College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Predictions: Expert Score Picks and Analysis
The College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals are here, and honestly, the buzz is off the charts. The top-4 seeds—Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech—finally get their shot after enjoying a first-round bye.
This week, the matchups are wild. Everyone’s got their eyes on the predictions, the key players, and, of course, the big upsets that could shake up the bracket. Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Miami are all trying to ride their first-round wins into the semis, but they’re up against some real heavyweights.
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Ohio State vs. Miami: A Rematch Two Decades in the Making
No. 10 Miami Hurricanes are set to face No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, in a rematch that takes us all the way back to the 2003 BCS National Championship. This time, Ohio State’s the defending champ and, let’s be honest, the clear favorite.
Miami has a tough road. They’ll have to play their best game of the season to even have a shot at the Buckeyes.
Key Players and Strategy
This one’s all about which offense can actually break through. Both defenses are stingy. Miami’s got Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, who just held Texas A&M to three points last week.
If they can get after Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, things could get interesting. But Ohio State’s defense? Basically a brick wall—nobody’s scored more than 16 on them all year.
Miami played it safe against Texas A&M. That probably won’t work here. They’ll need to let quarterback Carson Beck take some shots, maybe get Malachi Toney involved downfield.
Prediction: Ohio State 24-13 over Miami.
Oregon vs. Texas Tech: A Clash of Explosive Offenses
No. 5 Oregon is squaring off with No. 4 Texas Tech. This one could get wild, with both teams showing off some serious offensive fireworks.
Sure, their defenses are good, but it feels like whichever offense lands the biggest punches is going to walk away with it.
Defensive Battle
Texas Tech’s defense, led by Butkus winner Jacob Rodriguez, is no joke against the run. Oregon may have to lean on quarterback Dante Moore to open things up a bit.
Moore looked sharp last week against James Madison. Still, Texas Tech is a different animal.
Offensive Firepower
Explosive plays are the name of the game here. Oregon and Texas Tech rank first and third in 20+ yard plays, which is, frankly, kind of wild.
This could turn into a back-and-forth, with a bunch of quick drives—some stalling, some scoring in a flash. Whoever hits on those big plays more often probably wins.
Prediction: Oregon 26-20 over Texas Tech.
Indiana vs. Alabama: The Unlikely Favorite
Indiana and Alabama in a playoff game, with Indiana as the favorite? Not sure anyone saw that coming. But the Hoosiers are undefeated, and they’ve beaten Oregon and Ohio State, so here we are.
Indiana’s Defensive Prowess
Indiana’s defense is the real deal, sitting at No. 2 in the country for scoring. Alabama’s offense is going to have to figure something out—fast.
Ty Simpson and his crew can’t afford to fall behind the way they did against Oklahoma. That game got away from them in a hurry.
Alabama’s Offensive Struggles
Alabama’s offense just hasn’t looked like itself. They’ll need to start fast and try to put some pressure on Indiana.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s Heisman winner, Fernando Mendoza, just has a knack for making those big, game-changing plays.
Prediction: Indiana 31-17 over Alabama.
Georgia vs. Ole Miss: A Regular Season Rematch
No. 6 Ole Miss gets another shot at No. 3 Georgia, hoping to flip the result from their regular-season meeting. That loss in Athens still stings—it’s their only one this year.
Offensive Shootout
The first game was wild, with Ole Miss moving the ball at will for three quarters before Georgia clamped down in the fourth. Since then, Georgia’s defense has gone up another level.
They’ll want to control the pace this time and avoid letting things turn into another track meet.
Defensive Adjustments
Georgia’s ability to pressure the quarterback is a big deal right now. Ole Miss will still score, but maybe not as easily as last time.
Rematches are always tricky. Georgia probably has the most room to get better and they’ll want to set the tone early.
Prediction: Georgia 31-20 over Ole Miss.
Every one of these quarterfinal games has its own weird twists and drama. Some are old rivalries, others just wild shootouts—either way, college football fans are in for something special.
If you want to dig deeper or just argue with these picks, check out CBS Sports.
