2024 NCAA CFP Second Round Games
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Tuesday, December 31
Fiesta Bowl
Penn State has evolved into a dynamic team with excellent defense and a solid running game. Speaking of running, Boise State features the best back in the country, Ashton Jeanty. No team has been able to completely shut him down and its doubtful that Penn State can keep the Heisman runner-up corralled all game long. No team has managed to hold him under 120 yards.
Giving Boise 11 points in a game that very well might be of the ball control, field position variety could prove costly, which is why the Broncos are the pick to upset.
Both teams lost to Oregon, but Boise's loss was by the slimmest of margins, 37-34, back in September. It's very likely that they're a better team, top to bottom, now.
Coin Flip: Boise State
Fearless Rick's Pick: Broncos 24 Nittany Lions 18
Peach Bowl
The Sun Devils have won six straight, including a 45-19 thrashing of Iowa State in the conference championship. They've also beaten ranked teams, Kansas State and BYU.
Texas lost just twice in 2024, both times to Georgia, the last a 22-19 overtime affair in the SEC championship. The Longhorns hold wins over ranked (at the time) teams Michigan, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M. They also topped Clemson in the CFP first round, 38-24 and have not been completely impressive on offense though their running game took its toll on the Tigers a week ago.
While the Sun Devils are well down the list of points allowed (21.3 ppg), they've held opponents to 21 or fewer points six times, five of them in their last seven outings. Giving them almost two touchdowns is asking a lot, even from a talented Texas squad.
Coin Flip: Texas
Fearless Rick's Pick: Longhorns 27 Sun Devils 20
That's not really a solid assessment because the Volunteers were completely outmanned on both sides of the ball, looking largely unprepared to match Ohio State's emotional level and they made numerous mental and physical errors.
The same will not happen with Oregon, ranked #1 since their 32-31 win over Ohio State in mid-October. They've had an extra week off and are going to be well-prepared to move on to the next level. They are the champions of the Big Ten and in any other year, QB Dillon Gabriel would have won the Heisman Trophy (3,558 yards, 28 TDs).
Coin Flip: Oregon
Fearless Rick's Pick: Ducks 34 Buckeyes 30
Notre Dame is likely to keep Stockton in the pocket and not allow him much running room. They will apply pressure throughout. Offensively, the Fighting Irish can be like a juggernaut, with a run-pass balance that puts them in an elite class this season.
Georgia's very slight favoritism is oxymoronic. Any time a team doesn't have its regular starting QB, they're usually the underdog. Notre Dame has the skills and weapons to put a solid beatdown on the Bulldogs.
This one may be over by halftime.
Coin Flip: Georgia
Fearless Rick's Pick: Fighting Irish 31 Bulldogs 10
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Sports Home
7:30 pm 6 Penn State (-11, 54) vs. 3 Boise State (ESPN) - The Nittany Lions have been to the Fiesta Bowl seven times (six under Joe Paterno) and have never lost. That's somewhat significant, as the coaching staff is familiar with conditions on the ground, their last visit being 2017.
Wednesday, January 1
1:00 pm 5 Texas (-13, 52) vs. 4 Arizona State (ESPN) - Texas probably has the best defense in the country (13.3 ppg) but they will be put to the test by a determined Arizona State squad that never gives up and managed to capture the Big 12 title their first year in the conference.
Rose Bowl
5:00 pm 8 Ohio State (-2.5, 55.5) vs. 1 Oregon (ESPN) - The line on this game is based largely on the Buckeye's total domination of Tennessee in the CFP first round, a 42-17 blowout victory.
Sugar Bowl
8:45 pm Notre Dame vs. 2 Georgia (-1.5, 44.5) (ESPN) - Georgia will be without their leader and starting QB, Carson Beck, a significant blow for them. Backup Gunner Stockton gets the call, and, although he's untested, he did well in his emergency second half, helping lead the Bulldogs past Texas in the SEC championship, 21-19, in OT.
