Faculty Soccer Playoff odds, picks, predictions for remaining bowl video games

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Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinals Cotton Bowl: Miami vs. Ohio State -9.5 (Dec. 31)Orange Bowl: Oregon -1.5 vs. Texas Tech (Jan. 1)Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Indiana -6.5 Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Georgia -7.5 Remaining bowl video games (Dec. 24-Jan. 2)

We’re all the way down to eight groups remaining within the 2025 Faculty Soccer Playoff, with the highest 4 seeds set to take the sphere for the primary time since convention championship weekend. ‘Tis the season for a sturdy slate of bowl video games as nicely, so there isn’t any scarcity of picks and predictions to get to whilst you wrap up your ultimate on-line procuring choices.

Does anybody else maintain an ideal playoff bracket via the primary spherical? I will not pat myself on the again for too lengthy with a number of seismic quarterfinal matchups looming — together with a pair that may ship a nationwide tremor if underdogs prevail. One of the intriguing tilts remaining options Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, who plans to lean on classes realized from Nick Saban as he tries to thwart Alabama.

Along with the CFP’s Cotton, Orange, Sugar and Rose bowls subsequent weekend, there are 24 further bowl video games scheduled via Jan. 2. The Vacation Bowl between Arizona and SMU is the ultimate postseason recreation earlier than the playoff semifinals on the Fiesta and Peach bowls on Jan. 8-9, with the winners advancing to the nationwide championship recreation on Jan. 19 in Miami.

Faculty Soccer Playoff quarterfinals

Cotton Bowl: Miami vs. Ohio State -9.5 (Dec. 31)

Hummer (Miami +9.5): I am not going to select Miami to upset my nationwide title decide. However that is a really interesting line for a Miami cowl. Ohio State can often suffocate opponents with its line play and velocity on the skin. That is not going to occur with Miami, a group with probably the greatest o-lines and go rush teams within the FBS. I definitely belief Ohio State’s offense a bit extra on this matchup, however even that unit has a query mark related to it after the way in which it struggled towards Indiana. This will likely be a rock combat for many of the day, however the Buckeyes draw back within the second half. … Ohio State 27, Miami 20.

Crawford (Miami +9.5): Ought to I stick with the Hurricanes after taking Miami on the moneyline at Texas A&M? I am not prepared to select towards my nationwide championship choice simply but, however Mario Cristobal’s protection may current numerous issues for Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes’ passing recreation. Miami stymied the Aggies with quite a lot of seems to be and persistently annoyed Marcel Reed — movie that Ryan Day and his workers will examine carefully forward of this matchup. Exterior of a possible rematch with Indiana within the nationwide championship recreation, this can be the hardest take a look at Ohio State faces within the bracket. This one may look loads just like the Huge Ten Championship Sport, a 12-round slugfest dictated by protection and well timed stops. … Ohio State 20, Miami 14.

Orange Bowl: Oregon -1.5 vs. Texas Tech (Jan. 1)

Hummer (Texas Tech +1.5): Essentially the most fascinating matchup of the semifinals, a minimum of to me. This recreation pits Texas Tech’s elite entrance seven towards Oregon’s blazing velocity. It will even be fascinating to see how Texas Tech adjusts to a special high quality of opponent than they’ve seen week to week within the Huge 12. On paper, these groups are evenly matched. They’re one-two nationally in explosive performs of 20-plus yards. They’re additionally tied for fourth nationally in defending them. There are 4 future draft picks on Texas Tech’s d-line. There are a number of future draft picks on Oregon’s o-line. Count on Oregon to get the ball out of Dante Moore‘s arms rapidly to attempt to make the most of playmakers in area. Count on Texas Tech to do the identical. This recreation goes to be shut. However I am going with the Pink Raiders. I feel they’re barely higher within the trenches and make sufficient large performs to drag it out. … Texas Tech 21, Oregon 20.

Crawford (Texas Tech +1.5): After going 4-0 within the opening spherical, my solely bracket change from my pre-playoff fill-out comes on this quarterfinal between Oregon and Texas Tech. With Joey McGuire and the Pink Raiders afforded practically a month to arrange for Oregon’s offense, we may see one of many nation’s prime defenses working at its peak at AT&T Stadium. There’s at all times some concern that Behren Morton may battle in a high-leverage second, given the variety of blowouts Texas Tech loved towards Huge 12 competitors this season, however the Pink Raiders are constructed to beat a group like Oregon. That second-half efficiency towards James Madison ought to have been a wake-up name for the Geese. One other exhibiting like that towards an elite opponent equivalent to Texas Tech may result in a lopsided ultimate. … Texas Tech 30, Oregon 24.

Rose Bowl: Alabama vs. Indiana -6.5

Hummer (Alabama +6.5):Think about explaining this line to somebody three years in the past, earlier than Nick Saban retired. However as Curt Cignetti would let you know: “Google me.” Indiana is the justified favourite coming into this matchup, and as is at all times the case with Alabama, it largely hinges on how Ty Simpson performs. The Tide can battle to run the ball — rating 72nd nationally in success charge — and Indiana owns a top-10 run protection. Which means Simpson must carry the load. He is able to that, however Indiana can be a wonderful go protection and fields one of many nation’s most effective offenses. It is a brutal matchup for Alabama, which might want to play near-perfect soccer — one thing it hasn’t finished persistently this season. It nonetheless feels unusual to write down, however give me the Hoosiers. They have been essentially the most constant group all yr, and that issues. … Indiana 27, Alabama 24.

Crawford (Indiana -6.5): If there’s an opportunity of one other playoff runaway within the quarterfinals, it may come right here for the Crimson Tide. There is no matchup an Alabama fan ought to view as favorable on this spot towards the Heisman winner and a powerful defensive group, however maybe Kalen DeBoer can thrive once more within the underdog position. His groups have persistently responded to adversity, and the distraction surrounding the Michigan rumors seems to be settling, which helps. Alabama noticed Oklahoma 17 factors in its final outing, and a repeat of that may imply an extended flight residence to Tuscaloosa. Because the unblemished prime seed, there’s stress on Indiana as nicely. Oregon fell in an identical spot final fall on the Rose Bowl after Ohio State received its first-round matchup with Tennessee. … Indiana 31, Alabama 17.

Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Georgia -7.5

Hummer (Georgia -7.5): Two regular-season rematches in a row for Ole Miss is an fascinating wrinkle of the 12-team period. Georgia received the primary assembly, storming again late in a recreation it outgained the Rebels by 159 yards. The difficulty for Ole Miss this time is that it is a worse group now than it was then. The rosters are largely the identical, however the teaching workers has been in fixed flux. In the meantime, Georgia is enjoying its finest soccer of the season after discovering its footing defensively, permitting simply 26 complete factors over its final three video games towards Energy 4 competitors — Texas, Georgia Tech and Alabama. The Bulldogs head to Louisiana and safe a decisive win.… Georgia 34, Ole Miss 24.

Crawford (Ole Miss +7.5): You need to imagine you’ll be able to slay an enormous earlier than really doing so, and Ole Miss carries that confidence into New Orleans. The Rebels produced a near-perfect recreation plan towards Georgia in an October loss, scoring touchdowns on their first 5 possessions in a 43-35 defeat. Georgia answered by scoring 17 factors within the fourth quarter to erase a nine-point deficit. Trinidad Chambliss dedicated no turnovers in that matchup, however a pair of fourth-quarter three-and-outs proved expensive, notably with the protection unable to get stops. Ole Miss will want considerably higher play on that facet of the ball to knock off the SEC champions and advance to the semifinals. … Georgia 27, Ole Miss 20.

Remaining bowl video games (Dec. 24-Jan. 2)

With all non-playoff bowl recreation wagers, make sure to examine the rosters and training staffs every group brings into its postseason matchup. A number of two-deeps have been decimated by participant opt-outs and switch portal departures, with greater than a dozen applications additionally navigating management adjustments.

Motivation at all times issues, too. What number of of those groups actually wish to be there and want to end the season on a excessive notice heading into 2026? Like most insiders, oddsmakers are making educated guesses on many of those traces. Play accordingly — and good.

Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Southern -7.5 vs. Appalachian State

Hummer: Appalachian State +7.5
Crawford: Appalachian State +7.5

Independence Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. La. Tech -8.5

Hummer: Louisiana Tech -8.5
Crawford: Coastal Carolina +8.5

Music Metropolis Bowl: Tennessee -2.5 vs. Illinois

Hummer: Illinois +2.5
Crawford: Tennessee -2.5

Alamo Bowl: USC -6.5 vs. TCU

Hummer: USC -6.5
Crawford: USC -6.5

ReliaQuest Bowl: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt -5.5

Hummer: Vanderbilt -5.5
Crawford: Vanderbilt -5.5

Solar Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke -2.5

Hummer: Duke -2.5
Crawford: Duke -2.5