Fiesta Bowl 2026 Odds and Matchup Predictions for CFP Semifinal Playoff Game
Two of the most historic programs in college football could meet in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8.
The Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs are the two top seeds in the half of the College Football Playoff bracket that sends two teams to Glendale, Arizona.
Ohio State must beat either the Texas A&M Aggies or Miami Hurricanes to keep its title defense going into the semifinals.
Georgia faces either the Ole Miss Rebels or Tulane Green Wave in its quarterfinal game at the Sugar Bowl on New Years' Day.
Fiesta Bowl Info
Date: Thursday, January 8
Start Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN.com or ESPN app
Odds: All available odds can be found on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Matchup Prediction
Ohio State and Georgia each need one victory to secure spots in the Fiesta Bowl.
Ohio State needs one fewer victory than it did last year to repeat as national champion.
A year ago, the Buckeyes used four straight wins to claim the crown of the 12-team playoff.
Ohio State will come into the playoff with extra motivation after it lost the Big Ten Championship Game to Indiana.
That's a similar mindset to how Ryan Day's team entered the postseason a year ago. It had to sit on a loss to the Michigan Wolverines for a month before it participated in its first-round game.
Ohio State still has the most talented offensive player in the sport in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who will a matchup nightmare for either Texas A&M or Miami.
The Buckeyes defense is full of potential first-round NFL draft picks and it hasn't given up more than 16 points in a single game all season.
Georgia finished the regular season on a three-game run in which it held opponents to single digits, including the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Alabama Crimson Tide.
The improved UGA defense could be a nightmare for Ole Miss to deal with in a potential all-SEC quarterfinal. Ole Miss is expected to defeat Tulane by double digits.
Georgia can learn from the defensive mistakes it committed against Ole Miss on October 18, a game it won 43-35.
If more improvements are made to the UGA defense between now and the Sugar Bowl, the Bulldogs should book their ticket to Arizona.
Matchup Prediction: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Georgia
