There is so much sports on the calendar this week that it’s almost easy to forget that the three biggest games of the college football season are yet to be played. That changes on New Year’s Day when the semifinals of the College Football Playoff kick off, and the eventual national champion takes one step closer to the title.
It also leads us right into the final week of the NFL regular season and the sports betting bonanza that is the month of January.
Rose Bowl – Notre Dame vs. Alabama (-19.5)
Only the year 2020 could give us a Rose Bowl game played in Arlington, Texas, and Notre Dame making the game as a representative from the ACC. But since 2021 will be upon us by the time this game begins, let’s talk about the football.
Notre Dame is very good. The Fighting Irish beat Clemson earlier in the season, only to lose to the Tigers in the ACC Championship Game. That is the only blemish on an otherwise stellar record that comes from Notre Dame playing great defense and featuring an offensive line that is one of the best in the country.
That offensive line will be key because it absolutely has to keep the Notre Dame offense humming against Alabama. Even with a great Irish defense, we know Alabama is going to score.
Both quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith are Heisman Trophy finalists, and running back Najee Harris just missed the cut as the fifth-highest vote-getter.
Can Notre Dame keep pace with Alabama? The bookmakers clearly don’t think so.
Sugar Bowl – Ohio State vs. Clemson (-7.5)
As soon as Clemson closed out its victory over Ohio State in the semifinals last year, this was the rematch we all hoped to see. It was a heavyweight fight between two teams with two great quarterbacks, who amazingly are even better this season.
This is Clemson’s sixth trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals, and it’s worth noting that the Tigers are 4-1 against the spread in the previous five. Ohio State finds itself in the unusual position of being the underdog in this one. Since 2012, the Buckeyes are 7-1 against the spread when playing as the underdog, with that lone loss coming to Clemson and Trevor Lawrence at the Fiesta Bowl a year ago.
Both teams are ready for a battle, and it’s hard to believe that Clemson will win this by more than a touchdown. The Tigers are more battle-tested than Ohio State, having played 11 games to OSU’s six, but that may also mean the Buckeyes are healthier.
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