Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs Miami

 Of all the bye week hangovers we’ve seen, this is one of the nastiest. The same format they benefited from last year hurt them this year. Miami was the more physical team and it showed. That defense is legit, holding OSU to 0 first half points, then grabbing 2 interceptions, one being a pick 6 to extend the lead to 14. If we see this Miami Hurricanes team show up in the semis, we could very well be looking at a National Championship berth. The funniest thing about this whole situation is the Notre Dame reaction. The angle taken by the Fighting Irish faithful has changed at least 10 times as the postseason has progressed. Anything but admitting that this Notre Dame team didn’t belong. Join a conference.

Orange Bowl: Oregon vs Texas Tech

Did the Texas Tech offense practice at all since the Big 12 championship game? Not to downplay a great performance from the Oregon defense, but these guys looked comically useless out there. Recording 0 points and 4 turnovers doesn’t tend to be a good strategy to win football games, but what do I know. This Red Raiders defense should be furious. A unit that had impressed all year shined on the big stage, despite the offense’s struggles. The Red Raiders held Oregon to just 4 3rd down conversions on 19 attempts. These guys were on the field for 38 MINUTES, and they didn’t show any signs of letting up until the offense’s 3rd or 4th turnover. Tech responded by acquiring the top player in the transfer portal, Cincinnati QB Brenden Sorsby. Maybe he’ll help Tech score a point next December if they can make it back.

Rose Bowl: Alabama vs Indiana

Alabama loses, Literally everyone else wins. The Hoosiers came into Pasadena and absolutely slaughtered the Tide. Did Alabama even try? If they did, I couldn’t tell from watching the game because they didn’t look like they cared at all. Indiana dominated from every perspective. This team is just as good as every rational college football fan thought they were, and if you weren’t one of those fans, this is your last chance to become one. Oh yeah, and they’ve been dominating the transfer portal, acquiring QB Josh Hoover from TCU and WR Nick Marsh from Michigan State. This team is looking to be a force for years to come.

Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs Georgia 

This might just be game of the year. We should’ve known we were in for something great when Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro drilled back to back 50+ yard field goals (55 & 56 yards each) for the first two scores of the game. Both teams then exchanged touchdowns, with Georgia shutting down an early 2pt conversion attempt. After Georgia took a 9 point lead on a scoop and score, plenty of us expected the Bulldogs to pull away like usual, but the Rebs refused to die. Kewan Lacy brought the game within 3 in the third quarter, then gave Ole Miss the lead in the 4th. Another Ole Miss touchdown following a Georgia fumble seemed to ice it, but the other team was Georgia, so of course there’s more. As the clock ticked down, Georgia scored with 7 minutes to go, then tied the game with just 58 seconds left. Then Trinidad Chambliss had his moment. A 40 yard completion to De’Zhaun Stribling on 3rd and 5 to put the Rebs in field goal range. Carneiro did what he does best, Georgia’s lateral kick return attempt failed, and Ole Miss is moving on to the semifinals. The stage is coming onto the field and… the game isn’t over. The ball bounced over the pylon for a safety. Georgia gets another chance and the stage is moved back. Georgia recovers, and the game finally seems over. The stage is coming back out, interim head coach Pete Golding gets his Gatorade shower and… the game still isn’t over. Ole Miss never touched the ball, so there’s still a second left on the clock. After the stage crew moves it off the field, Georgia runs a 9 pass lateral play, which fails, and the game is finally over. The probably exhausted stage crew moves the stage one final time, and Ole Miss are crowned Sugar Bowl Champions. What a game.

FCS Championship: Illinois State vs Montana State 

You know how I said The Sugar Bowl might be game of the year? Well, it has competition. If you need any more evidence that the FCS playoffs are better than their FBS equivalent, look no further. Towards the beginning it seemed that unranked Illinois State’s illogical run to the FCS Championship was finally over. With the score being 21-7 at the half, it seemed like Montana State would cruise to their second FCS title. But, in case you didn’t know, Illinois State doesn’t do logic. The Redbirds fought their way back to send the game to overtime tied at 28-28. Then just two plays in, Illinois State took the lead. Then, the first of two key moments that cost the Redbirds the game. The extra point is blocked. The second one? Blitzing on 4th and 10. Touchdown Taco Dowler. Extra point good. The Bobcats are FCS National Champions for the first time since 1984.

Semifinals predictions:

Fiesta Bowl: Miami vs Ole Miss

This is a hard one. Offensively, Ole Miss has the advantage, while Miami dominates the defensive side of things. However, the story surrounding Ole Miss is just too good for it to end here. I could see this going either way, but I’ll side with Ole Miss on this one.

My pick: Ole Miss

Peach Bowl: Oregon vs Indiana

Indiana beat Oregon by 10, in Eugene, in the rain. Now, in good conditions and with momentum, I don’t see a world where Indiana loses this. Sorry Ducks. 

My pick: Indiana