Orange Bowl 2015: TV Schedule, Matchup Predictions and More
The final act is set to play out this weekend, and it will determine the four semifinalists who will battle in this year's College Football Playoff.
The Orange Bowl will feature the top-rated team, and if the Clemson Tigers remain unbeaten by defeating North Carolina when the two teams meet for the ACC title on Saturday night, they are likely to remain in the top spot.
That would put them in a matchup with the No. 4-ranked team. The unbeaten Iowa Hawkeyes are currently in that position, one spot ahead of No. 5 Michigan State. Those two teams will meet at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the Big Ten title on Saturday.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
While we fully expect the Tigers to come out ahead of the Tar Heels to move to 13-0 on the season, it seems quite likely that battle-tested Michigan State will hand Iowa its first loss of the season and win the Big Ten title.
If the Spartans win that game to move to 12-1 on the season, they will almost certainly move into the No. 4 spot in the rankings and get the nod to play in the national semifinal against Clemson when the announcements are made on College Football Playoff Selection Day on Sunday.
The Orange Bowl will be played Dec. 31 at 4 or 8 p.m. ET. ESPN will televise the game, and the start time will be determined on CFP Selection Day.
Game: Orange Bowl
Date: Thursday, Dec. 31
Kickoff Time (ET): 4 or 8 p.m.
Location: Sun Life Stadium; Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: ESPN
Michigan State has beaten Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State this season, and the victories over Michigan and Ohio State were both on the road. Iowa is 12-0 as it prepares for the Big Ten title game, and its most impressive win came on the road against Northwestern.
Michigan State has also been one of the elite teams in the nation for several seasons, while the Hawkeyes exceeded expectations to get to this point. The Spartans have been through more, and that's why they are 3.5-point favorites, according to Odds Shark.
The Spartans feature an explosive offensive team led by senior quarterback Connor Cook. While Cook did not play in the 17-14 upset victory over Ohio State on Nov. 21 due to a shoulder injury, he returned to the lineup in the regular-season finale against Penn State.
Cook has completed 194 of 337 passes for 2,730 yards with a 24-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Cook has a crew of impressive receivers in Aaron Burbridge, Macgarrett Kings and R.J. Shelton. Burbridge has 75 receptions for 1,158 yards and seven touchdowns, while Kings and Shelton have combined for 912 receiving yards and nine TDs.
LJ Scott and Gerald Holmes lead the Michigan State rushing attack, and those two have combined for 1,139 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson has been the key to the Tigers' productive and at-times explosive offense all season. He has thrown for 3,223 yards and completed 70.4 percent of his passes while throwing 27 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions.
| Alabama | +110 |
| Oklahoma | +250 |
| Clemson | +550 |
| Michigan State | +900 |
| Iowa | +1,600 |
| Ohio State | +1,600 |
| North Carolina | +2,000 |
| Stanford | +3,300 |
Running back Wayne Gallman has gotten the job done on the ground with 1,145 yards and nine touchdowns, while Artavis Scott is the Tigers' leading receiver with 77 catches, 709 yards and four TDs.
Just as we like the Spartans to come out on top in the Big Ten title game, we also like them to come up with the victory over a well-rounded Clemson team.
The Tigers may look better on paper because Michigan State's defense has been vulnerable at times this season, but MSU's competition has steeled Mark Dantonio's Spartans.
Look for the Spartans to make it to the national championship game.
Prediction: Michigan State 27, Clemson 24
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
