CFP Round 2 New Year’s Day
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Texas Longhorns -13.5 vs. Arizona State Sun Devils; Total 52
The Arizona State Sun Devils will be fresh off their bye week, ready to face the Texas Longhorns in the Peach Bowl. The Sun Devils spent most of that bye week talking trash about the Longhorns and how they are better than them. Those quotes came from ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt and RB Cam Skattebo. Not that the best defense in the country needed motivation, but I think they will be up to shutting those mouths today.
This matchup is very similar to the one we saw last night between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Boise State Broncos. Texas has some of the best trenches in the country on both sides of the ball. ASU has the skill to move the ball, but how long will a freshman QB be able to hang in with this defense filled with NFL talent? This will be ASU's toughest test of the season. Will Cam Skattebo be able to get any traction against this defense? Georgia was able to run the ball against Texas, but that has been the only team to do so this season.
There has been plenty of talk and rumors around Quinn Ewers this week regarding his talent and the transfer portal. I think this will be Ewers' breakout game. His opportunity to prove his doubters wrong and also bolster his draft stock. With Isaiah Bond back in the lineup for Texas, that'll only help.
The Texas Longhorns will be able to flex and show their supremacy today in this one. They will do it with their defense leading the way. ASU poked the bull, and now they will be getting the horns. Texas by a landslide. No play on the total.
Play: Texas -13.5 (-110) [via DraftKings]
Ohio State Buckeyes -2.5 vs. Oregon Ducks; Total 55.5
The Buckeyes showed the world what their potential is on both sides of the ball after they dominated Tennessee. Was Tennessee a bit overrated and overvalued? Did that contribute to the Buckeyes success? We’ll find out tonight.
Ohio State was still smacked around on their home field against Michigan. Oregon will be bringing the same type of defensive gameplan to OSU today. In my opinion, that game against Tennessee is the only reason why Ohio State is favored. Oregon should be the team laying 2.5 today.
In their meeting earlier in the season, HC Dan Lanning was ultra aggressive in a game he didn’t need to be. If he coached the game in a normal fashion, which is not his style, the Ducks would have easily taken care of Ohio State. It should have been an easier win, instead he made it more difficult on himself and the team.
Ohio State was talking plenty of trash after their Tennessee win for a team who was embarrassed a couple weeks prior. The Oregon defense is rested and will be ready for the challenge. Give me the Ducks looking to prove themselves to the country once again.
Play: Oregon +2.5 (-105) [via DraftKings]
Play: Oregon ML (+120) [via DraftKings]
Notre Dame Fighting Irish -1 vs. Georgia Bulldogs; Total 45
The Sugar Bowl is one of the most intriguing matchups. Georgia will be without QB Carson Beck, so in steps freshman Gunner Stockton. He showed his toughness against Texas but also plenty of flaws after throwing a couple of late interceptions. He will have his hands full against this Notre Dame defense.
The Irish shut down Indiana, which was no surprise, but this will be a huge step up in competition. I expect both of these teams to try and pound the football and use their ground game. Texas was unable to run on Georgia, so Notre Dame will have to figure out a way to throw the football with Riley Leonard. He should get plenty of work running the football too. This one should come down to defense and turnovers. The team that can protect the ball will win this game. I have to give the edge to Notre Dame with their experience at the QB position. Stockton can't turn the ball over. I think we get a grinder game with the Irish coming out on top.
