College Football Playoff 2015-16: TV Schedule, Projections for Anticipated Games
While fans can continue debating the field all they want, the College Football Playoff is now set with four teams all having a great chance to win the 2015 national championship.
Clemson, Alabama and Michigan State all won their conference title games to earn their spots in the field while Oklahoma stayed in the top four after already completing its schedule the week before. Now the real fun begins with a pair of semifinal matchups with seemingly endless possibilities.
These teams will now spend the better part of a month preparing for these highly anticipated bowl games and a lot can change before anyone kicks off, but here is an early look at predictions for the College Football Playoff semifinals.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Orange Bowl
Matchup: No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
When: Thursday, Dec. 31
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami, Florida
TV: ESPN
No matter which team you want to win this game, it will likely be an exciting battle for anyone watching in person or at home. These two offenses have been outstanding all year long and will keep it up in what should be a high-scoring battle in the Orange Bowl.
Clemson enters the bowl season as the No. 1 team in the nation, a designation it has had in each of the CFP rankings. After earning wins against three squads in the Top 10 of the final rankings, the undefeated squad was not going anywhere.
Deshaun Watson has been a star all year long with an incredible dual-threat ability at quarterback. The sophomore currently has 3,512 passing yards to go with 887 rushing yards and is responsible for 41 touchdowns. He has stepped up in big moments and is the major reason the Tigers are in this position.
Despite the impressive showing until this point, winning in the semifinals is a different story and will be a much tougher challenge. In fact, the No. 1 team is a three-point underdog in the initial line, according to Odds Shark.
The computer numbers are also in the Sooners' favor, with ESPN's FPI naming them the top team in the country:
FiveThirtyEight also gives Oklahoma the best chance at taking home a title:
The reasoning for this much hype is an offense that has seemed unstoppable at times this year. While you can question the ability of some Big 12 defenses that allowed the Sooners to score 45 points per game, the talent on that side of the ball is obvious. Baker Mayfield has been a star this season with 35 touchdowns to only five interceptions, while Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon, Sterling Shepard and others can really make things happen with the ball in their hands.
Clemson allowed North Carolina to score 37 points despite mediocre quarterback play from Marquise Williams. The Tigers also benefited from facing inexperienced quarterbacks in matchups against Notre Dame (DeShone Kizer) and Florida State (Sean Maguire). While this unit has played well at times this year, it will really have its hands full against Oklahoma.
Even though Clemson earned a 40-6 win over the Sooners at least year's Russell Athletic Bowl, these are new teams and it will be a completely different game. This time around, Oklahoma will be the one on top.
Prediction: Oklahoma 45, Clemson 38
Cotton Bowl
Matchup: No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 Michigan State
When: Thursday, Dec. 31
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TV: ESPN
The first semifinal might feature a lot of points, but the theme in Game 2 will be defense.
Alabama has allowed just 14.4 points per game this year, thanks mostly to a front seven that has been simply dominant. Linebackers Reggie Ragland and Reuben Foster are usually all over the field while the defensive line is one of the deepest in the history of the sport. Jonathan Allen and A'Shawn Robinson lead a unit that can feature about 10 players all performing at a high level.
Michigan State usually does a good job running the football, but it will not be easy picking up yards on the ground against this group.
Despite these likely struggles, Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio believes in his players to pull out wins in any way necessary. He explained after the Big Ten Championship Game, Chris Vannini of CoachingSearch.com:
"I tell our football team, dream big. We have world-class athletes on our football team. They're capable of so much, especially when they believe those things. I think, like I said before, we know how to win. There's a belief system. I've said it every single year. [...]
When you got to reach down when things aren't quite going so well for you, you've got to reach down and you've got to find something to grind out, to fight back in some way.
"
This determination was on display in Saturday's win over Iowa, featuring a go-ahead touchdown drive that lasted 22 plays, 82 yards and over nine minutes of playing time. ESPN's Mike Greenberg had high praise for the Spartans' work in this sequence:
Connor Cook doesn't always put up big numbers, but the quarterback always seems to give his team a chance to win, and he can do the same against Alabama.
With a defense that has shut down high-powered attacks like Ohio State and Oregon this season, the Spartans have the ability to slow down Derrick Henry and the one-dimensional Alabama offense. Michigan State tackles as well as any team in the nation and should prevent big plays on the ground.
It will be an extremely close battle, but look for the Big Ten school to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Michigan State 20, Alabama 17
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.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
