College Football Playoff Predictions: CFP Quarterfinals Matchup Picks for Each Game

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College Football Playoff Predictions: CFP Quarterfinals Matchup Picks for Each Game

College Football Playoff Predictions: CFP Quarterfinals Matchup Picks for Each Game — Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Matt Johnson · Sportsnaut

Mon, Dec 22, 2025 ·

3 min read

Cotton Bowl: Ohio State Buckeyes 21, Miami Hurricanes 13

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It is possible we could see the Ohio State Buckeyes start slow in this matchup, as they will take the field on Dec. 31 having last played on Dec. 6 against Indiana. An early lead for the Miami Hurricanes would allow their defense to pin its ears back and wreak havoc, which proved to be very successful for Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. However, Carson Beck has not really shown anything as of late to believe he can be trusted in a big spot with a game on the line, and he has been shaky against top defenses. The Hurricanes' pass rush and run game should make this a close contest, but the Buckeyes come out on top because they have the better quarterback, coaching staff, and skill players.

Orange Bowl: Oregon Ducks 20, Texas Tech Red Raiders 17

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It is a battle between two of the best defenses in the nation with a spot in the semifinal at stake in the Orange Bowl. The Oregon Ducks beat James Madison in the first round, but their second-half performance does raise further doubts about just how good this team is defensively. All eyes, of course, will be on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore versus a star-studded Texas Tech defense. We think what will make a difference in this game is the fact that the Ducks have been battle-tested against Indiana, whereas the Red Raiders' toughest competition this season was BYU. This could be a coin-flip game, but we see Oregon proving superior in the fourth quarter.

Rose Bowl: Indiana Hoosiers 28, Alabama Crimson Tide 17

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The Alabama Crimson Tide cannot run the football effectively, and their pass rush has been inconsistent at times this season. There is also reason to be concerned about Ty Simpson against the Indiana Hoosiers' pass rush, which caused real problems for Julian Sayin in the Big Ten Championship Game. Alabama is a very good team, but it lost three times this season and has real faults that Indiana can exploit. We are expecting the Hoosiers to treat the Rose Bowl like a statement game, proving they are truly the number one team in the nation.

Sugar Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs 35, Ole Miss Rebels 17

Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Georgia Bulldogs are a very different team than the one that the Ole Miss Rebels nearly beat back in October. Mississippi saw glimpses of the Bulldogs' defense turning things around in that fourth quarter, but this unit really hit its stride in the middle of November, and it has been rolling since. However, the issues with the Rebels' defense have not gone away. Look for Gunner Stockton and Nate Frazier to propel Georgia to a convincing win over Mississippi in the Sugar Bowl.

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