COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEW

By, Ty Roder

The College Football Playoff is entering it’s fourth year with all the drama you could hope for.  You have three conference champions and one goliath in Alabama. The Playoff selection committee hopes as each year goes by selecting the final four becomes easier. 2017 seemed as such. Although Ohio State won the Big Ten, there is no getting past the devastating loss to Iowa, and this was their second loss. Alabama only lost to Auburn who at the time was a top-10 team in their own right. Georgia and Oklahoma both were in as long as they won their conference championships.

Lets start with the first game. The almighty Rose Bowl, college football’s first postseason game. For No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 3 Georgia the game features the 2017 Heisman Trophy Winner in Baker Mayfield who threw for the second most passing yards in FBS this year along with a high-powered Oklahoma offense. They go up against a stout Georgia defense, who like Alabama only lost to Auburn in the regular season. They have the fourth best points per game allowed on defense at 13.2 and rank in the top ten in Passing yards allowed and overall defense.

Prediction: Georgia will hope to stymie Mayfield at the start but the defense won’t be able to sustain the dual-threat playmakers ability for four quarters. Expect a shootout that leaves both defenses exhausted in the fourth quarter.  Mayfield and the Sooners will come out on top and hope to ride their recent impressive victories into the National Championship.

The Sugar Bowl features No. 1 Clemson vs. No. 4 Alabama. Although Alabama is the four seed don’t count them out in a epic Trilogy with each of the past two national champions squaring off this time in a Semifinal matchup. Jalen Hurts and the Crimson Tide hope to revenge last years’ loss with a equally impressive defense that most SEC teams boast. Clemson plans on utilizing Kelly Bryant’s mobility just like they did with Deshaun Watson the previous two years.

Prediction: Alabama will have a healthy defense that will push Bryant to make errant throws early in the game. Jalen Hurts will perform on the big stage after losing as a true freshmen against a veteran Clemson Defense. The key to this years’ playoff is who can give up the least amount of points. Oklahoma has the Heisman winner and Alabama has Nick Saban who has mastered college football over the past decade. This year, the College Football Playoff should have lots of fireworks, but the eventual outcome shouldn’t venture far from what we all expect.

Picture Credits: sportingnews.com, annistonstar.com