Here are my picks for the 2018-19 College Football Playoff Semifinals.
Saturday, December 29th
Goodyear Cotton Bowl: (3) Notre Dame (12-0) vs (2) Clemson (13-0; 8-0)- 4:00, ESPN: These two teams hooked up a few years ago and played a classic game in Death Valley in which the Tigers came away victorious. The Irish have had a phenomenal season and deserve to be in this position and Ian Book has been great since becoming their starting quarterback. The quarterback change for the Tigers has changed the ceiling of their team too from going to Trevor Lawrence from Kelly Bryant. The Tigers have key defensive players suspended for this matchup most notably Dexter Lawrence and that could open things up for the Irish's offense to go toe to toe with the Tigers. That said, the Tigers are still the better team and I don't trust the Irish defense to get big stops against the Tigers offense.
Prediction: Clemson 42, Notre Dame 34.
Capital One Orange Bowl: (4) Oklahoma (12-1; 8-1) vs (1) Alabama (13-0; 8-0)- 8:00, ESPN: This is going to be a fascinating game for so many reasons. The Sooners do belong here over Georgia courtesy of the fact they are a conference champion and the Bulldogs are not plus, the Bulldogs have two losses and the Sooners are perhaps missed field goal away from being unbeaten. The Sooners offense is the best in the country led by Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray. Meanwhile, the Sooners defense is the worst unit of the four playoffs and Tua Tagovailoa and that Tide offense will thrive off of it. Meanwhile, the Sooner offense is the best one the Tides defense will see all season so the Tides defense has a big test at hand. Nick Saban suspended a few players including a starting offensive lineman, but we won't know how big of a loss they are until we see how they play on the field. That said, the best player on the field (if the ankle is ok) will be Tua Tagovailoa and I think the Tide roll to their fourth straight National Championship game.
Prediction: Alabama 44, Oklahoma 27.
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