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Bowl Projections: Predicting CFB Playoff, every bowl game after Week 11

By Patrick Schmidt

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Jan 10, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; College Playoff Trophy on display during Media day at Dallas Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

College Football Playoff at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

  • Who: Alabama vs. Ohio State
  • Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
  • When: Thursday, Dec. 31, 4 or 8 p.m. (ESPN)

In a rematch of last year’s semifinal game won by the Buckeyes, this could be a better game — at least in terms of television ratings than the other semifinal game. Nick Saban vs. Urban Meyer never disappoints and this could be a meeting of the top two Heisman finishers in running backs Derrick Henry and Ezekiel Elliott.

College Football Playoff at the Capital One Orange Bowl

  • Who: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
  • Where: Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
  • When: Thursday, Dec. 31, 4 or 8 p.m. (ESPN)

I have Oklahoma winning their Bedlam Series game against an undefeated Oklahoma State and getting into the playoff as the best one-loss team in the country. I think they’ll have more momentum to take the No. 4 spot over Notre Dame. This would be a rematch of last year’s Russell Athletic Bowl that Clemson won 40-6 last year.

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College Football Playoff National Championship

  • Who: Alabama vs. Clemson
  • Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
  • When: Monday, Jan. 11, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Would be a meeting of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the playoff ranking and a chance for Nick Saban to win a fifth national title. There’s a good chance the Heisman winner is playing in this game between Derrick Henry and Deshaun Watson.

The biggest storyline is Dabo Swinney coaching against the team he won a national championship with as a player in 1992 and where he was the wide receivers/tight ends coach from 1996-2000 on Mike DuBose’s staff. He’s been talked about as the successor to Saban when he decides to retire and a win here would put him in the conversation as a top-five coach in the country.

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