NCAAF · 11 months ago

College Football Playoff Bracket Picks: Predicting Every CFP Game

Zack Cook

Host · Writer

No. 1 Oregon vs No. 2 Georgia
The storylines for this matchup practically write themselves. Dan Lanning, a former member of Kirby Smart’s staff, faces off against the very program where he helped win a national championship. In a storybook ending, Lanning leads his team to glory, capturing his first national title as a head coach.

Pick: Oregon Ducks, National Champions

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No. 10 Indiana vs No. 7 Notre Dame
Aside from a dismal outing against Northern Illinois, Notre Dame has put together a steady and consistent season. While Indiana has shown similar reliability, I have more confidence in the Fighting Irish defense, especially with the advantage of playing at home.

Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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No. 11 SMU vs No. 6 Penn State
SMU’s rise to prominence this season as the ACC runner-up has been a great storyline, but the Penn State Nittany Lions hold the edge in nearly every phase of the game. Expect those advantages to shine through from the opening whistle.

Pick: Penn State Nittany Lions
No. 12 Clemson vs No. 5 Texas
The general sentiment is that the Texas Longhorns are poised to dominate the Clemson Tigers. While I don’t see this turning into an outright rout, the Longhorns’ defense should prove overwhelming and be the deciding factor in the matchup.

Pick: Texas Longhorns
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State
Of all the four games in the opening round, this one might be the toughest to call. The Tennessee Volunteers closed the season on a high note, while the Ohio State Buckeyes are coming off a grueling, emotionally draining loss to Michigan. This game feels like it could go one of two ways: either Ohio State’s superior talent shines through at home for a convincing win, or the Buckeyes struggle to shake off the mental toll of their recent setback. At the moment, I’m leaning toward the latter with the success the Volunteers had running the football this year.

Pick: Tennessee Volunteers
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No. 1 Oregon vs No. 9 Tennessee
Should the Volunteers get past the Buckeyes, they’ll face an uphill battle against a well-rested Oregon squad. While this won’t be a walk in the park for the Ducks, their steady play throughout the season should carry them to victory in the end.

Pick: Oregon Ducks
No. 4 Arizona State vs No. 5 Texas
It’s not that the Sun Devils don’t deserve credit for their accomplishments this season. The issue is they haven’t faced a team with the sheer talent and depth that Texas brings to the table.

Pick: Texas Longhorns
No. 2 Georgia vs No. 7 Notre Dame
While mobile quarterbacks have posed challenges for the Bulldogs this season, I believe Georgia has what it takes to get the job done here. When it comes to big-game preparation, few do it better than Kirby Smart.

Pick: Georgia Bulldogs
No. 3 Boise State vs No. 6 Penn State
While the Boise State Broncos managed to keep things close against Oregon earlier this season, I don’t see them belonging in the same conversation as the elite programs from the Big Ten. They’re welcome to prove me wrong, but I’m skeptical that they’ll pull it off.

Pick: Penn State Nittany Lions
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No. 1 Oregon vs No. 5 Texas
What a showdown this would be. In a tightly contested battle, the Ducks' dynamic offensive firepower ultimately proves to be the difference, edging out the Longhorns. For Texas, it’s heartbreak once again as they come up short for the second straight year.

Pick: Oregon Ducks
No. 2 Georgia vs No. 6 Penn State
Penn State shares many of the same strengths as Georgia, but the Bulldogs hold a slight edge in those key areas. In a game like this, that small advantage is enough to tip the scales in Georgia’s favor.

Pick: Georgia Bulldogs
No. 1 Oregon vs No. 2 Georgia
The storylines for this matchup practically write themselves. Dan Lanning, a former member of Kirby Smart’s staff, faces off against the very program where he helped win a national championship. In a storybook ending, Lanning leads his team to glory, capturing his first national title as a head coach.

Pick: Oregon Ducks, National Champions

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
No. 10 Indiana vs No. 7 Notre Dame
Aside from a dismal outing against Northern Illinois, Notre Dame has put together a steady and consistent season. While Indiana has shown similar reliability, I have more confidence in the Fighting Irish defense, especially with the advantage of playing at home.

Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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College Football Playoff Bracket Picks: Predicting Every CFP Game

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