CFP Round 2 Preview
The matchups for the second round of the College Football Playoff is set. The atmospheres at the home stadiums were electric as a new era of college football was ushered in. Unfortunately, that was about the only thing that was electric since all the games were a blowout. However, I am not discouraged in the least. This is just the first year and we can only go up from here. If you look at any sport, many of the first rounds of their respective playoffs aren’t necessarily the closest games. They will likely fix the seeding next season and the games will be a little bit more competitive in the first round.
With all that being said, I think the games this round will be much more exciting. I am intrigued with all four matchups and I think these games are the ones we’ve been waiting for all season. All eight teams have earned the right to be here and a few are being overlooked. There is a great balance of top tier teams along with teams that have a chip on their shoulder. With all the excitement my previews and predictions are below:
Round 1 Record: 4-0
Boise State vs. Penn State (Fiesta Bowl)
Boise State
Best Players: Ashton Jeanty, Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Cameron Camper, Ahmed Hassanein, and Maddux Madsen
Best Wins: vs. UNLV x2, vs. Washington State
Losses: @ Oregon
Penn State
Best Players: Tyler Warren, Abdul Carter, Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaytron Allen
Best Wins: vs. Illinois, vs, SMU, @Minnesota
Losses: vs. Ohio State & vs. Oregon
Game Analysis
The Broncos are playing their first game of this college football playoff after earning a first round bye. This is a very talented Boise State team but we have to start by mentioning star running back Ashton Jeanty. He was without a doubt the best running back in the country and would have been my vote for the Heisman. Jeanty is 4th all time in rushing yards in a season and is looking to climb that list in the coming weeks. With the ability to break it for a long run and the strength to run through you, he is a top NFL prospect. With Jeanty’s record-setting season, quarterback Maddux Madsen and other playmakers on Boise’s offense have flown under the radar. Madsen isn’t the most exciting quarterback but has made big plays when it matters and has the ability to run. Most importantly, he has taken care of the ball this season. Defensively the front seven for the Broncos are disruptive, boasting 4 players that have 5.5 or more sacks. Similarly to the pass game for their offense, the defensive secondary for Boise State is capable but certainly not the strength of their team. The Broncos will look to own the trenches and take control of this game early.
Penn State won their opening round game against SMU as expected. I thought the game would be a little closer but the Nittany Lions took care of business. They forced SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings into some early turnovers that they the Mustangs were never able to recover from. This Penn State team has an improved offense under the guidance of new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Their bread and butter is still the run game with their two headed monster at running back. This season has brought out the best of Drew Allar and turned Tyler Warren into a star. The Nittany Lions’ defense is a real strength for this team. We saw it in the first round, they can create a short field for their offense and really tank the momentum of an opposing team. I expect this team to rely on star players like Tyler Warren and Abdul Carter as they have a more talented roster compared to a smaller school like Boise State.
This game will likely be decided in the trenches. This is a strength on strength for both the Broncos and Nittany Lions. Each program expects to dominate their opponents near the line of scrimmage and the question marks are in the secondary and passing game. I think most people are leaning towards this game being a blowout, but don’t forget that Boise hung in with Oregon earlier this season. Ashton Jeanty will be a focal point for both sides. If Penn State can neutralize him then the game will be a lot easier for them to win. I’m not sure if they’ll be able to completely shut down the Boise star but the they’ll need to keep him under control and make Madsen beat them. I think Boise can hang in there but I expect Penn State to win this one without too much stress. The new look Nittany Lions will be be able to remain balanced offensively and will likely cause a couple turnovers to help their cause.
Prediction: Penn State 35 Boise State 24
Arizona State vs. Texas (Peach Bowl)
Arizona State
Best Players: Cam Skattebo, Jordan Tyson (Out for season), Keith Abney II, Shamari Simmons, and Sam Leavitt
Best Wins: @ Kansas St, vs. BYU, vs. Iowa St
Losses: @ Texas Tech, @ Cincinnati
Texas
Best Players: Quinn Ewers, Matthew Golden, Kelvin Banks Jr., Anthony Hill Jr., and Gunnar Helm.
Best Wins: @ Michigan, @Texas A&M, vs. Clemson
Losses: vs. Georgia x2
Game Analysis
Arizona State is a team that does not lack confidence to say the least. This is exemplified by head coach Kenny Dillingham and star running back Cam Skattebo. It’s well documented that this team was picked to finish dead last in the Big 12. They defied the preseason odds and ended up winning the conference in resounding fashion. To make a run in the playoff this year, the Sun Devils will have to rely heavily on their offense. Skattebo is one of the best running backs in the country, noteable for his punishing run style mixed with his versatility as a pass catcher. This offense took a hit when star receiver Jordan Tyson suffered a season ending injury. Sam Leavitt has proved to be a dual threat quarterback that can show out when the lights are the brightest. He’ll need to continue that trend as they take on the Longhorns. Defensively there are some defensive backs that are playmakers but overall they have not been an impressive unit this season. To move on, the Sun Devils will need to put up a lot of points.
The Texas Longhorns won in the first round against the Clemson Tigers. This win was powered by a dominating performance on the ground where the Longhorns ran for 292 rushing yards. Quinn Ewers gets a lot of the attention so the dominant rushing performance caught many people by surprise. Moving forward, this offense has the ability to remain balanced. Ewers has underperformed this season but still is an incredibly talented quarterback that can lead the Longhorns further into this playoff bracket. I think the Longhorns will be able to do just about anything they want offensively. The Texas defense didn’t look as stout as I expected against Clemson. However, I’m going to give a lot of credit there to the play of Cade Klubnik as opposed to a knock on the Longhorns defense. This defense is flushed with playmakers and is a very fast unit that causes issues for opposing teams. Texas has all the potential to make a run, they just need to avoid turnovers and penalties.
This game is being overlooked a bit, but I think it has the potential to be a lot of fun. The Longhorns are going into the game as favorites against a Sun Devils defense that likely won’t be able to stop them. Arizona State will lean heavily on Skattebo and put up some points, but the loss of Jordan Tyson really hurts their big play ability to keep up with Texas. I expect the Longhorns to put up a ton of points here. The Sun Devils can stay in offensively but I expect a bounce back performance by the Longhorn defense this week. You never know what can happen, but I fully expect the Longhorns to win this one without having to sweat too much.
Prediction: Texas 38 Arizona State 24
Oregon vs. Ohio State (Rose Bowl)
Oregon
Best Players: Dillon Gabriel, Jordan James, Jordan Burch, Tez Johnson, and Matayo Uiagelelei
Best Wins: vs Boise State, vs Ohio State, vs. Penn State
Losses: None
Ohio State
Best Players: Jeremiah Smith, Caleb Downs, Quinshon Judkins, Donovan Jackson, and Jack Sawyer
Best Wins: @ Penn St, vs. Indiana, vs. Tennessee
Losses: @ Oregon & vs. Michigan
Game Analysis
The Oregon Ducks went undefeated in regular season, won the Big 10, and earned the #1 seed in the College Football Playoff. They accomplished all that just to get the toughest matchup of the second round against Ohio State. We’ll talk some more about the matchup later, because Oregon deserves a lot of props for their season. As always, the Ducks have an electric offense that can put up points in a hurry. Lead by Heisman Finalist Dillon Gabriel, this offense is full of weapons for the veteran quarterback to work with. These weapons include running back Jordan James and receivers Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart to make big plays for the star studded offense. Gabriel leads the charge and distributes the ball to his weapons making this offense nearly impossible to stop. Dan Lanning has brought about a new mentality which has improved the play of the Oregon defense in recent years. While nobody will confuse them with the defensive juggernaut that Georgia has had in recent years, they are no pushover like the Oregon teams of the past. They possess two dynamic pass rushers in Burch and Uiagelelei while also having ball hawks on the back end. The Ducks offense will get all the attention but the defense holding their ground will be just as critical for Oregon.
The Ohio State Buckeyes answered the call against Tennessee in Round 1 and put together the most dominating performance of the CFP so far. I thought there was a chance they struggled and thought the Oregon loss may have derailed their season, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Ohio State controlled the entire game and never took their foot off the petal. Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly seemed to remember that they possibly have the best receiving corps in the country. Star Jeremiah Smith and company are an advantage that few teams will be able to overcome on the outside. Their two headed monster in the backfield is big time against teams that are also physical, like the Buckeyes, will need to also get their pass catchers involved. With all the stars on the offensive side of the ball, it’s surprising that the Ohio State defense has been their best unit. With playmakers at all three levels of the defense, they are a tough unit to score on. They will be able to put pressure on the quarterback, make tackles in open space, and intercept any ball that is an inaccurate pass. Despite Oregon being the #1 seed this year, Ohio State will not be an easy out.
Unsurprisingly, this will be the most anticipated matchup of the 2nd round. These two teams met back in October with Oregon winning 32-31. I expect this matchup to be very similar and this game will likely come down to the wire. Ohio State will look to establish their run game but ultimately will rely heavily on their pass catchers to win them this game. The trio of Smith, Egbuka, and Tate are nearly impossible for any defense to cover. On the Oregon side of things, their trio of receivers are just as elite. Their offense will put up points, so a majority of the pressure will fall on their defense. The offensive line for Ohio State is banged up but still very talented. The Buckeyes offensive line vs the Ducks defensive line will be a crucial match up to watch in this game. In a matchup that honestly feels like a national championship game, this game will come down to which team can execute the best and avoid turnovers. This game can go either way but I give a slight edge to the Ducks in another close game. Ultimately, I trust Dillon Gabriel a little more than I trust Buckeye signal caller Will Howard.
Prediction: Oregon 31 Ohio State 27
Georgia vs. Notre Dame (Sugar Bowl)
Georgia
Best Players: Malaki Starks, Jalon Walker, Tate Ratledge, Mykel Williams, and Trevor Etienne
Best Wins: vs. Clemson, @ Texas (x2), vs. Tennessee
Losses: @ Alabama, @ Ole Miss
Notre Dame
Best Players: Jeremiah Love, Xavier Watts, Riley Leonard, Howard Cross III, and Jack Kiser
Best Wins: @ Texas A&M, vs. Louisville, vs. Indiana
Losses: vs. Northern Illinois
Game Analysis
You can’t discuss the Georgia Bulldogs without mentioning the major loss of starting quarterback Carson Beck. They will instead be going with inexperienced Sophomore Gunner Stockton. Beck was not lights out this season, but his experience as a multi-year starter was incredibly valuable. Stockton is a great runner but his passing ability in the SEC Championship left a lot to be desired. Unfortunately for Stockton, the Bulldogs also don’t have the dynamic weapons that they’ve had in seasons past. Trevor Etienne and Arian Smith are home run threats on any play, but injuries and inconsistency have left a lot to be desired this year. What Georgia does have is an elite defense with a player like Malaki Starks that brings championship experience. The SEC champs will put a lot of pressure on the Notre Dame offense. The speed of this defensive unit for Georgia will make it hard for any competition. The offense isn’t incapable, but even more pressure relies on that elite defense now.
The Fighting Irish dominated Indiana in the very first game of this twelve team playoff. The final score was a little closer due to a late surge by Indiana, but the game was already over at that point. Notre Dame’s offense got the job done against a sturdy Hoosier defense. Jeremiah Love battled through an illness to dash for a 98 yard touchdown early in the game. The offense wasn’t as explosive after that but Leonard, Love, and crew got the job done. The challenge is more difficult this round against one of the nations best defenses that will likely make Leonard prove himself as a passer. The defense for Notre Dame is really their strong suit. Outside of Xavier Watts, they lack the household names that some of the other defenses have, but they play well together as a unit. There is a lot of experience mixed in with players like Freshman corner Leonard Moore that have taken advantage of the opportunities given to them. A total team effort will be needed from the golden domers to get past a talented Georgia squad.
This is another game that will be close. Both defenses are strong while both offenses pose major question marks. Georgia’s defense will be the best unit that Notre Dame has faced so far this season. The speed will create real challenges for Riley Leonard in the biggest game of his career. Notre Dame will look to do the same to Gunner Stockton. Ideally you’d like a young quarterback to be able to lean on star position players in a situation like this. As I mentioned earlier, the Bulldogs do not have that luxury this season. I think this mixed with the running ability that Love/Leonard possess for Notre Dame give the Irish an edge over the talented Bulldogs. After watching Haynes King of Georgia Tech tear up the Bulldogs in the final regular season game, I expect Notre Dame to have a similar attack with Riley Leonard. This game could truly go either way, but I think the Irish win a close one here and move on.
Prediction: Notre Dame 24 Georgia 16
Get ready for an awesome couple days of football to ring in the new year. As I’ve said since Week 0 of the season, enjoy it because it’ll be over before we know it. The slate is packed and I hope everyone has game time snacks ready to roll and their favorite spot on the couch prepared. Also warn your friends and family because there will be nothing on our mind besides football as these games take place. I am definitely not expecting to go perfect in this round, but please note that I did take two teams that are currently underdogs. Enjoy this weekend and I will meet back with you all here as we prepare for the semi-final round in about a week.