Predicting the 2021 College Football Playoff matchups

The 2021 College Football Playoff will feature a number of teams vying for a shot at a national championship. Still, the usual suspects remain at the top of the list, according to Jerry Palm of CBS Sports.

Predicting the 2021 College Football Playoff, according to CBS Sports:

Orange Bowl: (1) Alabama vs. (4) Oklahoma

The defending champions are projected to return to form in 2021. First, the Alabama Crimson Tide leads the pack as the projected No. 1 seed in the predictions. While Nick Saban’s squad is undergoing multiple changes on the offensive side of the ball, Palm believes sophomore quarterback Bryce Young can pick up where Mac Jones left off.

On the other hand, Oklahoma is projected to return to the College Football Playoff after missing the cut last season. Here, we see a matchup between the Sooners and their future conference opponent in the SEC’s Tide.

If Lincoln Riley’s squad wants to do right by Palm’s prediction, it’s on the shoulders of quarterback Spencer Rattler. The electrifying signal caller is the preseason favorite for multiple awards, including the Heisman Trophy. If Rattler makes good on his potential, there’s no telling how high the heights are that the Sooners can reach.

In finishing his prediction, Palm mentions that this matchup would be played at the Orange Bowl instead of the Cotton Bowl due to what would be perceived as an advantage for Oklahoma. 

“That game should be in Miami instead of the Cotton Bowl (technically closer for Alabama) because playing in Arlington, Texas, could be perceived to be an advantage for Oklahoma, which is even closer to the stadium,” writes Palm.

Cotton Bowl: (2) Clemson vs. (3) Ohio State

Are you a fan of rematches? According to Palm, the Clemson Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes will face off for the fourth time in the College Football Playoff. In the previous three, Clemson’s won twice, but Ohio State defeated the Tigers 49-28 last season.

To begin, Dabo Swinney’s squad is the odds-on favorite to win the ACC. While D.J. Uiagalelei is taking over for Trevor Lawrence, many believe he has a chance to become one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. The College Football Playoff has become the bar for Swinney’s teams, and barring a surprising upset they should return.

As for Ohio State, they also lost their quarterback from last season to the NFL Draft. This season, C.J. Stroud will attempt to replicate Justin Fields’ production. If this matchup comes to fruition, he’ll try to mimic Fields’ 6-touchdown performance against the Tigers from last season.

All in all, Palm’s predictions may be safe, but they could very well be correct. Still, teams like Georgia, Iowa State, Texas A&M and Oregon would love nothing more than to crash the party.

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