. But a loss can be the beginning to the end of said prestige, and that won't be lost along with the obvious immediate implications for these teams.
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Now that we've set the table, let's sit down and take a closer look at what's to come in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
| Jan. 1 | No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State | 5 p.m. | ESPN | ORE -9.5 | Oregon 41-30 |
| Jan. 1 | No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN | ALA -9.5 | Alabama 31-24 |
Note: Game odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated December 19.
| Jan. 12 | Semifinal Winners | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State
It's only fitting that in the first year of the CFP, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer rekindle a familiar pastime for both—competing against one another in games that decide who will play for a national championship.
Alas, it's not Florida that Meyer represents but Ohio State, and instead of facing off in an SEC title game, this one is an official game for a ticket to Arlington, Texas, and the national championship.
The first thing that jumps off the page is the simple name recognition and branding of the matchup, pegging two of college football's biggest programs against one another. SEC Network compared the two programs' prestige:
But it's not about the past; rather, this matchup is about the present, and both teams are well taken care of there.
Alabama's defense isn't the unstoppable force it has been in recent years, but the unit is still impossible to run through up front. A revitalized offense behind Blake Sims has seen him break an Alabama single-season passing record, largely due to wide receiver Amari Cooper's dominance as a Heisman Trophy finalist.
That susceptible Crimson Tide secondary could be tested, however, by third-string quarterback Cardale Jones. He has a big arm that could take the top off Alabama's secondary like Auburn and Missouri have done in recent outings. And he'll need to with the Tide likely to bottle up star rusher Ezekiel Elliott.
It's hard to imagine the Buckeyes defense holding up, even if Jones can carry the offense. Even with a dangerous passing attack, Alabama can still run over opponents with T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry and an improving offense line.
Ohio State will keep it closer than the oddsmakers expect, but it won't keep the Buckeyes' title hopes alive.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Ohio State 24
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 FSU
Jimbo Fisher's Florida State Seminoles enter the first CFP having not lost a game in more than two seasons, and yet they have to travel across the country to face Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
There won't be much to gripe about for the defending champs, however. Not only should they be gracious to even be here after so many close calls this season, but they'll be returning to the same stage upon which they won a national championship a little more than 11 month ago.
Unlike that game, though, the best quarterback on the field might not be on their sidelines. And considering how dominant Marcus Mariota's Heisman voting was in the annals of the trophy's history, he'll be a handful, per ESPN Stats and Information:
Mariota will frustrate Florida State's opportunistic but susceptible defense with his mixture of run and pass, but it's his security more than anything that stands out. He's thrown 38 touchdowns to just two interceptions on the season, while Winston has less scoring tosses and 15 (15!) more interceptions just this year.
Florida State has been able to roll with some considerable punches and pull out victories in 2014, but that will be impossible to re-enact against the Ducks. Once Mariota gets Oregon up a few scores early, the Seminoles run game will be abandoned and Winston will be pushed to force throws.
The Seminoles defense has been masterful at bending but not breaking. The problem? These Ducks might as well have a master's degree in breaking defenses, and the best professor the program has ever had is ready to lay out some knowledge.
Prediction: Oregon 41, Florida State 31
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