The college football playoff semifinals will take place in 2021, and there will be four heavyweights in the state on New Years Day.
No. 1 Alabama faces No. 4 Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl Game – which has been relocated to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. No. 2 Clemson takes on No. 3 Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl in a rematch of last year’s exciting semi-finals.
The Sporting News staff offer their predictions for this year’s semi-finals:
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Alabama predictions versus Notre Dame
Bill Bender: Alabama 42, Notre Dame 23
Alabama suffered a major loss from center Landon Dickerson’s knee injury at the end of the season in their SEC championship game, and that should be noted early in the game. Can Notre Dame keep up with the inside lines on either side of the ball? We remember what happened the last time in the BCS championship game when the answer was emphatically “no”. Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book is set to make some big throws early on, but Alabama has too many matchup issues on the verge of its explosive offense. Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith bond for a pair of TDs, and Najee Harris runs for three more.
Zac Al-Khateeb: Alabama 45, Notre Dame 24
Alabama’s trio of Mac Jones, Najee Harris and SN Player of the Year DeVonta Smith will be too much for Notre Dame. However, don’t be surprised if the Crimson Tide crime with center Landon Dickerson is slow to come out of the gates. Ian Book will get some hits but will look to Alabama’s defense to move up after a subpar performance against Florida.
Vinnie Iyer: Alabama 42, Notre Dame 21
The Crimson Tide has too much pop around Mac Jones with Najee Harris, DeVonta Smith, and others to be cooled off by limited Irish defense. Ian Book will have too much in himself to get through and will make more important mistakes than big games trying to turn this into a shootout.
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Matt Lutovsky: Alabama 52, Notre Dame 21
Alabama can name the score here. We may underestimate Notre Dame’s offense, but no matter how good it is, Alabama will be able to make more. How do you stop a team with three legitimate Heisman trophy candidates? You do not do that. Just ask the rest of the SEC who gave up more than 49 points per game to the Tide during the regular season.
Mike DeCourcy: Alabama 44, Notre Dame 10
If the Irish had what it takes to be champions, they wouldn’t have withered twice in the red zone in the opening minutes of their second game against Clemson. It was evident that they had to hit hard to keep up with Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers because they had to keep up with his support and ultimately prevail in the extension of their first meeting. This time they didn’t. It’s been a while since a Brian Kelly team stood the pressure of a single, crucial game, likely going back to the Cincinnati-Pitt game in 2009. Then he moved away from an undefeated team and his bowl matchup recruit at his new job instead, and what has happened since then? Destroyed in the CFP semi-finals in 2018, destroyed in the BCS championship game in 2012, some wins in small bowls. We are sorry. It’s just hard to believe in them.
Clemson v Ohio State predictions
Bill Bender: Clemson 34, Ohio State 31
The temptation to choose the state of Ohio is there. Justin Fields can succeed against Clemson’s high school with the Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson tandem, and Trey Sermon’s promotion to the Big Ten championship game is the missing piece. The Buckeyes had that game last year too. The difference this time? Trevor Lawrence has more time in his pocket, and he can take advantage of that with a few deep shots. It’s going to be a shootout and the Buckeyes can win the game and prove Dabo Swinney wrong. However, Lawrence gets another title shot by breaking the heart of the state of Ohio again in the final minutes.
Zac Al-Khateeb: Clemson 38, State of Ohio 21
The Tigers peak at the right time and Dabo Swinney can use his man-made feud with Ryan Day to further reinforce his team. Trevor Lawrence, who proved his worth to Clemson in a loss to Notre Dame in the ACC title game, shouldn’t have a problem with the Big Ten’s worst pass defense. Justin Fields will make games, but not enough to keep the state of Ohio competitive.
Vinnie Iyer: Clemson 34, Ohio State 24
Trevor Lawrence is on fire again while Justin Fields deviates a little from the weird regular season. This won’t be a repeat of last season as Lawrence is banned from a national championship for his final run. Dabo Swinney’s art of playing is supported by its players.
MORE: Clemson-Ohio State betting preview
Matt Lutovsky: Clemson 27, State of Ohio Jan.
Trevor Lawrence will make the difference in a game that is sure to get a little chippy. The Ohio state defense failed to impress in the short regular season, while Clemson led the ACC in overall defense, goal defense, and pass defense, and finished second in running defense.
Mike DeCourcy: Ohio State 31, Clemson 28
The free time after the Big Ten Championship game has not been as plentiful as usual, but it has to help the Buckeyes approach full strength and get the most important part of their schedule. This is why All-Americans Wyatt Davis and Shaun Wade were so anxious to return to campus after the Big Ten season was restored. This game. This event. They were less strong for the game in the Northwest due to COVID issues, and Northwestern plays an excellent defense anyway. OSU’s modest performance there has led many to conclude that this game was decided. But if the Clemson defense gives the horse chestnuts the opportunity that Notre Dame was given in the ACC championship, the bucks will seize the opportunity.
