College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Betting Picks and Predictions

The College Football Playoff committee’s bracket restructuring has led to what should be a fantastic week of college football games.

All but one game is decided by one score, and we have what appears to be the eight strongest teams over the course of the season playing this week.

Will the Big Ten continue its recent postseason success, or will someone new spoil the party this week? Let’s move on to the choices.

#10 Miami vs. #2 Ohio State (-9.5) Total: 40.5

In the first round against Texas A&M, Miami was able to rely on Mark Fletcher Jr to wear down the Aggies and let their defense win for them. I don’t think Miami will have as much success against a much stronger Ohio State defensive line and will have to rely on Carson Beck to pull off this massive upset. I think Ohio State’s defense can win this game on their own, but like last season, Ryan Day turned up the pressure on offense and let Jeremiah Smith take over in the playoffs. I don’t see why Ohio State doesn’t win comfortably in its first playoff game of the season.

Pick: Ohio State -9.5
Lean: o40.5

#5 Oregon (-2.5) vs. #4 Texas Tech Total: 51.5

The worst Oregon had this season was when Indiana constantly put pressure on them during their game at Autzen Stadium. Texas Tech has a defense that can do the same thing to Dante Moore and the Ducks.

They have an elite run defense to stop Oregon’s downhill game, and two of the best linebackers in the country, Jacob Rodrigue, who finished 5th in the Heisman, and Ben Roberts, who is the most underrated piece of this Red Raider defense. However, I have no confidence in Behren Morton constantly moving the ball for Texas Tech, and Dante Moore has improved a lot as a passer since his loss to Indiana. Oregon will get a win, but it will be close.

Choice: Oregon -2.5 and u51.5

#9 Alabama vs. #1 Indiana (-7) Total: 48.5

Ty Simpson told the media that no one believed in him or in Alabama. This sentiment coming from an Alabama football team is ridiculous, but it might be true. Indiana is better than Alabama at every level.

Fernando Mendoza is the Heisman for a reason, and he’s shown he can make all the big throws when the stakes are high, just like he did in the Big 10 Championship. Simpson hasn’t seen a defense half as talented as Indiana’s all season, and I think this will be the biggest blowout of the weekend. I love Indiana in this one.

Pick: Indiana -7

#6 Ole Miss vs. #3 Georgia (-6.5) Total: 55.5

After destroying an Alabama team that I thought was overrated all year, many began to believe that Georgia is playing at a level where it could win a national title. I don’t understand this at all. The previous week, they had narrowly escaped a very average Georgia Tech.

This same Georgia team has played with fire all season long and I think they are very beatable. Ole Miss should have beaten them in their first game if Lane Kiffin hadn’t mismanaged the fourth quarter so drastically. Luckily, Kiffin isn’t here to make the same mistake. I also believe the Rebels are on a mission to prove Kiffin wrong and continue their playoff run with an upset win over Georgia.

Pick: Ole Miss +6.5
Total: o55.5