The College Football Playoff highlight New Year’s Eve action
The College Football Playoff highlight New Year’s Eve action. Well, it’s finally here. The semifinals for the CFB Playoff. Here is everything you need to know and more about today/tonight’s matchups.
Vrbro Fiesta Bowl 4pm ESPN, State Farm Stadium, Glendale Arizona
#3 TCU (12-1) vs. #2 Michigan (13-0)
After winning back-to-back Big Ten titles for the first time since 2003-04, Michigan will also be making back-to-back Playoff appearances. Sitting at 13-0, this Michigan team has already achieved the most wins in a single season in program history.
With a win vs TCU, Michigan would join 2002 Ohio State and 2014 Ohio State as the only Big Ten teams to win 14 games in a season. No Big Ten team has ever won 15 games in a single season.
Michigan finished the regular season with a +347 points differential, its best in a regular season since 1905 when the Wolverines outscored their opponents 495-2.
TCU reached the Playoff despite being outside the AP Top-25 entering the season. They are the 2nd team to accomplish this feat in the CFP era, joining Michigan from last season.
The Horned Frogs are used to being long shots at this point. TCU had 200-1 odds to win the title entering the season per Caesars Sportsbook, the longest such odds by a team to reach the College Football Playoff.
If the Horned Frogs win the national title, they would have gone 83 years between championships. That would be far the longest span between titles in the AP Poll Era (since 1936).
Second Half Domination For Both Schools
Michigan has the best 2nd-half scoring margin by any team entering bowl season in the College Football Playoff era. The only better 2nd-half scoring margin in the last 15 seasons entering bowl season belongs to 2013 Florida State (+243).
TCU has also been a big 2nd half team, usually because they’ve been behind. They have excelled when trailing in the 2nd half, winning 5 games when down after halftime. That is tied with Troy, North Carolina and Coastal Carolina for the most such wins in the FBS.
The Lines and Pete’s Best Bet Prediction
(as of 10am, 12/31) Michigan -7.5 Total 58
I’m taking over 58
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl 8pm ESPN, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
#4 Ohio State (12-1) vs. #1 Georgia (13-0)
This year’s Bulldogs team will be the 6th team in the Playoff era to make the Playoff the year after winning the national title. In the previous five instances, the teams were unable to defend their title with 4 of the 5 specifically losing in the National Title Game (Alabama, 2011-12, is the last team to win back-to-back national titles).
The Bulldogs are also looking to repeat as national champions, something that has not been done since Alabama in 2011-12. Since 1990, the only other schools to win back-to-back national titles are Nebraska (1994-95) and USC (2003-04).
Ohio State has won 6 national titles, the 5th-most by any school in the AP Poll Era (since 1936). Note: For USC, this includes its 2004 title, which was later vacated.
Stroud looks to handle Georgia’s stout defense
C.J. Stroud and the Ohio State offense continues to be among the nation’s best, ranking 2nd in the FBS in yards per play at 7.3. When Ohio State has the ball, it will be strength on strength as the highest-scoring team takes on a Georgia team that allowed the 2nd-fewest points in the FBS. The last time a matchup like this occurred was in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl, when Ohio State’s top-ranked scoring offense met Clemson’s top-ranked scoring defense in the CFP Semifinal.
Bennett & the Georgia offense vs a revamped OSU Defense
Stetson Bennett finished 4th in Heisman voting, becoming the first Georgia player invited to New York since Garrison Hearst in 1992. Bennett is 24-1 as a starter since the start of last season, the most wins by a starting QB in
that span.
Bennett has been a winner in his career, going 27-3 as a starting quarterback. Entering the College Football Playoff, Bennett’s .900 win percentage as a starting QB is tied for the 3rd-best in SEC history (min. 30 starts). Bennett is also 24-1 as a starting quarterback over the last 2 seasons.
Bennett has an opportunity to win a national title for a 2nd straight season. Over the last 25 seasons, there are two starting QBs to win a national title in consecutive seasons: 2003-04 Matt Leinart and 2011-12 AJ McCarron.
The Lines and Pete’s Best Bet Prediction
(as of 10am, 12/31) Georgia -6 Total 62.5
I’m taking over 62.5
Enjoy the games everyone and please have a safe, healthy and Happy New Year. Shemon and Sheppard will be back on the air Tuesday, January 3rd, 2-6pm
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