We now have a national  championship matchup on the schedule after two teams advanced through three rounds of the inaugural 12-team playoff to reach the coveted destination in college football for the 2024 season, N’Awlins, where they will square off Monday, January 20th, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the ultimate award in college football, the National Championship trophy.

 The 7th seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame survived and advanced in a phenomenal contest with the 6th seeded Penn State Nittany Lions on Thursday Night at the Orange Bowl winning by virtue of a last second 41 yard field goal by kicker Mitch Jeter to “matriculate” to Atlanta by a score of 27-24.

They’ll face the 8th seeded and powerful Ohio State Buckeyes, a 28-14 winner over 5th seeded Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington Friday Night. I don’t know what player the Tennessee Titans are thinking about picking for their first overall pick in the NFL draft in Green Bay (awesome venue) April 24th-26th(Thursday-Saturday), but they’d do well to select Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer. He’s a force; a game changer. His sack and scoop and 83-yard take it to the house score to clinch the game for the Buckeyes Friday Night with 2:28 left in the game was a historically great play in college football history; particularly in the postseason. Has to go down as one of the great plays in postseason college football history.  Former Alabama superstar safety Caleb Downs was spectacular as well for the Buckeyes.

 So, it’s the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish at 6:30 PM CT, Monday, 1/20/25, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with ESPN and several other platforms broadcasting. ESPN is the best bet. The Buckeyes are already a 9 ½ point favorite. The Fighting Irish are extremely scrappy and talented, but the Buckeyes are totally loaded. Should be an electric atmosphere. Nothing like college football, I must say. Have really enjoyed the new 12-team playoff. Was skeptical before it because I didn’t know if some of the teams could handle the injury toll of possibly playing four games with injuries being such an X factor. But the Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish persevered. It’s been a thriller, particularly the semifinal games..

 I’ll break it down and predict the CFB National Championship on Monday, 1/20/25 and have that column out late that morning.

 College Football Record so Far

Postseason: SU: 16-9; ATS 12-13.

Season: SU: 168-64 (72%); ATS: 120-111 (52%).

 

NFL Playoffs, Wild Card Predictions

 

There are six games on the slate starting with 2 contests today. There will be three more games Sunday and one on Monday.

 Here are analyses of the games and which of the teams I like to win and advance to the Divisional Round next weekend with quarterback “Football is Life!” and Coach “Fumble-rooooski” waiting in the AFC as the No.1 seed, and Dan Campbell, Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions waiting in the NFC as its’ No.1 seed.

 

All Times Central

 

Today

 

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, 6-3 Away) @ Houston Texans (10-7, 5-3 Home)

 NRG Stadium, Rocket City, 72,220

 3:30 PM

 CBS

 Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn

 Laundry: Land Clark

 Chargers by 3

 It’s a nice matchup of quarterbacks with the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and the Texans’ C.J. Stroud squaring off. Herbert’s been pretty good overall and Stroud is talented and had an excellent season in 2023, but both have struggled with consistency. DeMeco Ryans is a stellar coach and the Texans are solid, but I’ll take younger brother Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers here.

 

Chargers 21, Texans 17

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, 5-4 Away) @ Baltimore Ravens (12-5, 6-2)

 M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, 71,008

 7 PM

 Prime Video

 Al, Kirk (doin work!), Kaylee

 Vogue, Alex Kemp

 Ravens by 9

 

How do you deny Lamar and Derrick, as long as the dog stays off the couch! Big Brother John Harbugh and his electrically talented team forge ahead.

 Ravens 27, Steelers 17

 

Sunday

 

Denver Broncos (10-7, 4-5 Away) @ Buffalo Bills (13-4, 8-0)

 Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y., 71,608

 12 PM

 CBS

 Jim, Tone, Trace

 Mark’s Cleaners, Bill Vinovich

 Bills by 8 ½

 

Josh Allen is Lamar’s number one competitor for the MVP of the National Football League, but I like Sean Payton, Bo Nix and the Broncos to keep this closer than anticipated.

 Bills 27, Broncos 21

 

 

Green Bay Packers (11-6, 5-3 Away) @ Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, 8-1 Home)

 Lincoln Financial Field, Philly, 67,594

 3:30 PM

 FOX

 Kevin, Tom, EA, Tom R.

Aladdin, Brad Allen

 Birds by 5

 

Jalen Hurts is back after two weeks of concussion protocol and he, 2,000 yard rusher Saquon Barkley, the great wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith get it done over a scrappy Packers team. I love the Packers and think they have a shot. My good friend, who’s a golf pro, is a huge Packers fan as he is from Wisconsin, so I’d like to see them have success. Nonetheless, I just think the Eagles are too much at home. The Eagles will be a major factor this postseason. My older daughter’s boyfriend is from Philly, so I pull for him a lot, too.

 

Eagles 31, Packers 24

 

 

Washington Commanders (12-5, 5-3 Away) @ Tampa Bay Bucs (10-7, 6-4 Home)

 

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 75,000

 7 PM

 NBC

 Mike, Cris, Melissa

 Suds and Duds (Due Rights’ 4-footers): Craig Wrolstad

 Bucs by 3

 

I was ready to pick the great rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders last night. He’s a magician. However, I’ll take the Bucs’ Bake Mayfield and his experience, and a reinforced secondary with free safety Antoine Winfield and former Auburn standout, cornerback Jamel Dean, back from injuries and starting That’s huge.

 

Bucs 28, Commanders 24

 

Monday

 

Minnesota Vikings (14-3, 6-2 Away) @ Los Angeles Rams (10-7, 6-4 Home)

 State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, 63,400

 7 PM

 ESPN

 Joe, Troy, Lisa

 Wash and Go, John Hussey

 Vikings by 2 ½

 This game was moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.  to Glendale due to the tragic Palisades Fire occurring for the past four days in L.A. Thoughts and prayers go out to the people of greater Los Angeles. I like the Rams to play for their city and pull off the slight upset. Matthew Stafford and his Rams advance to the Divisional Round.

 

Rams 24, Vikings 21