Countdown to College Football Kickoff 2015, Day 1: Our picks for number one

Jan 24, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Jeff Heuerman (center) at the national championship celebration at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Tanner Sperry – Staff Writer

Tanner covers the Independents and some of the Group of Five conferences for the Blitz. His picks fall in line with m any others, with everyone coming out of the Power-5 conferences. One of a couple of writers who have predicted USC to join the party. Follow Tanner on Twitter at @tansperry

Four Playoff Teams: Ohio State, Auburn, USC, Baylor
National Championship Game: Ohio State vs. USC
National Champion: Ohio State

"“Buckeye fans need not panic if Ohio State ends up dropping the opener to Virginia Tech. As long as Ohio State wins the Big Ten with two losses or less, their chance of making the Playoffs are almost guaranteed. USC and whoever wins the SEC aren’t far behind, in my opinion, and TCU and Baylor will be talented again; but I don’t see any other team that is as equiped and capable of winning the Playoff as the Buckeyes are. Ohio State showed last year how much potential the program has this year and in the coming years.”"

Next: Chris Logue