College football's first 12-team playoff was down to the final eight teams.
As a side note, will this be the Elite Eight? I've seen one or two references to the term, which was borrowed from the NCAA Basketball Tournament, but it hasn't really taken hold yet. But that's off topic…
But tonight, the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff begin, with No. 6 Penn State facing No. 3 Boise State in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Three more games are scheduled for New Year's Day, starting with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between No. 5 Texas and No. 4 Texas. arizonafollowed by the Rose Bowl between No. 8. ohio And number one is Oregon. The game concludes with the Allstate Sugar Bowl between No. 7s. notre dame cathedral And 2nd place Georgia.
We've already ranked the teams, but now we'll select a few.
No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 3 Boise State
Vrbo fiesta bowl
pick
JP: Pennsylvania State University
Mark: Pennsylvania State University
mark: JP, we seem to be on the same page here. Do you think Penn State's defense, especially the run defense, is too limited for Ashton Zity and Boise State to overcome, or do you suddenly have a lot of faith in Drew Allard and his guys?
day: My view is simple. Even with Ashton Giunty running wild, if Drew Allard and the Penn State offense can match Boise's scoring, I think the Nittany Lions will come away with a narrow victory. Bronco EDGE forwards Jaden Virgin Morgan and Ahmed Hassanain will need to play big roles on a defense that ranks second in the nation in sacks. So if Aller can handle the pressure well, the Nittany Lions will win. Otherwise, this could be an upset for the ages.
mark: Another issue for Boise State regarding Aller is that the secondary is good on the outside but weak in the middle. That is where Allah shines this year, attacking between the numbers. Tyler Warren could also have a big game.
No. 5 Texas vs. No. 4 Arizona State
Chick-fil-A peach bowl
pick
JP: Texas
Mark: Texas
day: I love Arizona State's offense, and RB Cam Skatebo is one of the players I can't take my eyes off of every time he touches the ball. What I'm concerned about is their staying power when playing against a Texas defense that is 11th in yards per carry allowed and 1st in defensive EPA per play allowed against the run. It's about what it's like. I think Sun Devil QB Sam Leavitt's legs will have to play a big role, but if they can't make the jump to Texas early, it's all going to be the Longhorns.
mark: So far we are on the same page. For me, Arizona State was one of the great stories of the season, from being drafted and finishing last in the Big 12 to winning the Big 12 Conference Championship Game and securing a first-round bye .
But Texas played well last week against Clemson. Yes, we're probably all waiting for the wheels to come off the Longhorns, but I don't think that's going to happen this week, and it looks like you won't either.
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Oregon State
Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential
pick
JP: Ohio
Mark: Oregon
mark: Well, I'm having a good time now.
First off, the Oregon vs. Ohio State game in the Rose Bowl just feels…right.
Did you pick JP just because the team across from Ohio State doesn't wear maize and blue?
day: That's right, folks, I'm going to be wrong about Ohio State again.
I picked Tennessee to win their first round matchup because of how upset they were after the loss at Michigan, but that was… well… unwise. It turned out. I'm picking Ohio State for this game because it's really hard to beat that team twice. We saw it three years ago when Alabama defeated Georgia in the SEC title game and then Georgia defeated the Tide in the national championship. alabama and LSU The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers 21-0 to win the iconic 2011 game, which the Tigers won 9-6. Going off the trend, I think the Buckeyes will be primed for a neutral site game against the Ducks and win a big game that will require Ryan Day.
mark: To me, this game is about Dillon Gabriel. Ohio State has the playmakers to put up points against Oregon — they did so in October — but Gabriel has a wealth of experience and I think it gives a big advantage. One of my favorite plays from the October matchup was the touchdown against Tez Johnson just before halftime. Oregon State played long in the third, and Ohio State showed pressure with only one defender in a radar front and 3-point stance, but dropped nine men in coverage. Gabriel didn't panic, read the coverage and attacked Johnson for the basket, and instead of trailing in the first half, Oregon went into the locker room with a lead.
There's nothing he hasn't seen on the football field, and I think that was huge against Ohio State.
7th place Notre Dame vs. 2nd place Georgia
allstate sugar bowl
pick
JP: Notre Dame Cathedral
Mark: Notre Dame Cathedral
mark: We really live in a world where Notre Dame is headed to the CFP semifinals, right?
day: Have we been time-warped to 2012?
mark: I really hope we're not back in 2012. That means I have to go back to the office and be a lawyer on Thursday. No one would want that.
day: Having to go back to middle school can be the most awkward time in a child's life, so…yeah, there you have it. Georgia doesn't have QB Carson Beck, and while all the Gunner Stockton hype was fun (he drives an old pickup and is a Tiger out of Georgia), I don't think he's good for this matchup. I don't know if I'm ready. Notre Dame will finally face a team as big and strong as they are, and Irish QB Riley Leonard's foot strength will be a big difference in this game.
