New Years CFB Playoff Preview & Best Bets
- CoachDay
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Happy New Year’s, goodbye 2025, welcome in 2026. As most people are struggling to wake up into the new year after a wild late night to ring it in, I instead am here to make today’s 3 glorious playoff game day much easier to understand through your harsh reality of a devilish hangover setting in.
Before I slide into the games, I do have one gripe. We used to get 5 to 6 big bowl games to help us into the new year, now we are down to three & instead are getting random games tomorrow. Not sure how I feel about this change, even if they just did all 4 playoff quarterfinals today I think I’d be more content. Yes, this is a traditionalist’s complaint, but had to get it out of the way.
We have a clear-cut high powered offense vs a dominating defense. Oregon wins games with their balanced attack led by QB Dante Moore & his tool belt of weapons including RB Noah Whittington, WR Malik Benson, & TE Kenyon Sadiq. On the other side of the ball for Tech, they are led by LB Jacob Rodriguez, EDGE David Bailey, & DB Brice Pollock.
The Red Raiders force TOs & will need to do that this game in order to stay close, as while they do have offensive weapons themselves, it would be tough to win a high 30s to low 40s scoring type of game against the Ducks. As for Oregon, the key is to run this thing up. Score, score, score.
Prediction: Oregon 34 Texas Tech 24
Best Bet: Over 50.5
Fun Bet: Texas Tech D/ST ATTD +550
The granddaddy of them all! If you don’t get chills as they do the flyover of the Rose Bowl, check your pulse! Alabama comes into this one looking to shock the Hoosiers after their comeback win on the road.
For IU, the key will be balance. If they can run the ball then Bama is in trouble, as that allows for the now healthy WR Omar Cooper II to get more looks downfield from the Heisman winner QB Fernando Mendoza. For the Tide, they need WR Ryan Williams to wake up! There is a clear advantage in outside weapons from a “projected talent” measuring aspect. Can they show up though?
QB Ty Simpson has been up & down the past few games, but clutched up last week. Look for him to dip into that magic again.
Prediction: Alabama 36 Indiana 34 (2OT)
Best Bet: Alabama ML
Fun Bet: Ryan Williams 2 TDs +4000
REMATCH! After UGA beat Ole Miss in-season, they face off yet again with a semifinal spot on the line. They do say it is hard to beat the same team twice in a season. Well, the Bulldogs have the talent on both sides of the ball to do it.
Still, UGA QB Gunner Stockton will be the key, as his play over the 2nd half of the season has made them unbeatable. If he continues to use his dual-threat ability vs the Rebels, it will be tough to keep up. As for these Rebels, their QB Trinidad Chambliss can also burn ya both ways. Will the moment be too big for the former D2 champ? That is going to be the game changer, which QB blinks first.
Prediction: Georgia 42 Ole Miss 27
Best Bet: Combined pass yards over 525
Fun Bet: POINTS! Over 65.5 +212
We have 3 awesome matchups on the first day of 2026. Please don’t let this flop as we all find our footing in the new year working on resolutions we hope to keep past Valentine’s Day. Also, why doesn’t the winning coach in the Sugar Bowl get sugar dumped on him… or does he? Need to look that up.
Anyways, welcome to 2026 & College Football Playoff quarterfinal day!