The Huge Ten is successful video games and taking names this bowl season and is on the cusp of placing two groups within the Faculty Soccer Playoff championship.
Although the primary 12 months of the 12-team playoff has offered some blowouts, the ultimate 4 of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Texas is a power-packed quartet of manufacturers vitally essential to the game.
Forward of the semifinals, listed below are previews and predictions for each video games.
No. 7 Notre Dame (13-1) vs. No. 6 Penn State (13-2) | Thursday | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
The twentieth matchup all-time between the Irish and Nittany Lions needs to be a dandy. The series is tied 9-9-1 with Penn State successful 9 of the final 14 conferences. Can both workforce’s working sport get going? Each groups defended the run staunchly within the quarterfinals. Notre Dame restricted Georgia to 66 yards, whereas Penn State held Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty and Boise State to 108 yards.
Count on a hard-fought sport with factors at a premium because it’s anticipated the defenses will impose their will whereas the offenses try to determine the working sport. Each groups deploy a number of working backs and Penn State’s duo of Kaytron Allen (204 yards in CFP) and Nick Singleton (177) has been electrical in two playoff video games.
Notre Dame’s safeties in opposition to Penn State star tight finish Tyler Warren (98 receptions, 1,158 yards, eight touchdowns) is the matchup to look at. If the Irish can gradual his manufacturing then it might be a tough evening for quarterback Drew Allar and the Penn State passing assault. Regulate Notre Dame security Adon Shuler. According to PFF, Shuler permits solely 50% of targets to be caught in one-on-one protection in opposition to tight ends.
“I believe in quite a lot of methods, they’re constructed much like us,” stated Penn State head coach James Franklin in a Saturday news conference. “You have a look at their turnover ratio numbers, you have a look at their explosive play protection by way of defending and limiting explosive performs. You have a look at the center eight, they’re inbuilt quite a lot of ways in which I believe we’re by way of emphasizing the statistics that matter.”
Franklin is right: these two applications are constructed equally. It ought to result in a incredible semifinal sport to look at on the Orange Bowl.
Prediction: Notre Dame, 24-17.
No. 8 Ohio State (12-2) vs. No. 5 Texas (13-2)| Friday | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Texas is again within the Cotton Bowl, which is a slice of old-time school soccer. The Longhorns are making their twenty third look within the Cotton Bowl Traditional, however their first since 2003.
Of their method is an Ohio State workforce that’s out for blood — destroying every part in its path in what some have referred to as a championship or bust season. Seize the popcorn as a result of this one goes to be good.
Whereas Texas has survived a problem from No. 12 Clemson and eked out an time beyond regulation thriller in opposition to No. 4 Arizona State, Ohio State crushed No. 8 Tennessee and No. 1 Oregon.
Each groups boast expertise everywhere in the area, however the matchup to look at is Ohio State’s passing assault in opposition to Texas’ secondary. OSU freshman large receiver Jeremiah Smith has been unstoppable within the CFP. By two video games he has 13 catches, 290 yards and 4 touchdowns. Key in on him? Be ready for Emeka Egbuka who’s projected to go in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Texas’ secondary is likely one of the finest within the nation although, permitting an opponent passer score of simply 59.8 this season.
That is loads of strain for the Longhorns, and quarterback Quinn Ewers might want to play his finest sport of the season for Texas to advance.
Proper now, it seems like nothing can cease Ohio State.
Prediction: Ohio State, 35-21.
