College Football Playoff Picks 2023-24

Welcome to the best time in the college football season, bowl season! The bowl match-ups are revealed, and we know who will be competing for a national title. Today, the Shady Sports Network will be picking the games and reviewing the bowl picks for college football’s biggest games, the New Year’s Six. Let’s get started!

Goodyear Cotton Bowl: #7 Ohio State vs #9 Missouri

Jake’s Prediction: The Cotton Bowl puts some very good teams up against each other. Ohio State is one of the best teams in the nation, and their high powered offense with Marvin Harrison Jr is nothing to ignore. Their only loss on the season was a close one against the top ranked Wolverines. While Kyle McCord will not be playing, and it’s very likely that Harrison Jr won’t as well, this offense will be turning to their future stars in order to best the Tigers. I think that offense will keep the game more competitive than it would be otherwise, but they’re still the Buckeyes at the end of the day. They shouldn’t have a problem beating Missouri.

Jake’s Score Prediction: 34-23 Buckeyes.

Mike’s Prediction: Ohio State comes into the Cotton Bowl this year with heads hanging, again. So many questions surrounding this team, from the HC Ryan Day & transfer portals that would be key factors for this game. We need to see the transition from WR to WR go well with Marvin Harrison Jr likely not playing. Who will have the surprise game like he did in the Rose Bowl 2 years ago?

Carnell Tate & Brandon Innis should have high numbers. I expect the Buckeyes to use this as a Spring Game before the Spring Game type of preview for 2024. Missouri has a run game & a serviceable passing game. The run game will be the biggest test for the defense. Missouri defense needs to keep everything in front of them.

Mike’s Score Prediction: 44-42 Ohio State

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl: #11 Ole Miss vs #10 Penn State

Jake’s Prediction: Penn State just can’t seem to win the big ones, as their record shows losses against Ohio State and Michigan… what else is new? Ole Miss has an intriguing offense that is balanced and will keep the Nittany Lions on their toes. This should be a fun one, but I predict that Drew Allar will easily guide Penn State to another bowl win. While the Rebels have a solid offense that will hit a few big plays, but I lack confidence that this defense can stop the Nittany Lions over a whole game. This will be another solid bowl win for Penn State, but their eyes should be on the expanded playoffs next year.

Jake’s Score Prediction: 36-25 Penn State

Mike’s Prediction: Penn State is close to even with Ole Miss. These teams have to prove themselves. Who has the better offense & defense? Drew Allar needs to show there is growth for him in his game as he works towards being a complete QB. Penn State is the B1G school, so I am repping & taking my conference.

Mike’s Score Prediction: 35-31 Penn State

VRBO Fiesta Bowl: #23 Liberty vs #8 Oregon

Jake’s Prediction: Liberty continues their upward trend as a football program with an appearance in a New Year’s Six game, while Oregon has to deal with the disappointment of a 2 loss season -with both losses coming to conference rival Washington- and being put in this game instead of their real goal of a national title. Bo Nix and the Ducks should have their way with Liberty, but Liberty has something to prove. They want to show their 13-0 record can translate to a bowl win. This will be a game won by the better offense, and whoever overcomes the other defense will win it. Unfortunately for the Flames, I can’t see them pulling off a huge upset here.

Jake’s Score Prediction: 34-13 Ducks

Mike’s Prediction: The Liberty Flames are riding high right now on an undefeated 13-0 season. This game will depend on if Bo Nix is playing or not. This is definitely a test for Liberty as the Flames do seem outmatched on every level. Unfortunately, Nix or no Nix, it just feels that Oregon is destined to win this game. Should be an interesting & exciting game.

Mike’s Score Prediction: 42-41 Oregon

Capital One Orange Bowl: #6 Georgia vs #5 Florida State

Jake’s Prediction: This is the disappointment bowl. Georgia was the top team for most of the year, and Florida State was undefeated and was on top of the ACC. How did they get here? Georgia suffered a loss to Alabama, their first in 3 years, in the conference championship game, and Florida State’s QB got injured. Georgia should still be the stronger team. They have Carson Beck, along with much of the pieces that keep this juggernaut rolling. Florida State is still a really strong team, especially on defense. This will be an incredibly exciting game, and while everything might point to a Bulldogs victory, I have the Seminoles pulling off an upset in OT.

Why? Because they have motivation to prove the committee wrong and to show they belong in the top 4.

Jake’s Score Prediction: 39-42 Florida State

Mike’s Prediction: This one doesn’t come across to me as a yawn bowl game. I know to a lot of people that may be a crazy take. FSU being mad & playing mad for missing the CFP, UGA losing out of the CFP. There’s going to be scoring aplenty, and the team that gets more motivated will win. I have UGA winning, because they have the less devastating injuries.

Mike’s Score Prediction: 28-37 Georgia

Rose Bowl: #1 Michigan vs #4 Alabama

Jake’s Prediction: This is a true heavyweight battle. Michigan is undefeated, and finished the regular season as the top team in the nation. Alabama overcame some early season struggles to rise into the top 4 and now will contend for another national championship. I think that JJ McCarthy will struggle against the Crimson Tide especially down the stretch. Alabama has delivered in clutch situations all year long, look no further than the game winning drive against Auburn, and that’s what I believe will be the difference. Let’s not ignore how good the Wolverines are though. They will make this a tight game, and could pull away with a win if Bama isn’t careful

Jake’s Score Prediction: 35-29 Alabama

Mike’s Prediction: This feels like the loser Head Coach will be gone from their school. This seems more likely if Michigan were to lose this game. Jalen Milroe and co. seem to have more of the go, speed & depth than Michigan. Looking at everything, Alabama seems to have this one secured. It may be close in the beginning, but I see Alabama pulling away in the end.

Mike’s Score Prediction: 35-10 Alabama

Allstate Sugar Bowl: #2 Washington vs #3 Texas

Jake’s Prediction: I think this might be the most entertaining game of the season, as 2 high powered offenses collide in a semi final match-up. Washington has Michael Penix Jr, a Heisman finalist who, at his peak, can dominate any game. Texas with Quinn Ewers should be equally strong. I think this game comes down to which defense will clamp down when it matters. I believe that team will be the Huskies, and they’ll send Texas all the way home. I don’t want to discredit the Longhorns, but this is going to be a game they’ll be overwhelmed in late.

Jake’s Score Prediction: 44-40 Washington

Mike’s Prediction: This semi-final has everything needed to be a classic. These teams are very even. To me, this looks like an explosive offensive affair. I look forward over 1,000 combined yards of offense in this game. Heisman finalist QB Michael Penix Jr will slice and dice the Texas defense. Washington will win with a balanced offense, while their defense will make the high flying Texas offense one-dimensional.

Mike’s Score Prediction: 45-42 Washington

College Football National Championship

Jake’s Prediction: The final game for the year is almost here, and predicting Washington and Alabama to be in the big game at the start of the season would’ve seemed crazy. For me, if it’s Washington vs Alabama, it’s going to be an absolute shootout between some of the best teams in the nation. It’s an intriguing match-up, because I would have rather seen the Seminoles in over the Tide. Between Penix and Milroe, I’m taking Penix as the QB to surprise in the championship, and win it all. Washington is a complete team, and if they can avoid making little mistakes, they can win this thing. It’d be a proper send off to the PAC-12.

Mike’s Prediction: It seems crazy for someone to say Alabama vs Washington being the Championship game at the beginning of the season. Here we are though, I’m not completely surprised. This is the last game ever for the PAC 12. Washington would like to go out on top. Alabama isn’t the juggernaut that they used to be. In the end, I do think that Washington is too powerful & air raided for the Alabama defense. As though Alabama is the safe pick, I feel the right pick for the 2024 CFP crown is Washington as we get to see the PAC-12 go out on top. Washington wins in a classic over Alabama 45-39.

Thank you for reading the Shady Sports Network College Football Playoff predictions! Do you agree or disagree with out thoughts? Let us know and stay tuned for more of your favorite sports content!

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