College Football Playoff Picks 2025- Quarter Final (Wednesday 31st December-Thursday 1st January)

The College Football Playoff is going to change in the years ahead and there is little doubt about that.

However, we do look to have a solid eight teams left who will be vying to end the season as National Champions and the Quarter Final match ups look good.

The Playoff Picks begun with a 3-1 run in the First Round, although the last of those games should have also secured a win when the Oregon Ducks allowed a late Touchdown and a backdoor cover against the James Madison Dukes.

Hopefully that can be built upon in the Quarter Final with the four games to be played on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Miami Hurricanes: Last season was the first in the new format of the College Football Playoff and all four First Round winners were able to beat top four Seeded opponents.

That includes the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-1) crushing a Big Ten rival in Oregon, but this time it is the Buckeyes who have been sitting and waiting to see who they would face Dallas.

Most may have expected the Texas A&M Aggies to be that opponent, but they were upset at home by the Miami Hurricanes (11-2) who have already proven the Playoff Committee were correct in bringing them into the Bracket.

The win over the Aggies was not the most eye-pleasing performance, at least not from an Offensive point of view, and the Hurricanes have to be aware that they are going to need to be better all around to upset the Number 2 Seed. Miami have been set as a considerable underdog in the contest, but that win on the road has to give them belief that they are able to make this a very competitive outing.

Much of the heavy lifting is going to have to be done by the Miami Defensive unit, who just limited the Aggies to 3 points at home.

They are a team that have been very strong at the Line of Scrimmage and that has made it very difficult to run the ball against the Hurricanes, which is going to be something that the Buckeyes may struggle to do with any consistency. Ohio State have been very good at running the ball all season, but there has been a feeling that they have struggled against strong fronts and the Hurricanes are about as good an opponent as Ohio State will have faced this season.

If the Hurricanes can at least slow the rush, they will feel they can unleash a pass rush that Ohio State will have rarely seen and that can put Quarter Back Julian Sayin under pressure. He has shown he is capable of finding big throws when they are needed this season and the Buckeyes are very talented in the Receiver positions, but the Indiana Hoosiers showed the blueprint to beat them and the Miami Hurricanes can certainly play their part on this side of the ball.

A bigger question is can the Miami Hurricanes find enough Offensive output to stay with the Buckeyes? They struggled in poor conditions against the Aggies, but playing indoors will help, although the Hurricanes also have to have a lot of respect for what this Ohio State Defensive unit can put together.

The Buckeyes numbers have been really strong all season on this side of the ball.

Carson Beck has experience, but the pressure is likely going to be carried by the Quarter Back with the Buckeyes Defensive Line capable of closing down the running lanes for the underdog.

He will be well protected, which will help, and Beck will have seen what the Indiana Hoosiers were able to do against the Buckeyes Secondary.

Fernando Mendoza managed to throw 222 yards against Ohio State and the Miami Hurricanes may need something similar to keep this one close on the scoreboard.

As long as the Miami Hurricanes can play a clean game Offensively, this opening Quarter Final will be a battle of field position and that should mean the spread is a bit too high for the favourite to cover, even if they are to win and move through to the next Round.

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Oregon Ducks Pick: Out of the four Quarter Final games to be played in the College Football Playoff, this is the one with the shortest spread and there is every reason to believe it could come down to a final possession to separate the two teams.

Last year the Oregon Ducks (12-1) were the Number 1 Seed as the unbeaten Big Ten Champions, but they were placed in the First Round in 2025 and crushed the James Madison Dukes. The final score is much closer than the game panned out, although the Ducks will feel there is still room for improvement if they are going to move into the Playoff Semi Final Round and get the better of the Big 12 Champions.

All season the Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1) have been overlooked and that is going to give this team a lot of motivation.

The one loss was in a game where they had to play with a backup Quarter Back, but Texas Tech look ready to go, although they will note that the teams that were Seeded higher were all beaten in the Quarter Final Round last year. This is something that everyone will be keeping an eye on with some believing the lay off between games is a problem for the Seeded teams, especially as they are going up against an opponent that has played at least once in December in the First Round.

In this one the Oregon Ducks- the lower Seed- have been set as favourites, but that could be partly down to the familiarity people have with a school that has been operating at a much higher level than Texas Tech in recent years.

However, the era of the transfer portal has been exploited by Texas Tech and others to quickly change the fortune around any team and the Red Raiders have the personnel on both sides of the ball to spring the upset.

Oregon have gotten the better of the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the past, but it feels this game is going to come down to how they can perform Offensively against one of the best Defensive units in the College Football picture.

An immediate problem could be at the Line of Scrimmage with the Ducks unlikely to rip off big gains against this Red Raiders Defensive Line and that will mean Quarter Back Dante Moore needing to make plays with his arm. He will be confident in doing that, but Moore struggled in the loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the regular season and this is a Texas Tech team that really gets after the Quarter Back when they have pushed an opponent into obvious passing situations.

You do have to expect the speed and talent in the Oregon Offensive unit to come to the fore and make some big plays, but Dante Moore will have to be very aware of the capabilities of this Secondary in taking the ball away. This is another area where the Red Raiders have to be the stronger of the two teams if they are going to pull the upset, but there is a lot of confidence in Texas Tech about the strength of the team on the Defensive side of the ball.

The Red Raiders Defensive unit are the focus in this one as people want to know how they can step up to the elite of the Big Ten level.

However, it would be foolish to ignore the Offense and what they may be able to do in this game to give the Big 12 Champions an edge.

Behren Morton has really played efficiently from the Quarter Back position and he is going to be hugely encouraged by some of the passing numbers allowed by the Oregon Secondary in recent games. Most importantly, the Red Raiders Offensive Line may feel they can at least keep Morton in third and manageable spots by having some success at the Line of Scrimmage and that will be key to ease the Ducks pass rush pressure and give the Quarter Back some time to make plays down the field.

The expectation around this game is that it is going to be really close and it would be a surprise if it is anything else.

You have to like the Oregon Ducks with the experience they have in both Coaching and playing at this time of the year, but Texas Tech Red Raiders have been having a strong season and are perhaps underestimated.

If the Defensive front can do what they have been, Texas Tech may just have enough to edge to the victory and just remind the Big Ten and SEC that they are not the only Power 4 Conferences with legitimately strong teams playing within them.

Indiana Hoosiers vs Alabama Crimson Tide Pick: If you want to know what kind of impact the transfer portal and NIL deals have had in College Football, just have a look at the spread for this Playoff Quarter Final.

The long-time contenders Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3) and 'blue blood' are not only the lower Seed, but they are significant underdogs against the Indiana Hoosiers (13-0). Take away the names and it makes a lot of sense with the unbeaten Big Ten Champions building on a strong run in 2024, but it is still jarring for older College Football fans.

You have to believe the Crimson Tide are going to be highly motivated by the spread, even if some will pretend players and Coaches do not pay attention to the Vegas oddsmakers.

They have already overcome some of the criticism by being included in the Playoff by coming back from 17-0 down to beat the Oklahoma Sooners on the road in the First Round and earn revenge for a regular season loss. However, this feels like a significantly tougher challenge for the Crimson Tide against an opponent that has beaten the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks this season, two teams that also make up the final eight in the Playoff Bracket.

A season-long problem for the Crimson Tide has been at the Line of Scrimmage and an inability to run the ball.

This is not expected to change in this Quarter Final with the Hoosiers Defensive Line able to clamp down on the run and that means the pressure is on Quarter Back Ty Simpson. He has been inconsistent at times this season, which is not surprising without much support on the ground and having to convert third and long spots all over the field, while Simpson has seemingly been playing through an injury over the last several weeks.

Assuming the Crimson Tide don't change the habit of a 2025 season on New Year's Day, Ty Simpson is going to be put under incredible pressure by the Indiana pass rush. The Quarter Back has perhaps not been good enough with his footwork to make up for escaping pressure around him and Simpson could have a really tough day keeping the chains moving against one of the premier Defensive units in College Football.

All of this means the Crimson Tide are going to need the Defense to step up for them, but they are expected to be given a stern examination.

Much like Indiana, Alabama's Defensive Line have to be confident that they can at least slow down the Hoosiers run game, although perhaps not to the same extent as will be expected on the other side of the ball.

Some believe Quarter Back Fernando Mendoza is potentially going to be the Number 1 Pick in the NFL Draft next April and he is expected to showcase some of his talents against a Secondary that will also be pushing onto the next level. However, the Crimson Tide have been struggling against the pass against the stronger competition faced and this is where the Hoosiers may take command of this Quarter Final and avoid having another Number 1 Seed beaten in this Round following Big Ten Champions Oregon falling twelve months ago.

Fernando Mendoza has largely avoided mistakes in the passing game as well and so there is a feeling the Indiana Hoosiers will pull ahead and then have the pass rush pin back their ears on the other side of the ball.

This could lead to a turnover or two in their favour and the Indiana Hoosiers can show why they are considered the team to beat in the Playoff with a comprehensive victory.

Stephen Daley is missing for the Hoosiers, which is a blow, but Indiana can make up for that and still move into the Semi Final later this month.

Georgia Bulldogs vs Mississippi Rebels Pick: Everyone was interested to see how the Mississippi Rebels (12-1) would react to the Lane Kiffin drama, but they were big favourites in the First Round of the Playoffs and made that count on the field. This is a much more significant test for the Rebels as they face the Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) for a second time this season, a team that went on to win the SEC Championship with a dominant win in early December.

The game in mid-October ended in an 8 point win for the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, while a dominant Fourth Quarter saw them dominate the yardage and pull clear of the Rebels.

A lot feels like it has changed for Georgia since then- the younger players have grown and grown and crushing wins over Texas and Alabama has underlined the improvement being made. Importantly it looks like the Bulldogs have gotten stronger Defensively, which is where all SEC teams look to dominate, and they will feel they are going to be able to exert their strengths in this one.

So much of this Quarter Final is going to be decided when the Mississippi Rebels have the ball.

They should be pretty well prepared now the Kiffin drama is behind them, although there is still some uncertainty as to how the Rebels will look next season. Trinidad Chambliss has made the Quarter Back position his own, but rumours continue to swirl that he may make a move in the transfer portal with many expecting him to join his former Head Coach with the LSU Tigers.

In the first meeting with the Bulldogs, Trinidad Chambliss had 263 passing yards with a Touchdown and added two more on the ground to go along with 42 rushing yards. A similar performance will be needed if the Rebels are going to pull the upset, but the Rebels have to be aware they are going up against a much stronger looking Georgia Defensive unit in this one.

Everything begins up front with the Georgia Defensive Line absolutely clamping down on the run in recent games and they will be very keen to put the Rebels behind the chains and see if Trinidad Chambliss can beat them with his arm.

The Quarter Back is expected to have some successes, although time in the pocket may run out pretty quickly against this Georgia pass rush. Trinidad Chambliss also has to be very aware of the turnovers that the Bulldogs Secondary have been creating and none of the last four opponents have scored more than 10 points against the SEC Champions.

Improving Defensive performances have perhaps contributed to Georgia looking a bit more conservative Offensively with the idea to make sure they win the field position battle.

Gunner Stockton had 289 passing yards and 4 Touchdowns in the home win over the Rebels, but the passing numbers are way down in recent outings with the Bulldogs not asking as much from the Quarter Back.

That may be the case in this Quarter Final with the Bulldogs Offensive Line looking to establish the run and they will certainly feel they can do that in this game. The Rebels Defensive Line has been vulnerable at times throughout the season, but recent games have seen the Rebels give up a bit more on the ground and this should be music to the ears of Georgia fans.

Putting Gunner Stockton in third and manageable spots should mean he has a bit more time in the pocket to make his throws down the field, while there have been some lanes that have been exploited through the air against the Rebels in recent games. He may not have the same totals as the regular season win, but Stockton will certainly feel he can help the Bulldogs keep the chains moving.

As long as he can avoid turnovers, Gunner Stockton should lead the Georgia Bulldogs to success, even if repeat games in one season are always very different to the first. However, the Rebels showed in the First Round that some things do not change in the second dominant win over Tulane this season and they may just not have the consistency to keep up with an improving Georgia Bulldogs team looking to make amends for a relatively early exit twelve months ago.

MY PICKS: Miami Hurricanes + 9.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Texas Tech Red Raiders + 2.5 Points @ 1.95 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Indiana Hoosiers - 6.5 Points @ 1.83 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs - 6 Points @ 1.86 Bet365 (1 Unit)

First Round Playoff: 3-1, + 1.67 Units (4 Units Staked, + 41.75% Yield)

Week 15: 2-2, - 0.29 Units (4 Units Staked, - 7.25% Yield)

Week 14: 5-2-1, + 2.44 Units (8 Units Staked, + 30.50% Yield)

Week 13: 3-3, - 0.35 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.83% Yield

Week 12: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.09 Units (6 Units Staked, - 68.17% Yield)

Week 10: 3-3, - 0.33 Units (6 Units Staked, - 5.50% Yield)

Week 9: 3-3, - 0.19 Units (6 Units Staked, - 3.17% Yield)

Week 8: 2-3, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 7: 4-1, + 2.62 Units (5 Units Staked, + 52.40% Yield)

Week 6: 2-4, - 2.22 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37% Yield)

Week 5: 1-5, - 4.20 Units (6 Units Staked, - 70% Yield)

Week 4: 2-4, - 2.14 Units (6 Units Staked, - 35.67% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, - 0.36 (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 1: 1-4, - 3.14 Units (5 Units Staked, - 62.80% Yield)

Week 0: 2-1, + 0.75 Units (3 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

College Football Picks- Playoff Quarter Final 2024 (Tuesday 31st December-Wednesday 1st January)

The new College Football Playoff does bring some uncertainty to the table as we move onto the Quarter Final Round.

For starters, teams are not that accustomed to having to play multiple games over the festive month and that is the case for the four First Round Winners.

Of course, we don't really know how teams that have been given a Bye through to the Quarter Final will fare having spent over three weeks on the sidelines preparing rather than competing.

You can look at the previous years in the NFL when those teams that received a Bye through to the Divisional Round would struggle against teams that are in a much more competitive mindset. This is a potential factor going against the top Seeds in the Quarter Final Round, although it also has to be noted that three of those that have come through the First Round have been set as favourites against higher Seeded opponents.

The four Quarter Final games are going to be played across two days, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and the Picks can be read below.

Boise State Broncos vs Penn State Nittany Lions Pick: The new First Round of the College Football Playoff was disappointing in terms of drama, and the hope is that the Quarter Final games in the new format will be much more competitive.

This is going to be the first time that a team will be facing an opponent that has had a Bye since the Championship Week of the regular season and in the years ahead we may have more of an indication as to how that will affect performances.

The Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2) crushed the SMU Mustangs at home and they will next face the Boise State Broncos (12-1) in Arizona. Both of these teams may feel they are on the 'weaker' side of the Bracket, especially with the injuries suffered by the Georgia Bulldogs, but focusing on the future and ignoring the present would be a mistake.

All eyes will be on Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State Running Back who was a leading contender to win the Heisman before coming up short in the voting to a deserving Travis Hunter. He will be playing behind the Broncos Offensive Line which has been very effective at setting up the run all season and Jeanty is going to feel he can earn the 132 yards needed on the ground to smash Barry Sanders single season record in the NCAA.

The battle at the Line of Scrimmage is expected to be key to the outcome of this game and the Nittany Lions Defensive Line have played the run very well all season. They will believe they can at least contain Ashton Jeanty to some extent and try and force the Boise State Broncos to have to get the ball out of the hands of their best player and make Maddux Madsen beat them from the Quarter Back position.

Maddux Madsen has benefited from having a superstar at Running Back, but he has been efficient and it has been possible to attack this Penn State Secondary. Being in front of the chains is important, but Madsen is also well protected by the Boise State Offensive Line when he has had to drop back to throw the ball and the Quarter Back has been careful enough with his decision making.

This is important with the Nittany Lions capable of stepping in front of the passing lanes, while Boise State have not had a high level of competition this season as the non-Power 4 representative in the Playoff. However, they did push Big Ten Champions Oregon Ducks all the way very early in the season and that will give the Broncos confidence as they chase the upset.

We know it will be a test for the Broncos at the Line of Scrimmage when they have the ball, but the Boise State Defensive Line is also going to have to try and stop this Penn State run game.

It feels like a big challenge for the Broncos who ended the regular season struggling at the Line of Scrimmage and they now have to face a Nittany Lions Offensive Line that have helped the team power the run game. Everything could come down to this battle in this Quarter Final and Penn State moving the ball on the ground with some big runs will just negate the Broncos pass rush and also allow Drew Allar plenty of time from the Quarter Back position.

There is plenty of pressure on Allar who has been facing a lot of criticism and the same goes for Head Coach James Franklin who has come up short in big spots. The first two Playoff games could not have been much more welcoming for Penn State and their Head Coach-Quarter Back combination and Drew Allar may feel more comfortable without having to be the one to win this with his arm.

Avoiding turnovers is going to be key on both sides of the ball, but the edge has to be with the Penn State Nittany Lions after their dominant win over SMU in the First Round. This is a game being played on a neutral ground, but the Nittany Lions look to have the edge when it comes to establishing the run with any kind of consistency and the Nittany Lions may make enough plays late on to secure a cover of what is a big spread.

Arizona State Sun Devils vs Texas Longhorns Pick: After being tipped up to finish in the basement of the Big 12 in their first season in the Conference following a move away from the Pac-12, the Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2) have stunned the naysayers.

Instead of planning for the 2025 season while others enjoyed the Bowl Season, the Sun Devils crushed the Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12 Championship Game to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff. Not just earn a spot, but earn a Bye through to the Quarter Final in Atlanta where the Sun Devils will be in a familiar underdog spot.

There they will be facing the Texas Longhorns (12-2) who left the Big 12 to become a member of the SEC and who were beaten in the Championship Game in this Stadium in early December. The defeat did not prevent Texas from earning a spot in the Playoff, but they had to crush the Clemson Tigers, the ACC Champion, in the First Round to earn their spot in this Quarter Final.

The Longhorns were significant favourites to beat Clemson and did exactly what was expected of them and Texas will be heading into this Quarter Final as the strongest favourite of the Round.

A huge challenge awaits Arizona State even if the team has the momentum of having won six games in a row.

They will not have faced too many Defensive units of the power of the Texas Longhorns and this balanced Sun Devils Offense is going to need to have planned to produce their absolute best in this game. Everything begins with Cam Skattebo and the run game and the Sun Devils Defensive Line have been very strong up front all season, although we have to keep coming back to the fact that they will not have tried establishing the run against a Defensive Line like the one the Longhorns trot out onto the field.

It may mean more pressure on Sam Leavitt at Quarter Back who has exploited the fact that he has a star Running Back playing behind him. All credit has to be given to Leavitt for putting up the numbers he has and this Longhorns team can be attacked through the air, but that becomes much tougher when you think the Sun Devils are without their top Receiver Jordyn Tyson.

Facing a SEC Defensive unit after a season playing in the Big 12 is a big gap to bridge and Arizona State would have needed every top player to be available.

The pressure will be on the Sun Devils Defense to try and keep the team in the game, but they are also going to be playing a unit that they have not met every week. The Longhorns showed their power at the Offensive Line in crushing the Clemson Tigers, although the Arizona State Defensive Line will certainly feel they are playing at a decent level and can at least force Quinn Ewers to have to make some big throws.

Texas fans have perhaps been a little critical of Quinn Ewers with Archie Manning sitting behind him, but this should be a game in which the Quarter Back is given time to make his plays down the field. Interceptions have been a concern, and probably dropped Ewers stock a little bit, but he did enough to keep Texas moving in the First Round win over Clemson and that might be all the Longhorns need in this one too.

With the likelihood of the SEC team winning the turnover battle overall, Texas may just exert their strength and quality on the contest and they may just be able to make a few big Defensive plays in the Fourth Quarter to match the kind of margin produced in the win over the Clemson Tigers.

Oregon Ducks vs Ohio State Buckeyes Pick: The expectation was that these two Big Ten teams would have their rematch in the Conference Championship Game, but an upset on the final week of the regular season prevented that happening.

If the College Football Playoff had been re-Seeded after the First Round games, a real argument could be made to have the Oregon Ducks (13-0) and Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) as 1 and 2, rather than 1 and 8 as they are heading into the Quarter Final.

Much of the blame lies with the Buckeyes losing to the struggling Michigan Wolverines in the final week of the regular season, which meant missing out on the Conference Championship Game. That meant missing out on a top five Seed and the chance to avenge the one point loss to the Oregon Ducks in the regular season.

Earning redemption in the College Football Playoff Quarter Final would be even sweeter than winning the Big Ten Championship, but there is plenty of pressure on Head Coach Ryan Day. The blowout win over the Tennessee Volunteers in the First Round just served as a reminder of why the Buckeyes have been considered a National Championship contender with the talent on the roster, but that loss to the Wolverines has really stuck in the throat and they have to prove themselves on the field.

The Rose Bowl is the venue for this huge game and it should produce a quality atmosphere with the winning team likely going into the College Football Playoff Semi Final as the big favourite to win it all in January 2025.

Both teams are going to be confident that they have the Offensive playmakers to win this game, but the Buckeyes and Ducks have plenty of confidence in the Defenders that will be on the field.

Establishing the run will be important for Ohio State who will have just seen the Oregon Defensive Line struggling to produce their best down the stretch. Having almost a month off between games is not ideal for the Ducks, even if the players will be rested, and the Defensive Line has to just show out a little better and try and put Quarter Back Will Howard behind the chains to try and stall drives.

Will Howard has over 3000 passing yards with 29 Touchdown passes and 9 Interceptions, while the Buckeyes Offensive Line have given him plenty of protection in the pocket. That Line will be tested by this Oregon pass rush which has made a huge habit of rattling the opposition Quarter Back and bringing them down, which has also contributed to the strong numbers the Ducks Secondary have put together.

The Quarter Back took the blame for the loss to Oregon in the regular season having failed to understand the clock management needed when running with the ball and watching time expire. This is clearly motivating Will Howard to bring his best to the Rose Bowl for this Quarter Final and he has the kind of Receiving talent to put the Buckeyes in a strong position to win this one.

There is plenty of talent on the Ohio State Defensive unit too, but the Ducks will feel their own Offensive unit can keep things ticking over.

Dillon Gabriel has over 3500 passing yards with 28 Touchdown passes and just 6 Interceptions and being careful with the ball, while also highly aggressive with the passing plays, has helped Oregon to an unbeaten record and a Big Ten Championship in their first season in the Conference.

In the first meeting, one that was hosted by Oregon, the Ducks were able to establish the run which opened things up for their Quarter Back to find his playmakers through the air.

The Oregon Quarter Back had a few more yards compared with Will Howard in the regular season meeting and Dillon Gabriel was well protected by his Offensive Line. It just offered Dillon Gabriel the time to make good decisions with his passing and the Oregon Ducks may just have the edge in what is expected to be another shoot-out between arguably the two best teams left in the Playoff.

Losing twice to the same team in the same season is simply not something that Ohio State have been used to doing and it has been almost 130 years since that last happened.

The Buckeyes may also feel having the First Round game against the Tennessee Volunteers will mean the rhythm remains, but this could come down to a final possession with little between the two top teams in the Big Ten.

With that in mind, taking the points looks the best way to approach this one and the Oregon Ducks have to be upset with being set as the underdog, especially after putting together an unbeaten season. It may be the motivation that helps them edge the Ohio State Buckeyes again, but taking the points looks the best play in a game that could be decided by as little as the regular season game was.

Georgia Bulldogs vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pick: Time has been afforded to the SEC Champions Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) who upset the Texas Longhorns in the Championship Game to earn the Number 2 Seed and a Bye through to the Quarter Final.

However, things have not landed perfectly for one of the pre-season favourites to win the National Championship and that is because the Bulldogs have had starting Quarter Back Carson Beck ruled out for the entire post-season.

Instead it will be Gunner Stockton who will be playing behind Center and this is a tough test for the inexperienced Quarter Back as he prepares to face Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-1).

The Fighting Irish overcame an early season upset and worked their way through a pretty comfortable schedule to earn their Playoff spot without being a member of any of the Power Conferences. In the First Round they were able to dominate the Indiana Hoosiers, but this is a big step up for Notre Dame when they travel to New Orleans for this Quarter Final.

Head Coach Marcus Freeman may be under a bit more pressure to lead Notre Dame deeper into the post-season with an inexperienced Quarter Back facing his team, but this is also a big step up compared with many opponents that the Fighting Irish have faced in the regular season. Momentum is with the Fighting Irish, but this is an opponent from the SEC and it will be a significant test for all on their side.

All of the focus will be on the Notre Dame Offensive Line who have dominated opponents up front and who will have seen Georgia's Defensive Line just have some issues up front as the season wound down. All that is good about this Fighting Irish team begins with establishing the run and they should be able to keep Riley Leonard in positive positions on the field, especially as the Quarter Back is very comfortable tucking the ball and taking off himself.

There have also been some holes in the Bulldogs Secondary as they have struggled to replace those who left at the end of last season.

Riley Leonard is a capable passer too and it should mean the Fighting Irish are able to move the ball with some success, even against this SEC Championship level of team.

Another question for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to answer is how they can stand up to this powerful SEC Offensive unit, even if the Bulldogs are using their backup Quarter Back. The Georgia Offensive Line is big and strong and they may be extra focused to push forward and establish the run to make things that much more comfortable for Gunner Stockton.

The Bulldogs will feel they can get the run established and they will also feel the time between the SEC Championship Game and this Playoff Quarter Final will have been used well enough to have Stockton feeling comfortable. The idea has to be to keep this game competitive and not put an inexperienced Quarter Back in a position where he feels he has to win the game, even if there are one or two holes in this Secondary that Stockton will be able to exploit.

Notre Dame do have a set of players that will be looking to turn the ball over, although the injury suffered by Rylie Mills does hurt the Fighting Irish pass rush. Putting Gunner Stockton in front of the chains should mean the Bulldogs Offensive Line can give him a clean pocket, although avoiding turnovers will still be a test.

Overall this is a system run by the Bulldogs that Gunner Stockton would have had plenty of time to understand and it should mean a close, competitive game.

Both teams have to play with real belief and we don't really know how the long layoff will affect the Georgia Bulldogs. In previous years in the NFL, we have seen teams lose rhythm against those who have been fighting to earn spots in the next Round of the Playoff and that might just give Notre Dame a narrow edge in this one.

They are being given the points and those could make all the difference in the last of the four Quarter Final Playoff games scheduled.

MY PICKS: Penn State Nittany Lions - 11 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Texas Longhorns - 12.5 Points @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)

Oregon Ducks + 2.5 Points @ 1.86 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish + 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Playoff First Round: 3-1, + 1.72 Units (4 Units Staked, + 43% Yield)

Week 15: 3-3, - 0.28 Units (6 Units Staked, - 4.67% Yield)

Week 14: 6-2, + 3.50 Units (8 Units Staked, + 43.75% Yield)

Week 13: 4-4, - 0.36 Units (8 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Week 12: 3-6, - 3.23 Units (9 Units Staked, - 35.89% Yield)

Week 11: 1-5, - 4.15 Units (6 Units Staked, - 69.17% Yield)

Week 10: 1-6, - 4.05 Units (7 Units Staked, - 57.86% Yield)

Week 9: 4-2, + 1.82 Units (6 Units Staked, + 30.33% Yield)

Week 8: 2-4, - 2.23 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.17% Yield)

Week 7: 6-3, + 2.55 Units (9 Units Staked, + 28.33% Yield)

Week 6: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.4% Yield)

Week 5: 0-5, - 5 Units (5 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Week 4: 3-2, + 0.73 Units (5 Units Staked, + 14.60% Yield)

Week 3: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 2: 2-4, - 2.26 Units (6 Units Staked, - 37.67% Yield)

Week 1: 4-2, + 1.64 Units (6 Units Staked, + 27.33% Yield)

NFL Week 17 Picks 2023 (December 28-31)

With the way the calendar has fallen, there is not going to be a Monday Night Football game in Week 17 of the NFL season.

That game will be played on Saturday instead as we continue to edge towards the post-season.

Fourteen teams will be playing in the PlayOffs, but only six have been confirmed ahead of Week 17 and that means there is still so much on the line.

Only the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers have won their Division, while there are at least three teams in both the AFC South and NFC South who can still win the Division and earn the right to host a PlayOff game in January.

The picture may begin to clear up at the end of this week with a number of clinching scenarios that could be played out.

It is a busy time for families as well as sports teams and so this thread is going have a number of selections added to it over the coming days.

The updated top five after the Week 16 results can be read below before getting into the latest selections.

1) Baltimore Ravens (12-3): some believe it might have been a Super Bowl preview and the Baltimore Ravens deserve their place here following a crushing win over the San Francisco 49ers.

2) San Francisco 49ers (11-4): if there was going to be one really poor outing from Brock Purdy between now and February, the 49ers might be glad it came in a regular season game. It is also a defeat that will not prevent the 49ers from earning the Number 1 Seed in the NFC as long as they win out.

3) Detroit Lions (11-4): there is still some hope that the Lions can earn the top Seed in the NFC having secured a first Division title in thirty years.

4) Miami Dolphins (11-4): they have finally beaten a good team and the Dolphins can earn the top Seed in the AFC with back to back wins to close out the season. Doing so might make them favourites to reach the Super Bowl out of this Conference with Miami facing the Ravens and Buffalo Bills to end the regular season.

5) Philadelphia Eagles (11-4): there are still some questions for the Eagles to answer after making hard work of beating the New York Giants. However, they are back in pole position to win the NFC East, which could mean one, or potentially two home PlayOff games even if the Eagles are not able to earn the top Seed in the Conference.

New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns Pick: The injury to Aaron Rodgers always looked to be a pivotal moment for the New York Jets (6-9), even if it occurred just a handful of Offensive snaps into the 2023 season. The veteran long suggested he would fight back to return if the Jets were still in the PlayOff mix in December, but elimination has been confirmed and the long-suffering fanbase will already be thinking ahead to 2024 and what might be.

Before that, the Jets have to close out the season and they have been scheduled to play the last Thursday Night Football game of the year when travelling to the Cleveland Browns (10-5).

Despite being one of just seven teams in the NFL who have won at least ten games, the Browns are still waiting to officially book PlayOff tickets. The other six double digit game winners have all been confirmed, but the Browns have been unfortunate to be playing in the same Division as the Baltimore Ravens and that likely means a PlayOff spot for Cleveland.

They will not be offering much sympathy for the New York Quarter Back issues considering the Browns have used four players in that position this season. Veteran Joe Flacco has turned back the clock in leading the team down the stretch and the Browns have the momentum having won three games in a row.

It could be argued that this is the toughest challenge for Joe Flacco since taking over at Quarter Back for the Cleveland Browns and it will be an Offensive test for the team.

For all of the problems they have endured this season, the New York Jets Defensive unit have continued to step up and play at a high level. They will not have a lot of respect for the struggling running game of the Browns, one that has been affected by the injuries to Nick Chubb and key Offensive Linemen.

That likely means all of the pressure will be on Joe Flacco to move the chains with his arm- carving up the Houston Secondary is completely different to trying to attack the Jets Secondary and that is likely going to be an issue. The veteran will be trying to get the ball out of his hands quickly, but the Browns have to be smart with the play-calling and try and lean on their own Defensive unit.

Joe Flacco will be given some room to change things at the line of play, but he has shown he has a lot more in the tank compared with Trevor Siemian or Zach Wilson.

It looks like the Jets are going to have to go with Trevor Siemian again as Wilson continues to deal with concussion issues on a short week. This is far from ideal against this Browns Defensive unit, which has been much stronger at home than on the road, and it could be another long day for the Jets on this side of the ball.

Breece Hall will be asked to try and establish the run, but it is a big ask for any Running Back when teams are happy to load the line of scrimmage knowing there is a lack of faith in the Quarter Back. The Running Back could be a bigger threat as the safety blanket coming out of the backfield for Trevor Siemian, but being behind the chains could mean big problems for the signal caller.

For starters the Offensive Line have struggled to give Trevor Siemian to target Receivers down the field and the Browns pass rush is certainly very effective at getting to the Quarter Back and stalling drives with the pass rush pressure. The Browns Secondary have also proven how tough it can be to throw against them with that pass rush pressure generated and that can be doubled for those Quarter Backs who perhaps should not be in the NFL.

It certainly will not help Trevor Siemian that he is facing a Cleveland Secondary that have loved to pick off passes as the team have won three in a row and this is where the Browns can perhaps pull away for a big win.

You have to believe 20 points could be enough for Cleveland to cover this line, but picking up short fields from turnovers may see them get up to around 28 points.

That should be good enough for Cleveland as long as Joe Flacco is able to play a largely clean game of his own and the Browns can earn their PlayOff spot in front of their own fans.

Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys Pick: Back to back losses to teams from the AFC East have just dropped the Dallas Cowboys (11-5) behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the race to be crowned NFC East Champions. The Number 1 Seed looks to be out of reach already, but the Cowboys will still believe that two wins to round off the regular season may still be good enough to earn the Divisional crown.

Beating the Detroit Lions (11-4), who have secured the NFC North Division after winning at the Minnesota Twins in Week 16, will go a long way to making sure the winner of the NFC East is able to at least secure the Number 2 Seed in the Conference.

The Lions may still hold out some hope that they can earn the top Seed in the Conference by winning their remaining two games. However, the main ambition for the Detroit Lions is that they can at least show they are ready to compete in the PlayOffs by performing with confidence in this Week 17 game on Saturday evening.

There is no doubting that the Dallas Cowboys have been a much more effective Offensive unit at home so you have to believe they are going to bounce back from road losses at the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Dak Prescott and company have not played well in those games, but being back at home makes Dallas dangerous and a team to be respected.

In saying that, Dallas have a banged up Offensive Line and it might make it very difficult for Tony Pollard to establish the run against the Lions Defensive Line which has shown strength up front.

Injuries in the Secondary have left some major gaps that Dak Prescott should be able to exploit, although having a banged up Offensive Line means he is likely going to be under more pressure than he has been used to this season. The Lions have a pass rush that is capable of making big plays up front and that may see them stall a couple of Dallas drives and give the Offensive unit every chance of keeping this game very competitive.

Jared Goff, like many Quarter Backs all around the NFL, will also garner plenty of attention at the position, but Head Coach Dan Campbell has long felt the team need to run the ball efficiently if the Lions are going to have a deep PlayOff impact. In recent games the Detroit Offensive Line have ripped open big lanes for David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, the rookie being particularly exciting to watch, and that has helped the team stay in front of the down and distance.

They are expected to be able to run the ball right at the Dallas Cowboys in this one with the latter's Defensive Line struggling to control things up front.

This should only mean life is more comfortable for Jared Goff, especially as a strong running game could negate the power of the Dallas pass rush. It will also give the Quarter Back an opportunity to make some risk-averse throws to keep the chains moving and the Detroit Lions do have a chance to show the kind of threat they can be in the post-season.

Dan Campbell has proven to be a very good Head Coach and his Lions team are 6-3 against the spread in the last couple of seasons when set as the road underdog.

It is tough to oppose the Cowboys at home considering the dominant wins they have produced for much of the season, but injuries are hurting them. If they begin to get away from the Lions, Dallas could win by a wide margin by forcing Detroit to become a little one-dimensional and predictable.

However, the Lions look to be playing well enough to keep this within the spread set and especially with some of the sharp money coming down in favour of the road underdog.

Los Angeles Rams @ New York Giants Pick: Last year the defence of the Super Bowl crown won inside their own Stadium came to a limp end, but the Los Angeles Rams (8-7) are back in a strong position to reach the post-season. A number of changes have been made to the team that won the Super Bowl, but Matthew Stafford and Aaron Donald are both still around and five wins from the last six games played means the Rams could have the momentum to be a very dangerous Wild Card team.

They are not expected to finish higher than the Number 6 Seed in the NFC Seeding, but the Rams will be focusing on trying to keep pushing as hard as they can.

Beating the New York Giants (5-10) on the road may be good enough for the Rams to officially secure their spot in the PlayOffs with the right combination of results in Week 17. That will also allow Los Angeles to not have to face a big Week 18 game against the San Francisco 49ers feeling the pressure of needing a win so the players should be focused and ready to compete.

The Giants may be ready to play spoiler, but it has been a difficult season for the team and elimination has been confirmed. They have a rematch with the much hated Philadelphia Eagles next week and there is little doubt that they may be focusing on that already.

Another Quarter Back change is being made after Tyrod Taylor sparked the team in the second half of a narrow Christmas Day loss to the aforementioned Eagles, although big plays from the Defensive unit and Special Teams made the difference for them. They will need more of that if they are going to knock off the Los Angeles Rams, but Taylor has to give them a spark Offensively for another outing.

There will be pressure on Tyrod Taylor considering the Giants match ups with this Los Angeles Rams Defensive unit.

Running the ball with a dual-threat at Quarter Back should be a little easier, but the Rams Defensive Line have been the strength of this Los Angeles team and they will believe they can limit Taylor and Saquon Barkley on the ground. There are holes in the Secondary that the Quarter Back can exploit, but the Giants are likely to be playing in obvious passing situations at times and that could see Los Angeles make some plays against this New York Offensive Line which has been banged up and struggled to give any Quarter Back time in the pocket.

Tyrod Taylor is athletic enough to extend plays, but will have to be careful about making mistakes when throwing that could give the Rams an opportunity to pull away.

Matthew Stafford and the Rams Offensive unit may need those extra possessions to ensure they can keep the Giants at arm's length and that is largely down to the improvements made by New York's Defensive unit as the regular season has drawn to a close. It is still possible to run the ball against them and this Rams Offensive Line has made life comfortable for Kyren Williams, while that balance on this side of the ball has really given the Rams some punch.

With the team establishing the run, Matthew Stafford's veteran nous at Quarter Back should mean he makes the right reads when it comes to throwing the ball. Despite the improvements, it has been possible to make some solid plays through the air against the Giants and Los Angeles can travel across the country and produce a big performance.

Motivation is not always a good indicator of how a game will be played, but it is hard to ignore the fact that this game is in a Eagles sandwich as far as the New York Giants are concerned. Even the fans are more likely to be focusing on a strong end in Week 18, which may spoil some of the Eagles chances of winning the Super Bowl and the players are on a short week.

Backing the Rams outdoors on the East Coast does not feel like a great place to be- however, they pushed the Baltimore Ravens all the way in their one loss during their last six games and the Rams could easily have won on the road that day. The hosts might not be prepared for the maximum effort and that should help the 2021 Super Bowl Champions to earn the victory and cover here.

San Francisco 49ers @ Washington Commanders Pick: A Christmas Day blowout was most unexpected for every San Francisco 49ers (11-4) fan in attendance. They were a big favourite on the night, but Brock Purdy imploded and the Baltimore Ravens made a mark, although not one that will prevent the 49ers from securing the top Seed in the NFC with two wins to round out the season.

They look in a strong position to bounce back, even in the early kick off time on Sunday, as the 49ers travel across the nation to take on the Washington Commanders (4-11) who have lost six in a row.

Big changes are going to be made in Washington at the end of this season with the likelihood the team will be searching for a new Head Coach and then a new Quarter Back. Sam Howell has not really shown he has enough to be built around and would be losing the starting role, but Jacoby Brissett is banged up and may not be able to go.

Jacoby Brissett almost led the Commanders back for a big win at the New York Jets in Week 16, but is dealing with a hamstring issue. Brian Robinson Jr is also expected to be ruled out and the Washington Offensive Line is hurt, which makes it very hard to believe that they are going to be able to get much going on this side of the ball.

With full health you could make a case for the Commanders to be able to establish the run- it is not expected to be the case on Sunday and that should mean the pressure is on the shoulders of Sam Howell. Unfortunately, the Quarter Back has shown a tendency to throw Interceptions and losing Fumbles and that should give the 49ers a chance to bounce back from the disappointing Christmas Day outcome.

A short week and travelling across the country is far from ideal, but the San Francisco 49ers look to have avoided some serious looking injuries. Trent Williams is back in practice and has proven to be a big factor in the San Francisco running successes and so it is very, very important to have him back.

With a depleted Washington Defensive Line in front of them, Christian McCaffrey and the San Francisco Offensive Line is likely going to be ripping off huge yards on the ground. It should allow Brock Purdy to just recover his rhythm after the nightmare suffered on Christmas Day, and he should be given plenty of protection to do that.

It helps the Commanders are without key personnel in the Secondary and the feeling is that we will see a big bounce back from the 49ers.

Covering this kind of number is never easy, especially on the road, but the 49ers have won four road games and all by at least 16 points so they can be backed here to recover from the Week 16 loss.

Arizona Cardinals @ Philadelphia Eagles Pick: The home loss to the San Francisco 49ers might cost the Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) the top Seed in the NFC, but the key right now is to win the NFC East. If the Dallas Cowboys have won on Saturday, the Eagles will be back behind their big rivals in the standings, but Philadelphia will feel they can win out and secure what would likely be the Number 2 Seed.

That will mean two home PlayOff games at the very least, while the Eagles may also have a bit more momentum to take into the post-season. Recent weeks have seen many question whether this team is good enough to return to the Super Bowl, but the Eagles themselves are confident and a three game winning run to enter the PlayOffs will certainly increase that belief.

They will be big favourites to win both remaining games, but Philadelphia will know that mistakes or over-confidence will leave the door ajar for the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East.

First up is the Arizona Cardinals (3-12), who may still believe a couple of losses will land them the top Draft Pick in 2024.

Professionals will want to make sure they are proving they are still good enough to keep around for any rebuild though and that will mean the Cardinals refuse to roll over. However, they have lost four of their last five games and Arizona have been relatively uncompetitive in defeats to the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.

Offensively the Cardinals should have some success as long as this game is close and they can lean on James Connor at Running Back and the legs of Quarter Back Kyler Murray. The Offensive Line have opened up some big holes for the team on the ground and they will be looking to run right at the Eagles, even if the latter have a Defensive Line that have continued to play the run pretty well.

Injuries in the Secondary should give Kyler Murray an opportunity to have some success throwing the ball, although Marquise Brown is missing and that is a big blow to this Receiving corps. Kyler Murray has been inconsistent on his return from a long recovery from injury, while he will feel some pass rush pressure when dropping back to throw. This could lead to some mistakes and Murray and company cannot afford those if they are going earn an upset.

After recent struggles, this is also a chance for the Eagles to show out Offensively and they were finding something of a rhythm in their win over the New York Giants.

Everything begins with the ability to run the ball and this looks a perfect game for the Eagles to grind it out on the ground. Jalen Hurts is perhaps not playing at 100% and that has stopped him from running the ball himself as much as usual, but the Offensive Line and the Running Backs should make plenty of hay.

Jalen Hurts will have time to locate his Receivers down the field and the expectation is that the Eagles will be able to do much of what they would like Offensively. This should see them pull away for a big win, although it does mean avoiding the kind of mistakes that allowed the Giants to recover and get much closer than they should have been in Week 16.

Everyone associated with Philadelphia will want to see things cleaned up in the final home game in the regular season and hope to see the Eagles back here either in Wild Card Weekend or, even better, the Divisional Round.

Clearing this spread will mean a strong late Defensive effort more often than not, but the Cardinals have suffered some blowout losses when the game state has forced them to throw much more than they would like. This could be the case again and the Eagles should be able to win and cover.

Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans Pick: Trevor Lawrence is injured and the Jacksonville Jaguars have continued to slide, which should open the door for the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans (8-7) to try and take home the AFC South Division and earn a home PlayOff game in the Wild Card Round.

However, both the Colts and Texans were beaten in Week 16 and Houston have lost three of their last five games to fail to really capitalise on the Jaguars run of defeats.

It did not help that they have been without CJ Stroud in their last couple of games, but the rookie Quarter Back has been cleared to return this week. The Texans were still able to beat the Tennessee Titans (5-10) on the road without Stroud a couple of weeks ago, but having the rookie back behind Center has to give Houston a lot more confidence with the spread back in their favour.

The feeling is that Will Levis, another rookie Quarter Back, will be able to return for the Tennessee Titans who are the only team eliminated in the AFC South. This is now a learning year for the Quarter Back and the Titans will want Levis to pick up as many snaps as possible as the season winds down.

He could have success on his return to the starting line up, although Will Levis will have to do plenty of his own work.

The Titans have consistently been a team that loves to run the ball and open up the passing lanes, but this year has been a struggle for the Offensive Line and Derrick Henry. They are also going to be facing a Texans Defensive Line that have been stout when it comes to defending the run, although Will Levis will have some spaces in the Secondary to attack.

A major problem is that the Offensive Line have struggled as much in pass protection as they have in run blocking and Will Levis is not going to have a lot of time to allow routes to develop down the field. It was a Houston Sack that injured Levis a couple of weeks ago and he will likely be facing a lot of pressure again.

CJ Stroud will sympathise with being Sacked and injured and he is going to be playing behind a shaky Offensive Line of his own, while returning from a two game absence. We have seen enough from the Quarter Back to believe he can overcome those issues, while the team were able to earn some big yards on the ground against the Titans Defensive Line in Nashville.

That will aid Stroud and he is a better Quarter Back than Davis Mills and/or Case Keenum who will be able to exploit the passing lanes that may be opened up by Devin Singletary pounding the rock. The Titans Secondary have played well enough in recent games, but this will be a different test against CJ Stroud and Houston can turn the screw in the second half to win and cover the spread.

Of course Houston are playing with more pressure knowing they are chasing the AFC South Divisional crown, but the home fans can carry them forward and the Texans should be able to complete a second win over the Titans.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Kansas City Chiefs Pick: In recent years we have become used to seeing the Kansas City Chiefs (9-6) hosting the AFC Championship Game and earning the top Seed in the Conference. This time they are not going to be able to finish in that position in the final standings, but the bigger concern for the defending Super Bowl Champions is finding their lost mojo.

Four losses in their last six games means there is little momentum going into the post-season, while the players may be the ones who believe the most about the chances of Kansas City defending their crown as Champions.

Another disappointing defeat suffered in Week 16, which was played on Christmas Day, has underlined the problems the Kansas City Chiefs are having Offensively.

They will be hoping they can find some chemistry in the final home game of the season when the Chiefs host the Cincinnati Bengals (8-7) who were blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.

Cincinnati have had two extra days to prepare for this game, but they are under pressure to finish the season with two wins. Next week they will be facing a Cleveland team that has secured a Wild Card berth at the least and who may not have a lot of motivation to play their starters, although all the Bengals can do right now is focus on winning in Week 17 and seeing how things stand after that.

The injury to Joe Burrow was supposed to have ended the Bengals season, but Jake Browning has not played badly when he has not faced the Steelers. The Quarter Back has led the Cincinnati Bengals to defeats in both games against Pittsburgh, which could be a significant tie-breaker when all is said and done in the regular season, but Jake Browning is 3-0 in the other three games started in place of Burrow.

You could argue that the inexperienced Quarter Back has only produced his best when facing the weaker Defensive units and the Steelers have shown how quickly games can get away from Jake Browning. The Kansas City Chiefs would have studied that and they look to match up pretty well with the Bengals on this side of the ball.

Despite the poor run of form overall, the Chiefs Defensive unit will feel they are playing their part in trying to make the team successful. While it has been possible to put some strong runs together against them, the Bengals Offensive Line have not been dominant up front and the Kansas City Defensive Line may be able to control the line of scrimmage and force Browning to beat them through the air.

The numbers have been solid, but Jake Browning will be facing a young, strong Kansas City Secondary who have only thrived thanks to the pass rush pressure the team can put together. Jake Browning could potentially have Ja'Marr Chase back in the Wide Receiver starting position, but he might not be grateful for some of the comments made by Chase this week and especially when he remains Questionable to play.

It will be difficult for the Bengals to move the ball with any consistency in this one, although Las Vegas showed that you do not have to do a lot Offensively to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders had 205 yards Offensively, but they were able to capitalise on mistakes made by Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

This has to be the aim for the Bengals to give Jake Browning extra possessions, even if they are not able to match the Raiders and score two Defensive Touchdowns.

Isiah Pacheco is a doubt and backup Clyde Edwards-Helaire may also be missing, so there is more pressure for Patrick Mahomes and his Receivers to get onto the same page. You have to believe the Chiefs will try and find other ways to establish some sort of run game, especially with the issues in the passing game, but the Bengals are ending this season with strong play from the Defensive Line.

One-dimensional or not, Patrick Mahomes has to believe he can bounce back from a really poor Christmas Day effort.

He might have had 235 passing yards, but Mahomes threw two Interceptions and those proved to be the difference on the day. He will have spaces to exploit in the Bengals Secondary, but Patrick Mahomes will have to deal with the Cincinnati pass rush and also hope his Receivers can step up to make the plays that have been missing for the team for much of the season.

Turnovers have been a feature for the Bengals, but the last game at Arrowhead Stadium in the regular season has to see Kansas City bounce back, even on a short week.

The Defensive unit will play their part and Kansas City can avoid the mistakes that have been plaguing them.

The rivalry with the Cincinnati Bengals should motivate the home fans to get behind the players and push them into PlayOffs, albeit Wild Card Weekend rather than the Divisional Round where recent post-season runs have begun.

MY PICKS: Cleveland Browns - 7.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Detroit Lions + 4.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Los Angeles Rams - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

San Francisco 49ers - 13.5 Points @ 1.92 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Philadelphia Eagles - 11.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Houston Texans - 3.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Kansas City Chiefs - 6.5 Points @ 1.95 Bet Fred (1 Unit)

Week 16: 5-4, + 0.66 Units (9 Units Staked, + 7.33% Yield)

Week 15: 5-4, + 0.60 Units (9 Units Staked, + 6.67% Yield)

Week 14: 5-3, + 1.58 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.75% Yield)

Week 13: 2-2, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 12: 6-1, + 5.23 Units (8 Units Staked, + 65.38% Yield)

Week 11: 5-2, + 2.54 Units (7 Units Staked, + 36.29% Yield)

Week 10: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)

Week 8: 2-2-1, - 0.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 3.60% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)

Week 6: 4-3, + 0.56 Units (7 Units Staked, + 8% Yield)

Week 5: 4-3-1, + 2.46 Units (10 Units Staked, + 24.60% Yield)

Week 4: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, + 0.43 Units (9 Units Staked, + 4.78% Yield)

Week 2: 3-4-2, - 1.36 Units (12 Units Staked, - 11.33% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.51 Units (7 Units Staked, + 35.86% Yield)

College Football Bowl Picks 2022 Part Two (December 28-January 2)

The Bowl Season is well underway and there have been some quality post-season games for the fans and players to enjoy.

However, now the main events are fast approaching with the big New Year's Eve Bowl Games as well as the two College Football PlayOff Semi Final outings to line up the contenders for the National Championship, which will be decided next month.

Picks from the remaining Bowl Games will be added to this thread, Part Two, over the days ahead.

Wednesday 28th December

Oregon Ducks vs North Carolina Tar Heels Pick: There has been some big news for both of these schools ahead of this Bowl Game and that is both starting Quarter Backs are going to be returning in 2023. Things could change in the weeks ahead, but the Oregon Ducks (9-3) and North Carolina Tar Heels (9-4) will be feeling pretty good even if their 2022 seasons did not end in the manner they would have wanted.

At one stage both teams might have been thinking about the College Football PlayOffs, but Oregon lost two of their last three to fail to even make the Pac-12 Championship Game. The North Carolina Tar Heels were able to make the ACC Championship Game, but they were blown out by the Clemson Tigers and will want to erase that from the mind very quickly in order to compete in this Holiday Bowl.

The defeat to the Tigers actually means North Carolina dropped their last three games, but keeping hold of Drake Maye is really big for the school, despite the suggestions from Head Coach Mack Brown that other schools were enticing Maye to leave via the transfer portal. Drake Maye had a huge season at Quarter Back for the Tar Heels and returning will give North Carolina every chance to at least match the nine wins secured in 2022, although the first thought will be to reach ten wins.

North Carolina have not won at least ten games since 2015, but they will be confident behind Drake Maye- they will also be helped if the Offensive Line can break out some holes to put them of the chains and give their Quarter Back a bit more time to make his plays. The Tar Heels will also be aided by the relatively weak pass rush generated by the Oregon Ducks all season and Drake Maye and the Tar Heels can move the chains against a Ducks Defensive unit that have had issues making stops this year.

The Oregon Ducks will feel pretty good themselves though and have heard positive news from Bo Nix who transferred from the Auburn Tigers and has thrown for almost 3500 yards with 27 Touchdowns.

After their Head Coach left to take over in Miami, the Oregon Ducks are searching for back to back winning years of ten games. Dan Lanning is in his first Head Coaching role, but has shown he can take this team forward and having the starting Quarter Back returning in 2023 will raise expectations.

The overall numbers have shown that it will be possible for Bo Nix to hand the ball off and have the Ducks Offensive Line create running lanes, but down the stretch the North Carolina Defensive Line did stiffen up. That may have been at the detriment of defending the pass and I do think Nix will have plenty of time to attack this Secondary, even if the Tar Heels are stronger against the run than most would anticipate.

Bo Nix has looked to be a little more careful with the ball than Drake Maye and that could determine the outcome of the Holiday Bowl.

However, I do think this is a huge amount of points to be giving to the underdog with a Quarter Back like the one they have.

Both teams have disappointing recent trends to look at, and both Oregon and North Carolina have not always produced their best in Bowl Games. My feeling is that this could be a high-octane game though with plenty of successes for two of the Quarter Backs that are going to be leading the way in 2023 and I think Drake Maye can at least keep this one close.

Thursday 29th December

Syracuse Orange vs Minnesota Golden Gophers Pick: A rare winning season has already been secured by the Syracuse Orange (7-5), but that has meant some key performers have decided to skip the Bowl Game. They last played in a Bowl Game in 2018 and won that one, but this is going to be a tough test for a streaky Syracuse team that have been a little inconsistent all season.

A strong start was followed by a number of setbacks and the Syracuse Orange are a significant underdog against the Minnesota Golden Gophers (8-4) who continue to play hard under Head Coach PJ Fleck. Another win on Thursday will give Minnesota a chance to match the nine wins secured in 2021 and the Golden Gophers have won all three Bowl Games played under their current Head Coach.

There was also a stronger end to the season for the Golden Gophers compared with the Orange after Minnesota won four of their last five games to finish clear of the 0.500 mark for the season.

And unlike Syracuse, Minnesota could have their top Running Back available for this game and could also be boosted by Tanner Morgan's return at Quarter Back. I am sure he will be getting some reps to prepare for this game, but PJ Fleck has been happy with the performance of Athan Kaliakamanis in relief of Morgan and may feel he deserves to play this Bowl Game in order to be even stronger in 2023.

Ultimately the Quarter Back position is there to manage the game for the Golden Gophers who will be looking to pound the rock through Mohamed Ibrahim, a player who has bounced back from a serious injury to produce big numbers from the Running Back position. Controlling the line of scrimmage will be huge for Minnesota as they prepare to face an Orange Defensive Line that has found a way to clamp down on the run up front, but the feeling is that Ibrahim and the Golden Gophers will give their Quarter Back a chance.

Being able to play with fakes should give either Tanner Morgan or Athan Kaliakmanis an opportunity against this Syracuse Secondary that has allowed some big passing numbers.

With the Golden Gophers likely having some success moving the ball, the challenge will be on the Syracuse Offensive unit to at least keep their team competitive. Sean Tucker would have been the player they would have liked to have relied on the most, but the Running Back has opted out and I do think Syracuse will not find it easy to run the ball against this Minnesota Defensive Line.

Now they are going in without Tucker, Syracuse may have to rely on the arm of Quarter Back Garrett Shrader who has over 2300 passing yards and 17 Touchdowns this season. The Offensive Line has struggled to protect Shrader down the stretch, but I am not sure the Golden Gophers pass rush will have the consistency to put him under pressure.

Instead they will rely on their strong Defensive play at the line of scrimmage to force the Orange to convert from third and long spots, which could mean mistakes being made when in obvious passing spots.

Despite the lack of pressure being created by Minnesota up front, the Secondary have played hard down the stretch and I do think the Golden Gophers can win and cover.

Syracuse ended the season having failed to cover in their last five games and they are 2-6 against the spread in the last eight when facing a team with a winning record.

It has been a different end to the season for Minnesota who have dominated the majority of the opponents played down the stretch. This is a big spread for a team that relies on the run to cover, but I think they can win at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and that ultimately will put the Golden Gophers in a position to secure a big win.

Friday 30th December

Pittsburgh Panthers vs UCLA Bruins Pick: Things have changed in College Football over the years and players have decided they cannot afford to risk their futures by playing in extra games at this level that could be a detriment to a professional career. I completely understand the thought process, especially when schools that aim for the PlayOffs fall short of those goals, and I think Head Coaches have to adjust rather than complain.

A team like the Pittsburgh Panthers (8-4) have been hit hard with players deciding they are going to opt-out of the Sun Bowl.

After finishing with eleven wins in 2021 that included winning the ACC Championship, the Panthers ended 2022 behind the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Coastal Division. In five of the eight years that Pat Narduzzi has been the Head Coach of Pittsburgh the team have finished with at least eight wins and they have already hit that mark this season.

Successes in Bowl Games have been much harder to come by for Pittsburgh in recent years and they are going to be without key players on both sides of the ball in this one. Starting Quarter Back Kedon Slovis has already transferred to the BYU Cougars, while the leading rusher and inspirational Defensive Tackle Calijah Kancey has also declared unavailability.

It is going to be difficult for Pittsburgh to find the consistency they need with these kind of absences and they are facing a UCLA Bruins (9-3) team who could easily have pushed their way into the College Football PlayOff conversation if not for two tight, late losses.

Head Coach Chip Kelly may have been under some pressure after three difficult seasons to open his tenure in Los Angeles, but the Bruins won eight games in 2021 and have already surpassed that win total. They are going to be motivated to try and win a tenth game for the first time since 2014, while the team have not had the same kind of opt-outs as their opponent because the Bruins are going to be playing a first Bowl Game since 2017.

Even Dorian Thompson-Robinson has suggested he is leaning towards playing despite the fact that he has not tethered his future to the Bruins. That underlines how important it is to many of the players here to not only compete, but look to win the game and end the season with plenty of momentum to take into the New Year.

On paper it is a tough challenge to move the ball against the Panthers Defensive unit, but the absences that will overshadow the game from their perspective may offer one or two more avenues for the Bruins to exploit. They will certainly feel they can establish the run against a Panthers Defensive Line that does not have Kancey clogging things up and that should open the passing lanes for Thompson-Robinson or whoever Chip Kelly chooses to run the Offensive unit.

I don't want to discount the chances of the Pittsburgh Panthers completely- Nick Patti is getting the start at Quarter Back and the senior does not have a lot of experience despite the four years spent with the team. However, there are some vulnerabilities in the UCLA Secondary that could give Patti an opportunity to have a strong showing for the Panthers and at least give them a chance to keep this one close.

So while I don't think it will be a blowout, I also cannot ignore how poorly Pittsburgh have played in Bowl Games in recent years. They are 1-5 against the spread in their last six post-season games and now Pittsburgh have to deal with a highly motivated UCLA team who should have more consistency in their overall play.

A couple of late mistakes may see UCLA just do enough to pull clear of this number and give Chip Kelly his first Bowl win since his time with the Oregon Ducks.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs South Carolina Gamecocks Pick: A strong end to the regular season shows what the South Carolina Gamecocks (8-4) could achieve under Head Coach Shane Beamer who led the team to seven wins in his first season. That ended with a Bowl win and the Gamecocks will be hoping to upset the odds in the Gator Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-4).

It has been an up and down season for the Fighting Irish, and there will be a genuine disappointment that the run of five years with at least ten wins is coming to a close regardless of how this Bowl Game goes down.

Finding the consistency in the play has been difficult and the Fighting Irish have been hit with a number of opt-outs on both sides of the ball, which is not a massive surprise. Instead of playing in the College Football PlayOff, which would have been the aim back in August, the key performers for Notre Dame do not want to risk their NFL Draft prospects by playing in this relatively 'low-key' Bowl Game.

The same cannot be said for South Carolina and Quarter Back Spencer Rattler has announced that he 'owes' the Coaching staff this Bowl Game. He did not really reach the levels expected in his time with Oklahoma and the Gamecocks, but a strong end to the season has Rattler considering whether he wants to enter the NFL Draft.

That is a decision for another day, but the appearance of Spencer Rattler certainly gives the Gamecocks every chance of earning the upset in the Gator Bowl. If this was a regular season game, you would suggest the Notre Dame Defensive unit would give South Carolina a lot of issues, but the opt-outs and the potential lack of motivation from some players may just offer Rattler the chance to finish the season with a flourish.

South Carolina will be missing some key players through their team, which lessens some of the enthusiasm for backing them, but Notre Dame are going to be without their main starting Quarter Back from the regular season. Drew Pyne has entered the transfer portal and rumoured to be heading to Arizona State and that means Tyler Buchner will be restored to the line up having lost the starting job in the regular season.

The Fighting Irish Offensive Line will feel they can still do enough to put Tyler Buchner in front of the chains by opening up running lanes, but I do have to question the motivation of the favourites considering the underachieving nature of the season.

It should not be an issue for South Carolina who may feel they are being underrated again having upset the Tennessee Volunteers and Clemson Tigers in their final two games, ruining the chances of either making the College Football PlayOff at the same time.

Motivation is always the hardest angle to factor into any Bowl Game pick, but in this case I think the Gamecocks will play harder for their Head Coach and having a starting Quarter Back leading the way could be the difference.

Saturday 31st December

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Kansas State Wildcats Pick: Back in August, it would have been seen as a huge disappointment for the Alabama Crimson Tide (10-2) to miss out on the College Football PlayOff. You have to place their participation in the Sugar Bowl into that context and it would be foolish to ignore the chances of players lacking motivation, but Nick Saban and those involved are speaking about this Bowl with plenty of respect.

For starters it is a positive way to end any season even if the Crimson Tide will look back at 2022 with some regret, while the decision made by Bryce Young to Quarter Back the team has to give all those left plenty of motivation to perform at their best.

It also helps that this is a pretty big Bowl Game against the Big 12 Champions Kansas State Wildcats (10-3) who upset the TCU Horned Frogs in the Championship Game, although ultimately it did not cost TCU a place in the College Football PlayOff.

Kansas State are clearly motivated by the chance to earn the upset and they have not had the same number of opt-outs as Alabama, but the Crimson Tide have to be considered a team with plenty of depth to make up for the absentees.

Both teams will be looking to run the ball and try and keep their Quarter Back in front of the chains and this is arguably more important for Kansas State than Alabama. Adrian Martinez is back for the Wildcats at Quarter Back as he concludes his College career, and he can offer a dual-threat out of the position, but he will not want to have to sit in the pocket and try and make plays from third and long against this Alabama Secondary.

Being in third and long would also encourage Alabama to unleash the pass rush at Adrian Martinez and converting those spots will not be easy for Kansas State. They may feel they can have some success running the ball considering the issues the Alabama Defensive Line had to close out the season, but this is a tough test for the Big 12 Champions.

Losing key Offensive Linemen may just give Alabama some pause for thought when it comes to running the ball, but I do think they can plug in enough players to keep themselves pounding the rock with success. Stopping the run has been challenging for Kansas State all season and they will rarely have faced the kind of talent Alabama bring to the field and so it should be better news for Bryce Young compared with Adrian Martinez.

The Quarter Back has played well and I think Young has a strong day throwing the ball, even with some of the inexperience he will be dealing with on the outside. Short, quick passes should keep the chains moving and I do think the Crimson Tide can win this game and ensure another season with at least eleven wins produced.

You never want to dismiss the chances of Kansas State who thrive on the underdog role, but Alabama crushed Michigan in their last Bowl Game that did not act as a College Football PlayOff Semi Final. With Bryce Young leading the way, I think there is every chance that Alabama can win this one going away and I will back them to cover the handicap.

TCU Horned Frogs vs Michigan Wolverines Pick: They may not have won the Big 12 Championship, but the TCU Horned Frogs (12-1) deserve their spot in the College Football PlayOff. That doesn't take anything away from the fact that they are probably the weakest of the four teams left, but the Horned Frogs can play with some freedom as most expect them to be beaten on Saturday.

They face the Big Ten Champions the Michigan Wolverines (13-0) who have won the Conference for a second season in a row. They were blown out in the College Football PlayOff Semi Final last year, but that experience will not have been lost on the Wolverines and they should be much better this time around.

They have not always been an easy team to read, but the Wolverines have dominated some of the tougher teams on the schedule. In particular, the crushing win over the Ohio State Buckeyes shows the kind of power that the Wolverines have and they are certainly the toughest opponent the TCU Horned Frogs will have seen this season.

Some have suggested the team with the most similarity that the Horned Frogs would have seen is the Kansas State Wildcats and those were close games. However, most will follow up the first suggestion by offering the fact that Michigan are much stronger and faster than the Kansas State athletes and ultimately they could have too much for the Big 12 team.

You know what you are going to get from the Wolverines- they are going to want to run the ball behind a very good Offensive Line and even without Blake Corum the Wolverines are confident they will be able to do that. They didn't need Blake Corum to thump their most recent opponents and Donovan Edwards should be able to rip off some big gains in this game.

JJ McCarthy is not asked to do too much from the Quarter Back position and he should be kept in third and manageable spots through much of this game. It is an encouraging position for a Quarter Back who has been very careful with where he throws the ball and I do think the Michigan Wolverines will find plenty of balance Offensively, which makes them very dangerous.

The Horned Frogs will feel they can have success when they have the ball and Max Duggan has raised his stock ahead of his move into the NFL Draft. The story has been one of surprise for much of the season, although it could be that much more difficult for Duggan if the TCU Offensive Line is not able to win at the line of scrimmage and keep the team in front of the chains.

Max Duggan has shown he can take the Horned Frogs on his back, and there have been some holes in the Michigan Secondary which have been exploited down the stretch. The Quarter Back has been well protected and given time he should have some success, although it is hard to ignore the fact that this Wolverines team is of a level that TCU would not have faced too often.

Michigan's blow out loss in the College Football PlayOff last season should give them the experience to pull clear in this one and these Semi Final games have rarely been close in recent seasons. Jim Harbaugh can underline his reputation as a strong Head Coach by taking Michigan to the National Championship Game for the first time and I like the Wolverines to pull clear in the second half by turning the ball over a couple of times to cover.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs Georgia Bulldogs Pick: When they were beaten by the Michigan Wolverines in their final regular season game, especially the manner in which they were beaten, some would have felt the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) had missed their chance of returning to the College Football PlayOff. However, other results ended up in favour of the Buckeyes and they have been invited into the final four with a genuine chance of redemption.

Beating the defending Champions Georgia Bulldogs (13-0) would be a massive form of redemption and a genuine upset. The Bulldogs are an unbeaten SEC Champion and they have now won fifteen games in a row, while Head Coach Kirby Smart has shown himself to be one of the top Coaches in College Football.

After blowing out the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game, the Georgia Bulldogs are the favourites to win back to back National Championships, but they cannot overlook the Buckeyes.

As poor as they were against the Michigan Wolverines, this is a Buckeyes Offensive unit that can pile up some big yards and they may have learnt plenty from the defeat to put to good use in this big game.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they are going to need to be a lot better if they are going to find a way to move the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs who have a Defensive unit that has grown in each passing week. A big part of this game on this side of the ball is going to be the line of scrimmage as the Bulldogs Defensive Line looks to clamp down on the run as they have for much of the season and force the Ohio State Buckeyes to take to the air.

The Buckeyes have to be confident in their Offensive Line, but they were held to a number someway below the season average in the loss to the Michigan Wolverines. Moving the ball against this Georgia team will be tough and that does put more pressure on CJ Stroud at Quarter Back.

Passing lanes had opened up against Georgia in their last three games, but a lot of that was down to the fact they had big leads in games and teams were forced to throw. Playing soft coverage makes the numbers look worse than they actually are and Stroud may have negotiate a strong pass rush and a Secondary that can make plays to turn the ball over through the air.

Instead of looking to win a shoot out, the Buckeyes may need to lean on their own Defensive unit and hope they are able to contain the Georgia Bulldogs.

Ultimately this could come down to the line of scrimmage again where the Georgia Offensive Line have been dominant all season- down the stretch the Buckeyes Defensive Line did show signs of wear and tear and I think that will give the Bulldogs a big edge in the overall game.

Stetson Bennett is not going to be asked to win the game from the Quarter Back position and being in third and manageable is huge for him. He has been well protected by the Offensive Line and the Georgia ability to run the ball will also cool down the powerful Ohio State pass rush, while Stetson Bennett has done enough to keep the chains moving when he has been asked to do so.

The Georgia Bulldogs are 8-2 against the spread in their last ten Bowl Games and they covered in both PlayOff games last season.

I've already mentioned the fact that these recent Semi Final PlayOff games have ended in blowouts more often than not and I think the Georgia Bulldogs will show a dominance at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball that allows them to win and cover.

MY PICKS: North Carolina Tar Heels + 13.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Minnesota Golden Gophers - 10.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

UCLA Bruins - 5.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

South Carolina Gamecocks + 2.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Alabama Crimson Tide - 6.5 Points @ 1.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Michigan Wolverines - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Georgia Bulldogs -  6 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)