College Football Playoff 2014-15: Predictions for Rose and Sugar Bowl Semifinals

Neither of the College Football Playoff semifinal games will be close affairs. It would be great for college football if they were, but both the Florida State Seminoles and Alabama Crimson Tide will prove to be too talented for the Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes, respectively.

This isn't a swipe at the committee for including Oregon or Ohio State, it's just that we will soon see that there's a major gap between the teams.

Alabama's Team Speed and Offensive Line Will Dominate in Sugar Bowl

Butch Dill/Associated Press

If an opponent can't slow the Alabama Crimson Tide's run game down, then it's doomed to be bitten by the play-action pass deep to Heisman finalist Amari Cooper. Blake Sims is fallible at quarterback, but he has so many weapons out of the backfield with T.J. Yeldon and out wide with Cooper, that he has room for error.

Buckeyes defensive coordinator Chris Ash talked about his fear of Cooper exploding for a big game, per the Ohio State Buckeyes Twitter account:

As dynamic as Cooper, Yeldon and even Sims can be at times, it all starts with the Tide's offensive line. Alabama has run for 2,723 yards this season and averaged 5.11 per carry.

With a running game that consistent, the play-action pass is a built-in weapon almost at the outset of every game. Ohio State had great success limiting the nation's leading rusher Melvin Gordon to just 76 yards in the Big Ten title game.

However, the Wisconsin Badgers don't have as complete of an attack as Bama. Its offensive line isn't as versatile. Ohio State was able to focus on Gordon primarily. There's not one Bama weapon the Buckeyes can afford to devote that much attention to.

At some point, the talent and athleticism advantage at almost every position is going to prove to be too much. On the other side of the ball, the Bucks could be in even more trouble.

There are no defenses in the Big Ten on par with Alabama's. Statistically, four teams in the conference allow fewer yards per game than Bama, but the level of competition is the difference. Bama endured the rigors of the SEC West and won the conference title game. It still has the 11th best defense in the nation with a treacherous schedule.

This is truly one of the elite defenses in the nation. Even if Ohio State were at full strength, it would have a hard time moving the ball against the Tide.

As it is, there's no way Cardale Jones—a third-string quarterback—is going to lead the Bucks past Bama. The Tide will roll 44-10.

The Seminoles Defense and Athleticism Will Rule in Rose Bowl

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Marcus Mariota deserved to win the Heisman Trophy, but he's in for a rude awakening when he faces the Seminoles defense.

Athletically, Florida State has future NFL-level talent at almost every defensive position. The primary trait that comes with that type of talent is speed. That quickness from almost every spot will make it very difficult for Mariota to make plays with his legs.

Without that as a major weapon, the Ducks will have to depend on consistently winning individual matchups at the line of scrimmage, and on the outside. Last year's Heisman winner Jameis Winston has a lot to prove after an inconsistent season, but you can bet his teammates will want to shut down the man who succeeded him as the nation's top player.

On offense, Winston should be especially sharp in what is likely to be the final college game of his career. He and Mariota figure to be battling not just for a spot in the national championship, but also placement in the upcoming NFL draft. With so much on the line, there's no wonder CollegeFootball 24/7 calls this the best individual matchup of the bowl season.

Quite honestly, Winston has more help up front and weapons out of the backfield. Freshman Dalvin Cook has emerged as the team's top running back. He rushed for 905 yards on just 155 carries, and he should play a big role against Oregon. 

Matters get even worse for Oregon's defense when it comes to defending the pass. News that its best cornerback Ifo Ekpre Olomu would miss the game with an injury, per the Associated Press (h/t Fox Sports), seriously hurts the Ducks secondary.

If Winston protects the football and lets his running game set the table, this game could be ugly by the third quarter. The Noles have found a way to pull games out all season. In this one, the defending champs will finally deliver a performance the nation has been expecting.

Florida State will win 37-13.