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The College Football Playoff semifinal doubleheader gets underway on New Year’s Eve. The Orange Bowl features Clemson and Oklahoma in the opening game. Michigan State and Alabama square off in the Cotton Bowl in the primetime New Year’s Eve matchup.
Despite entering the College Football Playoff as the final seed, Oklahoma is a slight three point favorite over Clemson. Clemson is the lone undefeated team in college football but still enters the Orange Bowl as the underdog.
From start to finish, Clemson has been one of the most consistent teams in the nation. It is this consistency that will allow them to beat Oklahoma in what should be a close matchup. Heavy likes DeShaun Watson and Wayne Gallman to lead the Tigers to victory and the national championship game.
The Cotton Bowl features an old school matchup of two teams that like to run the football and play great defense. Alabama is favored by ten points.
The question for the Spartans is whether they can put up enough points against Alabama’s defense.
Heavy expects this matchup to be closer than Vegas projects but Alabama’s defense will be too much for Michigan State to pull off the upset.
We are projecting a Clemson and Alabama matchup in the national championship game.
Heavy’s Orange Bowl Pick: Clemson 27 Oklahoma 24. Clemson +3. Under on the point total.
Heavy’s Cotton Bowl Pick: Alabama 24 Michigan State 20. Michigan State -10. Under on the point total.