The first round of the College Football Playoffs was a bloodbath, with the favorites covering in all four games. It was a rather unclimactic beginning to a new era in College Football, but it’s also something fans should probably get used to. There have never been 12 national championship contenders in any college football season. Hell, a lot of times, it’s difficult to even find two. So while the quarterfinals could provide some more competition, there will still be some lopsided affairs.
Jaydon Blue Over 52.5 Rushing Yards (-114)
Steve Sarkisian’s offenses are typically known for high-flying passing attacks, but this Longhorns team is built much differently. They want to punish opponents at the line of scrimmage, which they did with ease against a talented Clemson defense, rushing for nearly 300 yards.
Arizona State is a nice story, but the Longhorns front should have no problem enforcing their will. They are going to run the ball early and often, and while I’m confident all of Texas’ running backs will have big games, I like Jaydon Blue to reach this number. He’s averaged 5.6 yards per carry this season and is capable of busting loose for explosive plays. His success will continue on Wednesday after rushing for 146 yards on 14 carries against Clemson.
Georgia (-1.5) vs. Notre Dame (-110)
There’s a lot of confidence surrounding this Notre Dame team after comfortably handling Indiana in the opening round. They’ve been a wagon against the spread since losing in Week 2 against Northern Illinois, proving they more than belong in this field of 12 teams.
However, this is a massive step up in competition for the Fighting Irish, and more than anything, it’s a matchup nightmare. There are serious questions about Riley Leonard and whether he can create enough explosive plays against college football’s best defenses. The Irish want to run the rock and play defense, similarly to Georgia. The only issue is the Bulldogs are an immensely more talented team.
Many opponents have tried to line up and bully Georgia since Kirby Smart came to town, and the result is always the same, unless you’re Nick Saban and Alabama. You can’t beat the Bulldogs at their own game. Notre Dame simply isn’t explosive enough to threaten the Georgia defense, and they aren’t going to move the ball on the ground the same way they have this season against lesser teams. It will be a slow suffocation come Wednesday night for Notre Dame’s playoff hopes.
Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Oregon (-105)
It’s the rematch everybody has been waiting for, and while we didn’t get it in the Big 10 Championship, we do get it with even more on the line in the best venue in College Football.
The first matchup between these two sides came down to the final play, in which Will Howard slid right as the clock struck 0:00, leaving Ohio State with no time on the clock to kick a game-winning field goal. It was the game of the year, and the rematch could be equally as spectacular.
However, I don’t think it will be. I like Ohio State, and I like them by at least a touchdown. The Michigan loss is going to turn out to be the worst thing for the rest of College Football. This looked like an entirely different team in the first round against Tennessee, one with something to prove. Now, they have an opportunity to get some revenge on a team that narrowly beat them earlier in the season.
The Oregon defense has some serious question marks at all three levels. Ohio State should move the ball at will, much like they did against Tennessee. On the flip side, Oregon had a lot of success against the Buckeyes’ defense in the first matchup. But Dillon Gabriel had to play perfect football. That’s not to say he can’t do it again, but it’s only going to be more difficult the second time around away from their home stadium.
It’s hard to beat a good team twice, and Ohio State will advance on Wednesday, ending Oregon’s perfect season.
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Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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