Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Holiday College Football Review + Playoff Predictions!
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Holiday College Football Review + Playoff Predictions!
The Christmas holiday season is now underway. Yours truly will trek down I-20 to visit family in north Louisiana for several days later this week.
This will be the final SwampSwami report for 2025, so let’s make it worth your time with some bold predictions for the upcoming playoff games!
First, a review of last weekend’s first round of the College Football Playoffs
#9 seed Alabama 34, #8 Oklahoma 24
The Oklahoma Sooners looked unbeatable early in the second quarter of last Friday night’s opening game of this year’s playoffs.
Alas, it was the second half of that same second quarter which wrecked the Sooner Schooner and its national title hopes.
OU raced to 17-0 lead early in the second quarter by scoring on three consecutive possessions. Alabama finally put some points on the board with a 75-yard touchdown drive to make it 17-7.
Then Oklahoma’s All-SEC punter Grayson Miller accidentally dropped the ball just prior to punting it. Bama quickly recovered and would kick a field goal to trail 17-10.
On the next possession, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer completed a beautiful pass – right into the hands of Alabama defensive back Zabien Brown – for a 50-yard interception and score for the Crimson Tide.
This game went to halftime tied at 17 apiece. The Oklahoma football team and its home crowd of more than 80,000 looked shocked and deflated heading to the locker room after a self-inflicted second quarter collapse.
Alabama tacked on ten more points in the third quarter to take a 27-17 lead. The Tide went on to win 34-24 and will face #1 seed Indiana in a second round game on January 1.
#10 seed Miami 10, #7 seed Texas A&M 3
Nobody could have predicted this putrid offensive performance by both teams in the first two quarters. The scoreboard registered 0-0 at halftime on a dry, warm 75-degree Saturday afternoon in College Station, Texas.
Miami finally got on the scoreboard with a third quarter field goal. They were matched by Texas A&M early in the fourth quarter to make the score 3-3.
That’s when Hurricanes’ running back Mark Fletcher, Jr. took over and literally carried his team on his back Saturday with 172 rushing yards. His punishing fourth quarter runs carried the Canes downfield to take a 10-3 lead with two minutes to go.
A final drive by the Aggies to the Miami 5-yard line ended when Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed was intercepted on a questionable pass into the end zone.
Miami returns to the state of Texas next Wednesday night to play #2 seed Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
#6 seed Ole Miss 41, #11 seed Tulane 10
Before you blinked, the Coach Lane Kiffin-less Rebels jumped to a 14-0 lead with only a few minutes gone in the first quarter. You may remember that Ole Miss played Tulane earlier in the season and came away with a lopsided 45-10 victory.
Tulane never had a chance (again) in stepping-up to play this high-scoring SEC foe. The Green Wave finished the season with an 11-3 record.
Ole Miss travels to New Orleans to face #3 seed Georgia next Thursday on New Year’s Day in the Sugar Bowl.
#5 seed Oregon 51, #12 seed James Madison 34
The Ducks had their way with the JMU Dukes in Saturday’s final first round College Football Playoff game. Oregon led 34-6 at halftime and coasted the rest of the way.
James Madison finished its season with an outstanding 12-2 record.
The Ducks of Oregon will migrate across the USA next week to play #4 seed Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Prediction time!
Wednesday, December 31 – 6:30PM CST on ESPN – Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas
#2 seed Ohio State (12-1) vs. #10 seed Miami (FL) (11-2)
Ohio State is rusty after nearly a month off, but they have more than enough firepower to sink Miami’s battleship. The Hurricanes’ very expensive NIL transfer quarterback Carson Beck needs to have his best game of the year to deliver a win for the Canes. I don’t think he will.
Prediction – Ohio State 31, Miami 14
Thursday, January 1 – 11AM CST on ESPN – Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida
#5 seed Oregon (12-1) vs. #4 seed Texas Tech (12-1)
Oregon and Texas Tech can light-up the scoreboard, but the Red Raiders’ defense should become the big difference in this game. Oregon’s second half against James Madison displayed a number of defensive lapses. Texas Tech took good notes and should exploit the Ducks secondary in rolling to a surprisingly easy win.
Prediction – Texas Tech 38, Oregon 24
Thursday, January 1 – 3PM CST on ESPN – Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
#9 seed Alabama (11-3) vs. #1 seed Indiana (13-0)
The only unbeaten team in major college football takes center stage in the famous Rose Bowl against SEC power Alabama. Indiana’s gritty 13-10 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game validated their claim to the #1 spot.
Alabama’s offense must duplicate its second half performance against Oklahoma’s defense in order to stay close in this game. In the end, Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza has a more balanced offense than Alabama and should prevail.
Prediction – Indiana 28, Alabama 17
Thursday, January 1 – 7PM CST on ESPN – Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana
#6 seed Ole Miss (12-1) vs. #3 seed Georgia (12-1)
Watch to see if the Ole Miss offense can exploit enough weaknesses in the Georgia defense to stay close in the first half of this game. If not, Georgia’s ball-control offense has a tendency to wear down opponents late in the game. Georgia has a proven big-time coach in two-time national champion Kirby Smart. I cannot pick four favorites, so I like Ole Miss to jump to an early lead and stun Georgia in the Superdome next week.
Prediction – Ole Miss 27, Georgia 21
Now, let’s review Saturday’s FCS Semifinals and make a Championship Prediction!
#2 seed Montana State 48, #3 seed Montana 23
Montana State has been really close to winning a national title in recent years. The Bobcats have finished second to North Dakota State three times in the past five seasons.
This year, the Bison of NDSU lost – at home – to fast-improving Illinois State and left the door open for a new champion. Montana State (now 13-2) punched its ticket to the title game on January 5 in Nashville with an emphatic fourth quarter performance to eliminate intrastate rival Montana.
The Bobcats scored 21 points in the final quarter on Saturday afternoon to pull away from the Grizzlies. Montana State will be attempting to win the school’s first FCS national title since 1984.
Unseeded Illinois State 30, #12 seed Villanova 14
Illinois State won its fourth consecutive road playoff game by wearing down Villanova in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
The “Roadbirds” improved to 12-4 in advancing to the FCS title game in Nashville in less than two weeks. Illinois State traveled south, north, west, and east to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, defending champion North Dakota State, UC-Davis, and Villanova in succession in this year’s FCS playoffs.
Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, school-record holding wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, and the Redbirds’ relentless 220-pound running back senior Victor Dawson controlled the football for nearly 40 minutes to just 20 for Villanova in Saturday night’s latest win.
The Redbirds will try to grab the school’s first FCS football championship against 13-2 Montana State in the title game.
*Prediction – FCS Championship Game – Monday, January 5 – 6:30PM CST on ESPN in Nashville, Tennessee
#2 seed Montana State (13-2) vs. unseeded Illinois State (12-4)
The two teams which have defeated all comers and will face-off in a fascinating title game being held this year at Vanderbilt University’s football stadium in Nashville.
Montana State is capable of beating teams methodically or with big plays on offense. The Bobcats’ opportunistic defense has been stellar all season.
This confident Illinois State team fears no one. The Redbirds just became the first FCS football team to go 4-0 on the road to reach the finals.
Illinois State’s defense can be suspect at times. Montana State must not allow the Redbirds to control the ball like they have done throughout their incredible run in the FCS playoffs.
This game should be a dandy! I like the experience of Montana State to prevail in a very competitive title game.
Prediction – Montana State 35, Illinois State 28
Heaux, Heaux, Heaux – it’s time for me to geaux!
Merry Christmas to all!
The post Holiday College Football Review + Playoff Predictions! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.
View all episodes
By SwampSwamiSports.comThe Christmas holiday season is now underway. Yours truly will trek down I-20 to visit family in north Louisiana for several days later this week.
This will be the final SwampSwami report for 2025, so let’s make it worth your time with some bold predictions for the upcoming playoff games!
First, a review of last weekend’s first round of the College Football Playoffs
#9 seed Alabama 34, #8 Oklahoma 24
The Oklahoma Sooners looked unbeatable early in the second quarter of last Friday night’s opening game of this year’s playoffs.
Alas, it was the second half of that same second quarter which wrecked the Sooner Schooner and its national title hopes.
OU raced to 17-0 lead early in the second quarter by scoring on three consecutive possessions. Alabama finally put some points on the board with a 75-yard touchdown drive to make it 17-7.
Then Oklahoma’s All-SEC punter Grayson Miller accidentally dropped the ball just prior to punting it. Bama quickly recovered and would kick a field goal to trail 17-10.
On the next possession, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer completed a beautiful pass – right into the hands of Alabama defensive back Zabien Brown – for a 50-yard interception and score for the Crimson Tide.
This game went to halftime tied at 17 apiece. The Oklahoma football team and its home crowd of more than 80,000 looked shocked and deflated heading to the locker room after a self-inflicted second quarter collapse.
Alabama tacked on ten more points in the third quarter to take a 27-17 lead. The Tide went on to win 34-24 and will face #1 seed Indiana in a second round game on January 1.
#10 seed Miami 10, #7 seed Texas A&M 3
Nobody could have predicted this putrid offensive performance by both teams in the first two quarters. The scoreboard registered 0-0 at halftime on a dry, warm 75-degree Saturday afternoon in College Station, Texas.
Miami finally got on the scoreboard with a third quarter field goal. They were matched by Texas A&M early in the fourth quarter to make the score 3-3.
That’s when Hurricanes’ running back Mark Fletcher, Jr. took over and literally carried his team on his back Saturday with 172 rushing yards. His punishing fourth quarter runs carried the Canes downfield to take a 10-3 lead with two minutes to go.
A final drive by the Aggies to the Miami 5-yard line ended when Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed was intercepted on a questionable pass into the end zone.
Miami returns to the state of Texas next Wednesday night to play #2 seed Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
#6 seed Ole Miss 41, #11 seed Tulane 10
Before you blinked, the Coach Lane Kiffin-less Rebels jumped to a 14-0 lead with only a few minutes gone in the first quarter. You may remember that Ole Miss played Tulane earlier in the season and came away with a lopsided 45-10 victory.
Tulane never had a chance (again) in stepping-up to play this high-scoring SEC foe. The Green Wave finished the season with an 11-3 record.
Ole Miss travels to New Orleans to face #3 seed Georgia next Thursday on New Year’s Day in the Sugar Bowl.
#5 seed Oregon 51, #12 seed James Madison 34
The Ducks had their way with the JMU Dukes in Saturday’s final first round College Football Playoff game. Oregon led 34-6 at halftime and coasted the rest of the way.
James Madison finished its season with an outstanding 12-2 record.
The Ducks of Oregon will migrate across the USA next week to play #4 seed Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Prediction time!
Wednesday, December 31 – 6:30PM CST on ESPN – Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas
#2 seed Ohio State (12-1) vs. #10 seed Miami (FL) (11-2)
Ohio State is rusty after nearly a month off, but they have more than enough firepower to sink Miami’s battleship. The Hurricanes’ very expensive NIL transfer quarterback Carson Beck needs to have his best game of the year to deliver a win for the Canes. I don’t think he will.
Prediction – Ohio State 31, Miami 14
Thursday, January 1 – 11AM CST on ESPN – Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida
#5 seed Oregon (12-1) vs. #4 seed Texas Tech (12-1)
Oregon and Texas Tech can light-up the scoreboard, but the Red Raiders’ defense should become the big difference in this game. Oregon’s second half against James Madison displayed a number of defensive lapses. Texas Tech took good notes and should exploit the Ducks secondary in rolling to a surprisingly easy win.
Prediction – Texas Tech 38, Oregon 24
Thursday, January 1 – 3PM CST on ESPN – Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
#9 seed Alabama (11-3) vs. #1 seed Indiana (13-0)
The only unbeaten team in major college football takes center stage in the famous Rose Bowl against SEC power Alabama. Indiana’s gritty 13-10 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game validated their claim to the #1 spot.
Alabama’s offense must duplicate its second half performance against Oklahoma’s defense in order to stay close in this game. In the end, Indiana’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza has a more balanced offense than Alabama and should prevail.
Prediction – Indiana 28, Alabama 17
Thursday, January 1 – 7PM CST on ESPN – Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana
#6 seed Ole Miss (12-1) vs. #3 seed Georgia (12-1)
Watch to see if the Ole Miss offense can exploit enough weaknesses in the Georgia defense to stay close in the first half of this game. If not, Georgia’s ball-control offense has a tendency to wear down opponents late in the game. Georgia has a proven big-time coach in two-time national champion Kirby Smart. I cannot pick four favorites, so I like Ole Miss to jump to an early lead and stun Georgia in the Superdome next week.
Prediction – Ole Miss 27, Georgia 21
Now, let’s review Saturday’s FCS Semifinals and make a Championship Prediction!
#2 seed Montana State 48, #3 seed Montana 23
Montana State has been really close to winning a national title in recent years. The Bobcats have finished second to North Dakota State three times in the past five seasons.
This year, the Bison of NDSU lost – at home – to fast-improving Illinois State and left the door open for a new champion. Montana State (now 13-2) punched its ticket to the title game on January 5 in Nashville with an emphatic fourth quarter performance to eliminate intrastate rival Montana.
The Bobcats scored 21 points in the final quarter on Saturday afternoon to pull away from the Grizzlies. Montana State will be attempting to win the school’s first FCS national title since 1984.
Unseeded Illinois State 30, #12 seed Villanova 14
Illinois State won its fourth consecutive road playoff game by wearing down Villanova in Philadelphia on Saturday night.
The “Roadbirds” improved to 12-4 in advancing to the FCS title game in Nashville in less than two weeks. Illinois State traveled south, north, west, and east to defeat Southeastern Louisiana, defending champion North Dakota State, UC-Davis, and Villanova in succession in this year’s FCS playoffs.
Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, school-record holding wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, and the Redbirds’ relentless 220-pound running back senior Victor Dawson controlled the football for nearly 40 minutes to just 20 for Villanova in Saturday night’s latest win.
The Redbirds will try to grab the school’s first FCS football championship against 13-2 Montana State in the title game.
*Prediction – FCS Championship Game – Monday, January 5 – 6:30PM CST on ESPN in Nashville, Tennessee
#2 seed Montana State (13-2) vs. unseeded Illinois State (12-4)
The two teams which have defeated all comers and will face-off in a fascinating title game being held this year at Vanderbilt University’s football stadium in Nashville.
Montana State is capable of beating teams methodically or with big plays on offense. The Bobcats’ opportunistic defense has been stellar all season.
This confident Illinois State team fears no one. The Redbirds just became the first FCS football team to go 4-0 on the road to reach the finals.
Illinois State’s defense can be suspect at times. Montana State must not allow the Redbirds to control the ball like they have done throughout their incredible run in the FCS playoffs.
This game should be a dandy! I like the experience of Montana State to prevail in a very competitive title game.
Prediction – Montana State 35, Illinois State 28
Heaux, Heaux, Heaux – it’s time for me to geaux!
Merry Christmas to all!
The post Holiday College Football Review + Playoff Predictions! appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.