College Football Playoff
Capital One Orange Bowl
Friday, December 31
ESPN, Time 7:30
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
Michigan vs Georgia
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Oh poor Georgia. It was exposed for not playing anyone that amazing in the regular season, the defensive front couldn’t get to Bryce Young, the offense folded under the pressure, and now all we thought we know about the former No. 1 team in the country turned out to be a mirage.
Michigan has the lines, the toughness, the mentality, and the …
No Research Bowl Prediction: Georgia 30, Michigan 17
Early Bowl Line Guess: Georgia -7.5
Actual Line: Georgia -7.5
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Friday, December 31
ESPN, Time 3:30
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
Alabama vs Cincinnati
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Don’t automatically assume the worst here. Of course it’s Alabama, and of course it looked amazing against Georgia, and of course Cincinnati is that cute story with the one good win as it made its way into the College Football Playoff because there weren’t any other options.
Yeah, whatever. Watch out.
Remember, this is still the Alabama team that needed to go the length of the field to score more than three points against Auburn. It’s the team that got pushed to the edge by Florida, LSU, and Arkansas. It’s about to take a few big punches from a Cincinnati team that’s about to play with its hair on fire. The time off will help Bama get healthier and stronger, but it’ll take a while to start breathing easily.
No Research Bowl Prediction: Alabama 34, Cincinnati 20
Early Bowl Line Guess: Alabama -12.5
Actual Line: Alabama -14
College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T
Monday, January 10
ESPN, 8:00 pm
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
Bowl Prediction: Alabama vs Georgia
Knee-Jerk Instant Analysis: Welcome to the Georgia defense we thought we were getting in the SEC Championship.
Alabama will have all the juice with the Heisman-winning quarterback, the win over Cincinnati, and the fact that it’s Alabama playing Georgia. Everyone knows how this is going to go, because it’s Nick Saban, and it’s his program that doesn’t pass up a shot to win big things when it gets the chance.
Only now the tables have turned from Atlanta. Now Georgia will be the underdog, and the hunter, and the Nobody Believes In Us story, all while Saban keeps slinging his painfully unfunny “rat poison” bit to try pumping up his team that will say all the right things, but deep down will think it has this won before entering the stadium.
This will be the Georgia that was No. 1 throughout the regular season. This will be the defense that won’t get embarrassed like that again.
It won’t be Clemson and Santa Clara, but …
No Research Bowl Prediction: Georgia 34, Alabama 17
Early Bowl Line Guess (if this matchup happens): Alabama -6.5
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2021-2022 Bowl First Thoughts
Dec 17-18: Bahamas, Cure, Boca Raton
New Mexico, Indy, LendingTree, LA
Dec 20-25: Myrtle, Potato, Frisco, AF
Frisco Classic, Gasp, Hawaii, Camellia
Dec 27-28: Quick Lane, Military, Birm
SERVPRO, Liberty, Holiday, Guar Rate
Dec 29-30: Fenway, Pinstripe, Cheez-It
Alamo, Mayo, Music City, Peach, Vegas
Dec 31-Jan 4 Gator, Sun, Arizona, Texas
NY6 Fiesta, Citrus, Rose, Sugar
CFP Cotton, Orange | CFP NC
Bowl Schedule, Game Times