This is the time of year when opinions start flying and everybody suddenly feels confident about what’s going to happen. The College Football Playoff always brings that out. Two games this week, two very different matchups, and a lot on the line for four programs trying to prove they belong on the biggest stage.
No. 5 Oregon (+3.5) vs No. 1 Indiana
Let’s start with Oregon and Indiana.
Indiana is getting a lot of love, and I understand why. As Mitch pointed out, they’ve been composed all year, they’ve handled their business, and they’ve made believers out of people who didn’t think they should even be in this conversation. Veteran team, disciplined football, and they already showed they can handle Oregon once. That matters.
But I’m still riding with Oregon.
I’ve watched this Ducks team closely, and it starts at quarterback. Dante Moore looks like a top pick to me. He has command of the offense, he’s not rattled by big moments, and when the game tightens up, he has the arm talent and decision-making to separate. Oregon has been tested, they’ve been doubted, and that usually brings out the best version of a good team.
When I look at playoff football, I lean toward teams that can change the game with one throw, one drive, one response when momentum swings. Oregon has that gear. As a Stanford guy, give me the former Pac-10 team in this one.
No. 10 Miami (-3.5) vs No. 6 Ole Miss
The second matchup is Miami versus Ole Miss, and for me, this one’s a little more straightforward. I like the Hurricanes.
They’ve been disrespected all season. People questioned whether they belonged. People wanted other teams in ahead of them. All they’ve done is keep winning and keep proving they can handle pressure. That locker room is full of confidence, swagger, and belief, and that stuff counts when the lights are brightest.
I’m not going to pretend the entertainment factor isn’t part of it either. Watching Miami win means watching my guy Michael Irvin lose his mind on the sideline, and if you don’t enjoy that, you don’t enjoy college football. That energy feeds into the team. It becomes contagious.
Ole Miss is dangerous, no question. Beating Georgia showed that. But Miami has been building toward this moment, and I think they embrace it instead of shrinking from it.
This playoff feels wide open, and that’s what makes it fun. Nobody’s unbeatable. Nobody’s safe. You’re going to find out real fast who’s built for January football and who just had a nice regular season.
That’s why I’m taking Oregon to win and Miami to keep proving people wrong.
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