The College Football Playoff has arrived. Doesn’t seem like it took as long this year to get to it. LSU vs Oklahoma and Clemson vs Ohio State are in star-studded matchups in Atlanta and Glendale, AZ respectively. Who will be playing for the National Championship on Monday, January 13th, 2020 at 7 PM CT on ESPN? We’ll find out later today. It’s time to decide that, so here we are.

Here’s a look at the 2 playoff games with predictions along with the Cotton and the Camping World Bowls predictions.

Semifinal 1

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

No.1 LSU (13-0) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA., 71,000

3 PM CT

ESPN

Sean, Todd, Holly, Laura

Whistles, ACC, Stuart Mullins

LSU by 13 1/2

Both teams are facing some adversity coming in. Oklahoma suspended key defensive end Ronnie Perkins, who had 13 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 sacks this season, and running back Rhamondre Stevenson who had really come on late in the season and 2nd leading tackler safety Delarrin Turner-Yell is injured and out. The Bengal Tigers could be without 1,290 yard rusher Clyde Edwards-Helaire who is battling a hamstring injury. Edwards-Helaire rushed for 16 TDs and caught 50 passes for 399 yards, so he’s quite a weapon for them. O “believes” Edwards-Helaire will play, but it’s still unknown and there’s the question of how much he can go and if he’ll be effective. You never know, sometimes the miraculous happens and these superstars step up and play the games of their lives when the chips are stacked against them. So while it’s a challenging thing for LSU, it could be a miraculous positive thing for them in the end if Edwards-Helaire can be Edwards-Helaire.

OU has plenty of weapons on offense at their disposal. Jalen Hurts has been mostly phenomenal this season for the Sooners. Hurts has completed 222 of 309 passes, 72%, for 3,634 yards, 32 TDs and 7 ints. He has also rushed for 1,255 yards and 18 TDs. That’s a big wow, and there’s no doubt why he was in New York for the Heisman 2 weeks ago. And it couldn’t happen to a better guy, a guy who really paid his dues and hung in there through tough times. As they say, tough times don’t last, tough people do, and Jalen is the epitome of that tried but true statement. He knows how to play in big games, he’s been through a lot of them first for the Crimson Tide and now for the Sooners. Kennedy Brooks rushed for 978 yards and 5 TDs. He’s quality. The awesome CeeDee Lamb is a matchup nightmare for any cornerback, regardless of how good that corner is. Lamb caught 58 passes for 1,208 yards and 14 TDs. Charleston Rambo is next with 42 for 734 and 5 TDs. Lee Morris (18-330, 1 TD) is a walk-on and a total heart guy who is really a good football player. There are others who can really play for the Sooners on the perimeter.

On defense, linebacker Kenneth Murray has posted 95 tackles on the season, 16 1/2 tackles for loss of 58 yards and 4 sacks for -32 yards. Oklahoma has made a major improvement of defense this season moving to 31st in total defense when they had been in the 80’s and 90’s in prior years. First year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has really made a difference and OU’s future is bright defensively if they can keep Grinch. He’ll be a head coach in the next couple of years.

For LSU it all starts with Heisman winner Joe Burrow. His numbers are off the charts great. Joe has completed 342 of 439 passes, 78%,, for 4,715 yards, 48 TDs against only 6 ints. Joe’s the second leading rusher on the team with 289 yards and 3 TDs. If Edwards-Helaire can’t play, Tyrion Davis-Price, a redshirt freshman (270 yards, 6 TDs), and freshmen John Emery Jr. (36-182, 3) and Chris Curry (22-99 0 TDs) will be a running back by committee trifecta. But LSU has the seriously great weapons on the perimeter as well. Ja’Marr Chase caught 73 passes for 1,498 yards and 18 TDs, Justin Jefferson caught 88 passes for 1,207 yards and 14 TDs, and Terrace Marshall caught 37 passes for 545 yards and 10 TDs. Tight end Thaddeus Moss is a weapon as well. He caught 38 passes for 435 yards and a TD.

On defense, linebacker Jacob Phillips leads the team in tackles with 97. But the unquestionable leader on defense for the Bengal Tigers is safety Grant Delpit who posted 56 tackles and 2 ints on the season. His ints are down from last season, but he was banged up a little this year. He’s the total leader of this defense. And sensational freshman Derek Stingley posed 6 ints this season. The defense had their issues several times this season, but played good games against Texas A&M (50-7) and Georgia (37-10) to finish off the year. Those aren’t prolific offenses, but that’s still a good days work in both games. They did give up 41 to the Crimson Tide and 37 to Ole Miss.

Final Analysis and Decision

Both offenses should have good afternoons, but I like Joe and the Bengal Tigers to keep their dream season going. This offense is as good as it gets in college football in recent years, and I see Joe, his receivers, and Edwards-Helaire, if he plays, advancing to the National Championship game.

LSU 48, Oklahoma 34

Semifinal 2

Playstation Fiesta Bowl

No.2 Ohio State (13-0) vs. No. 3 Clemson (13-0)

State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, 63,400

7 PM CT

ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Maria, Tom

Refs, SEC, Ken Williamson

Clemson by 2 1/2

There are playmakers in abundance on both sides. Trevor Lawrence (232-of-337, 69%, 3,172 yards, 34 TDs and 8 ints) is spectacular along with running back Travis Etienne (182-1,500, 17 TDs) and wide receivers Tee Higgins (52-1,082, 13 TDs) and Justyn Ross (55-742, 8 TDs). That offensive cast is all back from last season’s national championship team and better than ever. The defense is led by linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who recorded 93 tackles on the season and 6 sacks. Safety Tanner Muse leads the teams in ints with 4. The Clemson defense leads the country in scoring defense allowing 10.6 per game. This is a stellar team though they played an extremely soft schedule.

Justin Fields has been one of the main stories for Ohio State. The Georgia quarterback transfer has completed 208-of-308 passes, 68%, for 2,953 yards, 40 TDs against 1 interception. That’s beyond spectacular. Running back J.K. “All Day” Dobbins has been just as terrific rushing for 1,829 yards and 20 TDs. Wide receiver Chris Olave pulled in 46 passes for 799 yards and 11 TDs. K.J. Hill added 51 receptions for 569 yards and 10 TDs and wide out Benjimen Victor pulled in 31 passes for 507 yards and 6 TDs. Garrett Wilson added 26 receptions for 385 yards and 5 TDs.

On defense the great defensive end Chase Young had 16 1/2 sacks for -117 yards. Cornerback Jeff Okudah is one of the best in the country with 3 ints this season, and opposing quarterbacks were afraid to test him he was so good.

So 2 highly talented teams that put up amazing numbers this season on both sides of the ball. They’ll collide in Glendale at 7 PM CT.

Final Decision

While I believe in both of these teams, their coaches and their elite players, I do like the defending champions to emerge but in a highly competitive contest.

Clemson 31, Ohio State 27

Today at 11 AM CT

Goodyear Cotton Bowl

No.10 Penn State (10-2) vs. No.17 Memphis (12-1)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX, 100,000

ESPN

Mark Jones, Dusty Dvoracek, Olivia Dekker

Refs, ACC, Jeff Flanagan

Penn State by 7

I like Penn State wide receiver KJ Hamler (54-858, 8 TDs) and a pretty solid defense to be the difference though Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell (1,425 yards, 12 TDs) and wide receivers Damonte Coxie (68-1,144, 9 TDs) and Antonio Gibson (32, 636, 8 TDs) will make it interesting.

Penn State 35, Memphis 30

Today at 11 AM CT

Camping World Bowl

Notre Dame (10-2) vs. Iowa State (7-5)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 65,438

ABC

Bob Wischusen, Dan Orlovksy, Allison Williams

Refs, SEC, David Smith

Notre Dame by 3 1/2

Like the Fighting Irish and quarterback Ian Book (220-of-371, 59%, 33 TDs, 6 ints) to just get by a scrappy Iowa State team led by quarterback Brock Purdy (295-of-445, 66%, 3,760 yards, 27 TDs, 9 ints) and talented freshman running back Breece Hall (842 yards, 9 TDs).

Notre Dame 34, Iowa State 31