The No. 4-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes will play the No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines in the national title game. Or at least that’s what I think is going to happen.
A healthy Ohio State matches up well against No. 1 Georgia as well as Oklahoma did against UGA in 2017. Marvin Harrison, Jr. against Kelee Ringo? Stetson Bennett in a pitcher’s duel with C.J. Stroud and Ryan Day vs. Kirby Smart? It all ought to be considerable fun.
What’s more? I doubt Day is going to squib kick to UGA up 17.
It’s going to be difficult for Ohio State to overcome the home-field advantage UGA will enjoy in Atlanta, but all the Buckeyes asked for was a chance to play in this game. They have it, and now they must seize it.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines have pounded on every team they’ve faced this season. Even without star running back Blake Corum in the backfield, the Michigan offensive line has dominated front sevens all year.
The No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs will have to summon more than guts to beat the most physical team they’ll face all year.
College Football Playoff: Can Ohio State beat Georgia?
RJ Young dives deep into the College Football Playoff semifinal matchups.
Here is the complete bowl schedule, with my analysis and picks included for every game.
For times, viewing information and a live scoreboard, click here.
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Saturday, Dec. 31
Semifinal game: Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU, 4 p.m. ET
TCU got to this game by showing guts. But Michigan knows what this atmosphere is like and is chasing glory.
Pick: Michigan
Semifinal game: Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET
A healthy Ohio State looks built to defeat a Georgia team that has been anything but infallible throughout its 2022 run.
Pick: Ohio State
Monday, Jan. 9
Championship game
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Georgia-Ohio State winner vs. Michigan-TCU winner, 7: 30 p.m. ET
I’m projecting that this will be Ohio State vs. Michigan. The Game (again) but this time with a national title on the line. I love it.
Pick: Ohio State.
COMPLETE BOWL SCHEDULE
Friday, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl
Miami (Ohio) vs. UAB
RJ’s pick: UAB
Result: UAB wins, 24-20
Cure Bowl
No. 25 UTSA vs. No. 24 Troy
RJ’s pick: UTSA
Result: Troy wins, 18-12
Saturday, Dec. 17
Fenway Bowl
Cincinnati vs. Louisville
RJ’s pick: Louisville
Result: Louisville wins, 24-7
Celebration Bowl
Jackson State vs. North Carolina Central
RJ’s pick: Jackson State
Result: North Carolina Central wins, 41-34
Las Vegas Bowl
Florida vs. No. 14 Oregon State
RJ’s pick: Oregon State
Result: Oregon State wins, 30-3
LA Bowl
Fresno State vs. Washington State
RJ’s Pick: Washington State
Result: Fresno State wins, 29-6
New Mexico Bowl
SMU vs. BYU
RJ’s Pick: BYU
Result: BYU wins, 24-23
LendingTree Bowl
Rice vs. Southern Miss
RJ’s Pick: Southern Miss
Result: Southern Miss wins, 38-24
Frisco Bowl
North Texas vs. Boise State
RJ’s Pick: North Texas
Result: Boise State wins, 35-32
Monday, Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Marshall vs. UConn
RJ’s Pick: Marshall
Result: Marshall wins, 28-14
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State
RJ’s Pick: EMU
Result: Eastern Michigan wins, 41-27
Boca Raton Bowl
Liberty vs. Toledo
RJ’s Pick: Toledo
Result: Toledo wins, 21-19
Wednesday, Dec. 21
New Orleans Bowl
Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama
RJ’s Pick: USA
Result: Western Kentucky wins, 44-23
Thursday, Dec. 22
Armed Forces Bowl
Baylor vs. Air Force
RJ’s Pick: Baylor
Result: Air Force wins, 30-15
Friday, Dec. 23
Independence Bowl
Louisiana vs. Houston
RJ’s Pick: Houston
Result: Houston wins, 23-16
Gasparilla Bowl
Wake Forest vs. Missouri
RJ’s Pick: Wake Forest
Result: Wake Forest wins, 27-17
Saturday, Dec. 24
Hawai’i Bowl
Middle Tennessee State vs. San Diego State
RJ’s Pick: MTSU
Result: MTSU wins, 25-23
Monday, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl
New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green
RJ’s Pick: Aggies
Result: New Mexico State wins, 24-19
Tuesday, Dec. 27
Camellia Bowl
Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo
RJ’s Pick: Georgia Southern
Result: Buffalo wins, 23-21
First Responder Bowl
Memphis vs. Utah State
RJ’s Pick: Utah State
Result: Memphis wins, 38-10
Birmingham Bowl
Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina
RJ’s Pick: ECU
Result: ECU wins, 53-29
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State
RJ’s Pick: Wisconsin
Result: Wisconsin wins, 24-17
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Military Bowl
UCF vs. Duke
RJ’s Pick: UCF
Result: Duke wins, 30-13
Liberty Bowl
Kansas vs. Arkansas
RJ’s Pick: KU
Result: Arkansas wins, 55-53, 3OT
Holiday Bowl
North Carolina vs. Oregon
RJ’s Pick: Oregon
Result: Oregon wins, 28-27
Texas Bowl
Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss
RJ’s Pick: Texas Tech
Result: Texas Tech wins, 42-25
Thursday, Dec. 29
Pinstripe Bowl
Syracuse vs. Minnesota
RJ’s Pick: Minnesota
Result: Minnesota wins, 28-20
Cheez-It Bowl
Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida
Oklahoma vs. No. 13 Florida State
RJ’s Pick: Oklahoma
Result: FSU wins, 35-32
Alamo Bowl
No. 20 Texas vs. No. 12 Washington
RJ’s Pick: Texas
Result: Washington wins, 27-20
Friday, Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
Maryland vs. No. 23 NC State, Noon ET
Without Devin Leary, the Wolfpack took a step back. And Mike Locksley’s Maryland has played great, gutsy football all season. The Terps should handle their one-time ACC foe.
Pick: Maryland
Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas
Pittsburgh vs. No. 18 UCLA, 2 p.m. ET
With Dorian Thompson-Robinson headed to the NFL, Chip Kelly’s Bruins will be without their first five-year starter against a Panther team that possesses one of the best running backs in the country in Israel Abanikanda.
Pick: UCLA
Gator Bowl
TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Florida
No. 21 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 South Carolina, 3: 30 p.m. ET
The Gamecocks have been giant-killing in their last two outings — knocking off both Orange Bowl participants (Tennessee and Clemson) in back-to-back weeks. With ND quarterback Drew Pyne entering the transfer portal, ND will have to show up tough if it doesn’t want it to end up a pelt on the South Carolina hunting room wall.
Pick: South Carolina
Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona
Ohio vs. Wyoming, 4: 30 p.m. ET
It might be difficult for UW to overcome the loss of Titus Swen, who became just the 12th player in history to rush for 1,000 yards at the program that gave the NFL Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen. Ohio ought to be mad after falling short of winning the MAC title against Toledo and take it all out on the Pokes.
Pick: Ohio
Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 6 Tennessee, 8 p.m. ET
Could there be more orange in the Orange Bowl? Hardly. The Vols and Tigers will meet to find out who will likely roll into the 2023 offseason not only with a New Year’s Six bowl win.
Pick: Tennessee
Saturday, Dec. 31
Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
No. 9 Kansas State vs. No. 5 Alabama, Noon ET
This game is about Bryce Young — his absence or his presence. If the 2021 Heisman winner plays, Alabama ought to challenge the Big 12 champs. If he doesn’t, K-State should beat back-to-back SEC West opponents in bowl games marking their best season in Manhattan since 2012.
Pick: Kansas State
Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
Iowa vs. Kentucky, Noon ET
If you told me the over/under in this game was 10, I’d believe you. These teams play great defense and are anemic — sometimes dead in the case of Iowa — on offense. But the Hawkeyes are feeling good about earning the commitment of former Michigan quarterback and Big Ten champion Cade McNamara heading into 2023.
Meanwhile, UK will play without NFL Draft-bound Will Levis.
Pick: Iowa
Monday, Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
No. 22 Mississippi State vs. Illinois, Noon ET
This game should be one hell of a fight. Illini coach Bret Bielema would run the ball on every play if he thought it could help him win, and Bulldogs coach Mike Leach won’t run it until he knows it can help him win. But the Illini hold the ball and play stifling defense. Leach is gonna need his best players to play like his best if they’re to win.
Pick: Illinois
Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium in Orlando
No. 17 LSU vs. Purdue, 1 p.m. ET
The Boilermakers have a chance to earn their ninth win this season with a win against the SEC West champs. But the Bayou Bengals looked lethal through the air with Garrett Nussmeier at quarterback against Georgia, and he’ll be a threat in this battle for bragging rights between the nation’s two best conferences.
Pick: Purdue
Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
No. 16 Tulane vs. No. 10 USC, 1 p.m. ET
With Lincoln Riley detailing the severity of star quarterback Caleb Williams’ hamstring injury, it’s an open question as to whether he’ll play against the Green Wave. Tulane, who has played its best season since 1998 and won the American Athletic Conference crown, might not care either way. They’re just that good.
Pick: Tulane
Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
No. 8 Utah vs. No. 11 Penn State, 5 p.m. ET
Utah is the closest thing on the West Coast to a bona fide no-nonsense Big Ten squad. The Utes possess an outstanding offensive line and want to own the line of scrimmage — just like Penn State.
The Nittany Lions will play without star corner Joey Porter Jr. and wide receiver Parker Washington against Kyle Whittingham, Cam Rising and the Utes in a game Utah fell just short of winning against Ohio State last year. This year they’ll look to finish what they started.
Pick: Utah
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RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.
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