Starting later this month, and continuing into the first few weeks of January, will be the third installment of the college football playoff. In the coming weeks, many sports analysts, along with half of the nation, will be posting their predictions for the upcoming college football playoff. So, I’ll start the trend and give everyone my predictions for this season’s games.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: 4 Washington vs 1 Alabama:
All the UW fans saying they want 'Bama get their wish! In my opinion, this will be the best game of the college football playoff, hands down. This match-up is going to come down to Jake Browning’s ability to play against Top-10 teams. Against USC and Colorado, Jake Browning had underwhelming statistics for the fantastic season he has had. However, UW managed to keep the loss to USC close and blew out Colorado 41-10, even without great plays from Jake Browning. Fortunate for UW, I think he will take advantage of the chance he has been given, and will play the best game he has played all year. Alabama has a prolific offense, but they have turned the ball over quite a few times this season. UW boasts one of the best defenses in the country, and I like their corner-backs over the Alabama wide receivers. I think this game will be close, but that overall, UW will take advantage of two crucial Jalen Hurts interceptions, put up 10 points because of them, and hold on for the win.
Prediction: Washington 34-20 Alabama
Playstation Fiesta Bowl: 3 Ohio State vs 3 Clemson:
Ohio State snuck into the playoffs, even though they did not deserve to be there. I predict Clemson, with Heisman runner-up Deshaun Watson, will go at Ohio State and prevent them from getting anywhere. Ohio State had luck on their side this season, narrowly escaping in four wins they probably didn’t deserve, and this game is where karma will take her revenge. Not much to say about this game, except that I don’t think that it will be close at all.
Prediction: Clemson 45-14 Ohio State
2016 College Football National Championship Game: 4 Washington vs 2 Clemson:
If you had told me at the beginning of the season that the championship game would be Pac-12 vs ACC, I would have said you were crazy! This is the classic offense vs. defense match-up everyone tries to predict. Unfortunately for Washington (the defense), I don’t think it will go like the Seahawks-Broncos Super Bowl in 2013. Washington has not faced an offense as explosive as Clemson all season, and Clemson has not faced a defense as crisp as Washington all season. At the end of the day, I think this match-up comes down to the ability of Washington to contain Deshaun Watson’s running ability. Consequently, I think Clemson will give Washington the fight of the season. However, Chris Peterson was known for his upsets at Boise State and I think he will pull the biggest upset of all with University of Washington as they upset Clemson. Budda Baker, the stand-out UW safety, has the game of his life and Gaskin runs for 150+ yards. It’ll come down to a 4th down stand, though, and Washington will emerge victorious.
Prediction: Washington 30-22 Clemson
