On December 5th 2021, the college football playoffs and all bowl matchups were announced. This year, there will be some very interesting and exciting games between the top teams in the sport. So, I will tell you the New Years 6 games and explain the chances that each team could win that matchup.

 Pittsburgh vs Michigan State

 On December 3oth, the ACC Champion Pitt Panthers will face the Michigan State Spartans in Atlanta for the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. Both teams have had pretty out of nowhere seasons, but have done really well. Pittsburgh is 11-2, with a 7-1 record in the ACC. Michigan State is 10-2, with a 7-2 record in the Big 10. Pittsburgh started out the season unranked, but are now #12 in the final rankings. During this season, the Panthers beat UMass, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Syracuse, and Wake Forest in the ACC Championship Game. They have lost to the Western Michigan Broncos and the Miami Hurricanes. Pitt is led by potential first round pick in the NFL draft QB Kenny Pickett, who has thrown for 4,319 yards, 42 TOUCHDOWNS, and only 7 interceptions! Pickett is also a Heisman candidate and in the final 4 for the running with Alabama QB Bryce Young, Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud, and Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson. The Panthers also have a strong receiving game, led by WR Jordan Addison, who has 1,479 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season. The Spartans this year along with Pitt started out the season unranked, but have risen to the #10 team in the final rankings of the CFP. Michigan State has victories against Northwestern, Youngstown State, Miami, Nebraska, Western Kentucky, Rutgers, Indiana, at the moment #2 Michigan, Maryland, and Penn State. However, they have also lost to the Purdue Boilermakers and got blown out in a 56-7 loss in Columbus to the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Spartans are led by QB Payton Throne, who has 2,886 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions on the season. Michigan State is also led to fantastic almost Heisman candidate RB Kenneth Walker, who transferred from Wake Forest before the season and now has 1,636 yards on the ground with 18 touchdowns. For the game, I think this one could be a close one because both teams have their best players on the offensive side of the ball, so this might be a very high scoring game. However, I believe that Pitt might be able to take this one because of QB Kenny Pickett being able to throw all over the pretty bad Michigan State secondary. However, if Kenneth Walker plays like he did against Michigan, the Spartans could defiantly take this game.

 Cincinnati vs Alabama 

 History has been made this year in the College Football Playoffs, as the only undefeated team in the FBS called the Cincinnati Bearcats has become the first ever Group of 5 team to make the playoffs. They will play #1 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington on December 31st for a spot in the National Championship Game. Cincinnati started out the season as the #8 team in the country, but have now risen to #4. The Bearcats are 13-0, with wins against Miami (OH), Murray State, Indiana on the road in Bloomington, at the time #9 and currently #5 in the nation Notre Dame on the road in South Bend, Temple, UCF, Navy, Tulane, Tulsa, South Florida, SMU, East Carolina, and Houston in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. Cincinnati is led by incredible QB Desmond Ridder, who has 3,190 yards on the season, 30 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. They also have great weapons in RB Jerome Ford, who has 1,242 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns, and WR Alec Pierce, who has 867 yards receiving and 8 TDs. Finally, they are anchored on defense by CB Ahmad Gardner, who has 34 total tackles on the season along with 3 interceptions. The Crimson Tide have once again lived up to expectations and are now the #1 team in the nation after starting as #1 until they lost that ranking in Week 6. Alabama is 21-1 this season. They have won against at the time #14 Miami in Atlanta, Mercer, Florida, Southern Miss, currently #8 Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee, LSU, New Mexico State, Arkansas, Auburn in  4 overtimes, and at time #1 and undefeated, but now #3 in the country Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game. Their only loss is in Week 6 to an at the time reeling and unranked Texas A&M team in College Station. They lost this game because of bad defense, penalties, and offensive line play. Aggies kicker Seth Small was able to clinch the victory for Texas A&M by hitting a 28 yard field goal. The Crimson Tide are led by incredible QB Bryce Young, who is leading for the Heisman with 4,322 yards, 43 TOUCHDOWNS, and only 4 interceptions! They also have a 1,000 yard rusher in RB Brain Robinson, and two great weapons with WR John Metchie, and WR Jameson Williams. They are anchored on the offensive line by OL Evan Neal, who will be a first round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, and are led on defense by LB Will Anderson and DB Jordan Battle. I think the Bearcats will give the Crimson Tide everything they have and will play a decently close game, but Alabama is too good right now, even without WR John Metchie.

Georgia vs Michigan

 The Georgia Bulldogs finally went down on Championship weekend and went from #1 to #3, while the Michigan Wolverines are having their greatest season in recent memory coming off of a Big 10 Championship victory. These two teams will meet in the Orange Bowl in Miami on December 31st to decide who will make the National Championship Game and face either Alabama or Cincinnati. Georgia has had a dream season, but the dream of finally winning another national championship. This season, they are 12-1, but were 12-0 before Week 14. The Bulldogs have wins against at the time #3 Clemson 10-3, UAB, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida, Missouri, Tennessee, Charleston Southern, and Georgia Tech. Georgia’s only loss is to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, which they lost 41-24 and by far allowed the most points they have allowed all season. The Bulldogs started out the season with QB JT Daniels, but have since moved to QB Stetson Bennett, who has 2,325 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions. Georgia also has a great running back duo in Zamir White and James Cook, who have a combined 1,337 yards on the ground and 17 touchdowns. The Bulldogs best receiver is maybe the best tight end in College Football being Brock Bowers, who has 791 yards receiving along with 11 touchdowns. Finally, Georgia has been led all year by LB Nakobe Dean, DL Devonte Wyatt, LB Adam Anderson, DL Jordan Davis, and many others. The Michigan Wolverines have finally had the breakout season they have been searching for since they hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach. The Wolverines are 12-1 this season and have beat Western Michigan, Washington, Northern Illinois, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana, Penn State, Maryland, their biggest rival in Ohio State for the first time since 2011, and Iowa to win their first Big 10 Championship Game and earn their first title since 2004, which they shared with Iowa. Michigan is also currently ranked #2 in the nation. The Wolverines are led by QB Cade McNamara, who has 2,470 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions, but has 2 of those in the last two games. They also have one 1,000 yard rusher in RB Hassan Haskins and another that is very close to that mark in RB Blake Corum, who has 939 yards. Their receiving game isn’t the standout, but they have good weapons in WR Cornelius Johnson, WR Roman Wilson, TE Erick All, and WR Mike Sainristil. Finally, they also have one of the best defenses in the nation, led by a Heisman finalist in DE Aidan Hutchinson, LB Josh Ross, LB David Ojabo, and more. I think because both teams can rely heavily on their defense and running game, that this could be a very low scoring game.

Oklahoma State vs Notre Dame 

 The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will play each other in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on January 1st. Both of these teams had a chance at the CFP, but were left on the outside looking in, with Notre Dame finishing #5, and Oklahoma State finishing #9. The Cowboys this year have been fantastic, but just weren’t able to finish the season at the top. Oklahoma State is 11-2, with victories versus Missouri State, Tulsa, Boise State, Kansas State, Baylor in Stillwater, Texas, Kansas, West Virginia, TCU, Texas Tech, and their biggest rival in Oklahoma at home in Bedlam. They have lost 2 games to Iowa State in the regular season and Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game, where they had a chance to score a TD to win the game. Unfortunately for them, the Bears made a goal line stand and eventually stopped Oklahoma State RB Dezmon Jackson on 4th down from running it in for the touchdown, winning them the conference title. This loss from the Cowboys knocked them out of contention for the CFP, but opened the door for Cincinnati and Notre Dame. Oklahoma State is led by QB Spencer Sanders, who has 2,468 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, 7 of which came against Baylor in both matchups! They also have a really good RB in Jaylen Warren, who has 1,134 yards on the season and WR Tay Martin, who has 942 yards receiving along with 7 touchdowns. Finally, the Pokes have a fantastic defense led by Senior LB Malcolm Rodriguez. The Fighting Irish have been a pretty under the radar team this year, even after making the CFP last season. Notre Dame is 11-1 this season, with wins against Florida State, Toledo, Purdue, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, USC, North Carolina, Navy, Virginia, Georgia Tech, and Stanford. Their only loss came in a 24-13 defeat against the Cincinnati Bearcats at home in Southbend, which is the signature win that propelled the Bearcats into the College Football Playoffs. Notre Dame just missed out on a chance to go to the CFP, but without a conference title, great wins, and losing to Cincinnati earlier in the season, the Fighting Irish were left right outside of the playoffs. Notre Dame doesn’t have their QB situation completely figured out, but they are rolling with quarterback Jack Coan, who has 2,641 yards on the season, with 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. They also have a 1,000 yard rusher in running back Kyren Williams, a great TE in Michael Mayer, who has 783 yards, and a pretty good defense led by potential first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft in safety Kyle Hamilton. Recent news has also revealed that RB Kyren Williams and Safety Kyle Hamilton will skip the Fiesta Bowl and declare for the NFL Draft. These losses for Notre Dame could be a stinger, along with head coach Brian Kelly leaving for LSU and being replaced by defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, who’s first game as a head coach will be this bowl game. These problems will be present in this game, and a great Oklahoma State team will take advantage of this, but Notre Dame might have more talent at some positions, which could defiantly make this a close game.

Utah vs Ohio State

 The Utah Utes and Ohio State Buckeyes will face each other for the Rose Bowl on January 1st. Utah will appear in their first ever Rose Bowl Game, while Ohio State, after missing out on a chance to make the CFP, will play in their 15th Rose Bowl. The Utes have come a long way from where they began this season at 1-2. They are now 10-3, with victories versus Weber State, Washington State, USC, Arizona State, UCLA, Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, and Oregon again in the Pac-12 Championship Game in Las Vegas. They lost two game early on to BYU and San Diego State and lost a pretty close game to Oregon State. Both times Utah played the Oregon Ducks this season, they blew them out, first in Salt Lake City 38-7, and then in Las Vegas for the championship 38-10. The Utes are led by QB Cameron Rising, who after not playing until Week 3 in relief of former QB Charlie Brewer, has 2,279 yards, 18 TDs, and 5 interceptions. Utah also has a great TE game, with a combined 1,108 yards between tight ends Brant Kuithe, Dalton Kincaid, and Cole Fotheringham. Finally, they are led on defense by a star in LB Devin Lloyd. The Buckeyes have had an incredible season, but just were not able to finish and get into the CFP. They are 10-2, with wins against Minnesota, Tulsa, Akron, Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, Penn State, Nebraska, Purdue, and Michigan State. Their only two losses came against a now reeling Oregon Ducks team in Week 2 and a stunner in Ann Arbor in rivalry week to Michigan, which is a win that propelled the Wolverines into the Big 10 Championship and eventually the playoffs. This loss ended up knocking the Buckeyes out of contention for the playoffs. Ohio State is led by incredible freshman QB C.J. Stroud, who has 3,862 yards, 38 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. They also have a fantastic freshman RB in Treveyon Henderson, who has run for 1,172 yards and 15 touchdowns. Finally, on the offensive side of the ball, they have 3 astounding receivers in Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. This game is very interesting, as Utah could most certainly present a challenge if they can run the ball, but Ohio State will probably take this game because of their offense being able to throw and run all over the Utes. However, if Devin Lloyd plays, the Utes might be able to stop the Buckeyes offense.

Baylor vs Ole Miss

 The Baylor Bears and Ole Miss Rebels have had amazing seasons and will face each other in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on January 1st. The Bears this season have been an out of nowhere team this year, especially after the year they had in 2020 with a 2-7 record. However, this year they are 11-2, with wins against Texas State, Texas Southern, Kansas, Iowa State, West Virginia, BYU, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game with a goal line stand. Their two losses came against Oklahoma State earlier in the season in Stillwater and TCU, in a game that basically eliminated them from the College Football Playoffs, even though they won the conference. Baylor is led by QB Gerry Bohanon, who has 2,160 yards, with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Also, after an injury to Bohanon, backup QB Blake Shapen had to step up in place of him and he played a fantastic game to win the Big 12. He went 23-28, for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns. Shapen is also a freshman. Next, they have an astounding running back in Abram Smith, who has 1,429 yards on the ground and 12 TDs. Some more weapons for the Bears are WR Tyquan Thornton, WR R.J. Sneed, TE Ben Sims, and WR Drew Estrada. Finally, Baylor has a stout defense that were the main factor in the victory of the Cowboys in the championship game, coming up with 4 interceptions on Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders and the eventual winning play on 4th down at the end of the 4th Quarter. The Rebels have also been a great team this year, with a potential first round pick in QB Matt Corral and a fantastic head coach in Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss is 10-2 this season, with victories over Louisville, Austin Peay, Tulane, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, Liberty, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. Their only losses have been versus Alabama, who is now the #1 seed in the playoffs, and Auburn, which killed their chances of a spot in the playoffs. The Rebels are obviously led by previously mentioned almost Heisman finalist QB Matt Corral, who this season has 3,339 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions. Also, they have a pretty good RB in Jerrion Ealy and some great weapons in WR Dontario Drummond, WR Braylon Sanders, WR Jahcour Pearson, and WR Jonathan Ringo. The huge matchup of this game will be the Ole Miss offense versus the Baylor defense. If the Baylor defense can stop the Rebels offense and force some turnovers, they can probably win this game. If the Rebels offense can move very well against the Bears defense and their defense can do a little bit against either QB Gerry Bohanon or QB Blake Shapen, Ole Miss can most defininetly take this matchup.