We’re all the way down to eight groups remaining within the 2025 School Soccer Playoff, with the highest 4 seeds set to take the sector for the primary time since convention championship weekend. ‘Tis the season for a strong slate of bowl video games as properly, so there isn’t any scarcity of picks and predictions to get to whilst you wrap up your remaining on-line procuring choices.
Does anybody else maintain an ideal playoff bracket by means of 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 vital intriguing tilts remaining options Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, who plans to lean on classes discovered 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 by means of 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.
School 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 choose. However that is a really interesting line for a Miami cowl. Ohio State can often suffocate opponents with its line play and pace on the skin. That is not going to occur with Miami, a workforce with the most effective o-lines and cross 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 best way it struggled in opposition to Indiana. This will likely be a rock struggle 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 in opposition to my nationwide championship choice simply but, however Mario Cristobal’s protection might current a lot of issues for Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes’ passing recreation. Miami stymied the Aggies with a wide range of appears to be like and constantly pissed off Marcel Reed — movie that Ryan Day and his workers will research carefully forward of this matchup. Outdoors of a possible rematch with Indiana within the nationwide championship recreation, this can be the hardest check Ohio State faces within the bracket. This one might look lots just like the Massive Ten Championship Recreation, 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): Probably the most fascinating matchup of the semifinals, not less than to me. This recreation pits Texas Tech’s elite entrance seven in opposition to Oregon’s blazing pace. It’s going to even be fascinating to see how Texas Tech adjusts to a unique high quality of opponent than they’ve seen week to week within the Massive 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. Anticipate Oregon to get the ball out of Dante Moore’s fingers shortly to attempt to make the most of playmakers in house. Anticipate 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 massive 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 organize for Oregon’s offense, we might see one of many nation’s high defenses working at its peak at AT&T Stadium. There’s all the time some concern that Behren Morton might wrestle in a high-leverage second, given the variety of blowouts Texas Tech loved in opposition to Massive 12 competitors this season, however the Pink Raiders are constructed to beat a workforce like Oregon. That second-half efficiency in opposition to James Madison ought to have been a wake-up name for the Geese. One other exhibiting like that in opposition to an elite opponent corresponding to Texas Tech might result in a lopsided remaining. … 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 inform you: “Google me.” Indiana is the justified favourite getting into this matchup, and as is all the time the case with Alabama, it largely hinges on how Ty Simpson performs. The Tide can wrestle to run the ball — rating 72nd nationally in success price — and Indiana owns a top-10 run protection. Meaning Simpson must carry the load. He is able to that, however Indiana can be a wonderful cross protection and fields one of many nation’s best offenses. It is a brutal matchup for Alabama, which might want to play near-perfect soccer — one thing it hasn’t performed constantly this season. It nonetheless feels unusual to write down, however give me the Hoosiers. They have been probably the most constant workforce 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 might come right here for the Crimson Tide. There isn’t any matchup an Alabama fan ought to view as favorable on this spot in opposition to the Heisman winner and a robust defensive group, however maybe Kalen DeBoer can thrive once more within the underdog function. His groups have constantly 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 a protracted flight house to Tuscaloosa. Because the unblemished high seed, there’s stress on Indiana as properly. Oregon fell in an analogous spot final fall on the Rose Bowl after Ohio State gained 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 gained 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 workforce 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 taking part in its finest soccer of the season after discovering its footing defensively, permitting simply 26 complete factors over its final three video games in opposition to 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): It’s a must to consider you’ll be able to slay a large earlier than truly doing so, and Ole Miss carries that confidence into New Orleans. The Rebels produced a near-perfect recreation plan in opposition to 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 pricey, significantly with the protection unable to get stops. Ole Miss will want considerably higher play on that aspect 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, you’ll want to research the rosters and training staffs every workforce 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 packages additionally navigating management modifications.
Motivation all the time issues, too. What number of of those groups really wish to be there and need 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
Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas -7.5
Hummer: Texas -7.5
Crawford: Texas -7.5
Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah -15.5
Hummer: Nebraska +15.5
Crawford: Nebraska +15.5
Armed Forces Bowl: Rice vs. Texas State -8.5
Hummer: Texas State -8.5
Crawford: Texas State -8.5
Liberty Bowl: Navy -6.5 vs Cincinnati
Hummer: Cincinnati +6.5
Crawford: Navy -6.5
Mayo Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Miss St. -4.5
Hummer: Wake Forest +4.5
Crawford: Wake Forest +4.5
Vacation Bowl: Arizona -2.5 vs. SMU
Hummer: SMU +2.5
Crawford: SMU +2.5
