College Football Playoff Championship 2015: Analyzing Schedule and Matchups
The defending champion Florida State Seminoles will take on the Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl, and the Alabama Crimson Tide face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl. At stake for all four teams is an opportunity to play in the first-ever College Football Playoff championship.
The matchups for the CFP don't favor the Ducks or the Buckeyes. Both teams have had excellent one-loss seasons but are headed toward battles with teams that will overpower them. Bo Mattingly of Sports Talk with Bo spoke with Bruce Feldman who sees the same two teams emerging, but he believes the games will be close. I do not.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Here's a breakdown of the schedule for the entire postseason bracket.
| Rose Bowl Game Presented By Northwestern Mutual College Football Playoff Semifinal No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State | Pasadena, Calif. Rose Bowl | Jan. 1 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| Allstate Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State | New Orleans Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Jan. 1 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T | Arlington, Texas AT&T Stadium | Jan. 12 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Oregon Will Struggle to Move the Ball Against Seminoles
The big question in the Rose Bowl is: Can Oregon consistently move the ball against Florida State? My opinion is no.
Marcus Mariota deserved the Heisman Trophy he won earlier in the month, but he and his offensive teammates have never played against a defense with so many future NFL players.
The Seminoles' defensive line features two stud interior players in Mario Edwards and Eddie Goldman. That duo will collapse the Ducks' inside protection and keep Mariota under pressure.
Even when Mariota is able to get protection, Florida State's cornerbacks, Ronald Darby and P.J. Williams, are capable of locking down the Heisman winner's weapons on the outside. Expect some uncharacteristic turnovers to lead to short fields in the first half for Jameis Winston and the offense.
Florida State will take the early lead and never look back en route to an easy win.
Alabama's Speed and Offensive Weapons Will Devour Ohio State
Oregon has a chance to keep it close against Florida State, but it's hard to find a way that the Buckeyes can keep from getting blown out by the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl.
On both sides of the ball, it would appear that Alabama has the huge edge. Offensively, Blake Sims has the premier passing weapon in the nation in Amari Cooper. Alabama's offensive line is big, strong and versatile. They can give Sims the time to allow Cooper to get deep, or pave running lanes.
The team's running backs TJ Yeldon and Derrick Henry both have a chance to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark against the Buckeyes. Yeldon needs just 68 yards and Henry is 105 short.
Throw in the fact that Sims is pretty nimble and can be a dual threat, and Ohio State is going to have a tough time stopping 'Bama.
On defense, 'Bama's front seven isn't as star-studded as it has been in years past, but the group led by Xzavier Dickson and Jonathan Allen are still the most athletic group Ohio State will have faced. With third-string quarterback Cardale Jones tasked with finding holes in 'Bama's defense, he'll be left at the mercy of Nick Saban's in-game adjustments. Ohio State is in trouble.
This one will be over shortly after halftime and the national championship meeting with Florida State will take center stage.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
