The first College Football Playoff is getting nearer and nearer, but dealing with the anticipation is only getting tougher by the minute.
Thankfully, the bowl season has officially begun, giving viewers some significant appetizers before New Year's Day brings the debut of the national semifinal system.
It's not really the fact of the matter that has excitement at a fever pitch, though.
Instead, it's the matchups. Top-ranked Alabama goes up against Ohio State in a battle of college football blue bloods, while the last two Heisman Trophy winners do battle in Oregon vs. Florida State in the Rose Bowl.
CFB Playoff is ready, as they tweeted out the uniforms each team will be wearing on New Year's Day:
The holidays and other bowl games will help take some of the attention away from the CFP over the coming days, but three early-January battles will soon decide this year's national champion.
Let's take a look at predictions and odds for both of the semifinals and a championship pick.
Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated December 20
Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Ohio State won the furious race for the final CFP spot, and the Buckeyes were awarded the prize of facing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Maybe that's not much of a Christmas present, but Urban Meyer's squad figures to be up for the challenge. After bouncing back from an early-season gaffe against Virginia Tech, the Buckeyes have won 11 straight games—including a 59-0 beating of Wisconsin as underdogs in the Big Ten title game.
Ohio State's defense is among the most underrated units in football, but what will Meyer get from Cardale Jones? The once third-stringer now starts at quarterback, and the jury is still out despite his great performance against the Badgers.
He knows the test he's facing on New Year's Day will be as tough as can be, per Ohio State athletics:
Jones got some serious help from Ezekiel Elliott in that Wisconsin game, as he rushed for over 200 yards. Don't expect a repeat performance against an Alabama run defense that blows over offensive lines en route to rushers.
The Crimson Tide are all but expected to find some answers offensively, with Blake Sims making quick passes and downhill run plays to thwart the Buckeyes' strength in rushing the passer. Ohio State will struggle at first but find a way to string together stops and give Jones the ball in favorable spots.
He'll play admirably in leading the Buckeyes close, but he will have to play the game of his life to overcome Alabama—and even that might not be enough. The Tide secondary will be susceptible to some big plays but will keep Jones in check during crunch time to advance.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Ohio State 24
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 FSU
The two best quarterbacks in college football—and perhaps best players overall—will go at it in the Rose Bowl, as Marcus Mariota leads Oregon into a semifinal against Jameis Winston's Florida State Seminoles.
It's a battle of the last two Heisman Trophy winners, as well, after Mariota took this year's trophy following Winston's historic 2013 season. But if Mariota wants to add a championship to it like Winston, he'll have to go through that very same person.
Both quarterbacks have showcased their leadership abilities and clutch gene throughout the year, but there is one striking difference: Mariota has thrown two interceptions this year to Winston's 17, as ESPN College Football expanded upon:
The game will inevitably come down to which team is more complete, and that's undoubtedly Oregon.
The Ducks have been blowing out every opponent they have faced since an early-season loss at home to Arizona, utilizing a fast defense and that same high-octane offense to big success. Unlike in previous seasons, when late blunders would cost them everything, Oregon peaked to close out 2014.
Florida State's ability isn't lost despite a handful of ugly victories this season, but it's hard to imagine the Seminoles making those winning plays against a team like Oregon. The Ducks will take advantage of every opportunity the Noles give them early, and it will be too late before Winston can rally them back.
Prediction: Oregon 41, Florida State 30
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