Sports: College Football Playoffs: Championship Game

Tomorrow night the college football season will end with Indiana and Miami facing off in the 2nd 12-team playoff championship game. Indiana has been very impressive with 2 blowout wins against Alabama and Oregon. Miami had to play a first-round game, which was a tough defensive struggle against Texas A&M, winning 10-3. They shut down Ohio State in the first half, and the defense added a pick-six to build a 14-0 halftime lead. Ohio State tried to come back, but the Miami offense was able to move the ball in the 4th quarter to pull out a 24-14 win. Against Mississippi, the Miami defense went into more of a bend-but-don’t-break mode, keeping them out of the end zone 4 times, limiting them to field goals each time. It was the difference in their last-minute win, 31-27. Indiana is the favorite, and rightfully so. They have been as impressive as any team could be in their first 2 playoff wins. Fernando Mendoza has had the hot hand in both of their wins. For the two games, he is 31 for 36, gaining 369 yards. That is an 86% completion rate. He has 8 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. I have been split every round with my predictions. I also think Indiana will win the championship game. I do not see how you can go against them. Will I be shocked or even surprised if Miami pulls off the upset? Absolutely not. Here is what they have to do.

They need to keep Indiana out of the end zone just like they did against Mississippi. Can they eke out a turnover? This is not easy to do against a team that really protects the ball. In the last 3 games, they have turned the ball over only once on an interception against Ohio State. That was late in the 1st quarter of the Big Ten Championship game. Indiana has not turned the ball over for 11 quarters. The Miami offense has to avoid the 3-and-outs. They need at least to get a 1st down or two on every possession. Indiana’s defense is the best unit that Miami has faced. Special teams are good for both teams, but again Miami needs something to happen in that area if they are going to have a chance. Something negative for Indiana or positive for Miami. Both head coaches are intense. The Miami coach has been quite animated in the previous playoff games. If things do not go well for the Hurricanes in this game, he literally may not survive it. If Indiana wins convincingly, it should go down as one of the greatest seasons in college football history because of the playoff format now in effect. I would love to see an exciting down-to-the-wire championship game. Miami needs a lot to happen to make that possible. Their offense is the key to victory. They are hot right now. My guess is that Indiana’s defense will cool them off. However, if they do not, then it should be a great Monday night of college football.