The 12-team playoff commences Friday and continues all day Saturday with host sites in South Bend, Indiana. University Park, PA., Austin Texas and Columbus, Ohio, respectively. 

Should be a riveting weekend of college football. Another interesting game takes place Friday afternoon at the Gaspirarilla Bowl in Tampa as the resurgent Florida Gators take on the Tulane Green Wave.

 Can any of these decided first round underdogs knock off the higher seeds. Here’s my take on what will happen on Friday and Saturday.

 

Friday

 

No. 10 Indiana (11-1) @ No.7 Notre Dame (11-1)

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN. 77,622

7 PM CT

ABC/ESPN

Sean, Gregory, Molly, Katie

Yella: Big 12, David Alvarez

Winner gets No.2 Georgia (11-2) in the Sugar Bowl, Wednesday, 1/1/25, 7:45 PM CT, ESPN

 Fighting Irish by 7

 It’ll be in the mid 20’s at kickoff in Notre Dame Stadium, but neither of these teams will mind. They’re both built for this. I like the Fighting Irish’s running game, quarterback Riley Leonard and the defense to be the difference in this game. The Fighting Irish move on to face No.2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl 1/1/25 at 7:45 PM CT on ESPN..

Notre Dame 21, Indiana 13

 

Saturday

 

No. 11 SMU (11-2) @ No. 6 Penn State (11-2)

Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA. 106, 572

11 AM CT

***TNT/Max***

Mark, Roddy, Quint

Refs: SEC, David Smith

Winner gets No.3 Boise State (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Tuesday, 12/31 at 6:30 PM CT on ESPN.

Penn State by 8 ½

I’m going to go out on a limb here and take the Ponies. The Ponies shock the college football world and move on to face Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, New Year’s Eve at 6:30 PM CT on ESPN.

 SMU 21, Penn State 20

 

No. 12 Clemson (10-3) @No.5 Texas (11-2)

Darrell K. Royal Stadium, Austin, 100, 119

3 PM CT

TNT/Max

Dave, Dusty, Taylor, Laura

Refs: Big Ten, Ron Snodgrass?

Winner gets No. 4 ‘Zona State (11-2) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta Wednesday, 1/1/25 at 12 PM CT on ESPN

Horns by 12

I like Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns to get the job done and move to face Zona State in Atlanta on 1/1/25.

 

Texas 28, Clemson 14

 

No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) @ No.8 Ohio State (10-2)

Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, 102,780

7 PM CT

ABC/ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Refs: ACC, Jerry Magallanes (these names, sheesh).

Winner gets No.1 Oregon (13-0) in the Grandaddy of them all, the Rose Bowl, 4 PM CT, E-S-P-N

Buckeyes by 7

 Going to take quarterback Nico Iamaleava (199-of-305, 66%, 2,512 yards, 19 TDs, 5 ints), running back Dylan Sampson (1,509 yards, 5.8 yards per carry, 22 TDs) and a physical Tennessee defense to lead  them to the upset victory in the Horseshoe and take on Oregon in the Rose Bowl on January 1st, 2025.

 

Tennessee 21, Ohio State 17

 

Friday

Gaspirilla Bowl

Tulane (9-4) vs. Florida (7-5)

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 75,000

2:30 PM CT

ESPN

Anish Shroff, Andre, Carc

Refs: MAC, Matt Packowski (Are you kiddin’ me?)

Gators by 13

 Like the SEC here. Billy Napier and the Gators finish their season strongly.

 

Florida 31, Tulane 17