A decade after the inaugural College Football Playoff, we are now treated to the excitement of an expanded field of 12 teams. Instead of the usual two semifinal games followed by a championship showdown, we now have three games scheduled over a 12-hour period, marking the initial step towards crowning a national champion.
The Big Ten will be hosting two of these games. Penn State enthusiasts will witness a thrilling white-out as they welcome SMU, with the possibility of snow adding to the ambiance. Meanwhile, Ohio State will be hosting Tennessee, aiming to bounce back from a recent loss to Michigan.
In between these matchups, Clemson will be heading to Texas to face the Longhorns. Both teams are hoping to shake off their previous losses, with the Tigers riding the momentum of their recent ACC title victory against SMU.
The winners of these games will advance to the quarterfinals, which will take place during the New Year’s Day bowl games. But for now, the focus remains on the upcoming matchups. Who will emerge victorious? Our panel of experts provides their insights for each game set to take place on Saturday.
SMU at Penn State:
Scooby Axson: Penn State 21, SMU 14.
Jordan Mendoza: SMU 27, Penn State 23.
Paul Myerberg: Penn State 31, SMU 21.
Erick Smith: Penn State 31, SMU 17.
Eddie Timanus: Penn State 34, SMU 20.
Dan Wolken: SMU 34, Penn State 31.
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Clemson faces Texas at 4 p.m. ET on TNT. Scooby Axson predicts that Texas will have the upper hand with its strong offensive and defensive lines controlling the game, resulting in a 34-15 victory. Jordan Mendoza believes Texas’ defense will create opportunities for their offense, leading to a 34-17 win. Paul Myerberg expects Texas to prevail 27-13 by relying on their defense against Clemson. Erick Smith foresees a dominant performance from Texas, winning 31-14. Eddie Timanus predicts a 28-13 victory for Texas over Clemson. Dan Wolken envisions a tough matchup for Clemson, with Texas winning 20-10.
In the Tennessee vs. Ohio State game at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, Scooby Axson predicts that Ohio State will win 34-30 by utilizing their strong receivers. Jordan Mendoza anticipates a close game, with Ohio State coming out on top 24-23. Paul Myerberg believes Ohio State will edge out Tennessee 24-23, while Erick Smith sees Ohio State as the safer bet, winning 24-23.
“Trick me twice, shame on me.” But sometimes you are a sucker for a redemption arc. This will be that moment for Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. Tennessee has been stagnant on the road against quality opponents, and at some point Ohio State’s offense will take charge. Or the trick is on us. Ohio State 27, Tennessee 14.
Eddie Timanus: This might prove to be a rare case of home-field disadvantage. The longer the Vols hang around, the more agitated the Buckeyes’ crowd will become, and that will be passed on to the team. Tennessee will make the plays with the game on the line and cause an offseason of angst in Columbus. Tennessee 23, Ohio State 16.
Dan Wolken: This looks like the best matchup of the first round, and the difference is probably going to be as simple as home-field advantage. With a few weeks to recalibrate after the embarrassment against Michigan, the Buckeyes will feel less pressure this time around and look more like a focused national championship contender against an outstanding defensive team. Ohio State 23, Tennessee 17.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY and offers College Football Playoff predictions and picks for the first round on Saturday.
