Our first College Football Playoff match up of the day comes at 3 p.m in the Peach Bowl. when the No. 4-ranked Washington Huskies (12-1) face off against the No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0). It’s all happening at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Ga. on Dec. 31.
The Game: No. 4 Washington vs No. 1 Alabama (-13.5, 54 O/U)
No. 4 Washington Huskies (12-1)
From the outside it kind of looks like Washington is the lamb heading to the slaughter and the bookmakers have solidified that, making Alabama a two touchdown favorite. But these Huskies are a tremendous team. They average 44.5 points per game and just give up 17.2 points per game. Their only loss this season was to then No. 20-ranked USC. The dominated every other game, beating four ranked teams in the process including No. 8 Colorado in a 41-10 curb stomp on the final week of the season.
Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning may look like my seven year-old nephew, but he’s had a monster season, completing 63.2 percent of his passes for 3,280 yards, 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Browning is throwing the ball to NFL talent, led by John Ross who is currently the No. 2 ranked wide receiver in this upcoming draft class. Ross caught 76 passes for 1,122 yards and 17 touchdowns. When Ross wasn’t getting the catches, Dante Pettis was, catching 50 passes for 796 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The Huskies have two gamebreaking running backs they can throw at Alabama. Myles Gaskin averaged 5.9 yards per carry, piled up 1,339 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. Lavon Coleman gained 836 yards, averaged 7.8 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns.
Leading tackler Azeem Victor won’t play, but the Washington defense has other weapons including top pass rusher Psalm Wooching. Wooching has six sacks, seven tackles for a loss, 39 total tackles, one pass defense, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Freshman defensive back Taylor Rapp leads the team with four interceptions. Kevin King may be the team’s best corner. He has two picks and 13 pass defenses.
Alabama Crimson Tide (13-0)
The Crimson Tide hasn’t lost a game since Sept. 19, 2015. Let that sink in for a minute. In the time since they’ve won an SEC title, their fifth under head coach Nick Saban and third straight. They also won an FBS national title, their fourth under Saban. So they’ve done OK.
As good as Washington’s point differential is, Alabama’s is better. The Tide average 40.5 points per game. Their opponents average 11.8 points per game. Yep. That’s right. Not even two touchdowns a game. Shit.
It’s what happens when you field 22 starters and probably 20 of them will end up in the NFL. Of that 20, probably 10 of them will be legit NFL starters and three of them bona fide super stars. As crazy as it may sound, freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts may not be one of those super stars when it comes to the NFL or even one of the 20 that makes an NFL team. Still, as a college football player, he’s a tremendous weapon. This year he’s completed 65.28 percent of his passes for 2,592 yards, 22 touchdown with nine interceptions. He’s rushed for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Damien Harris is just the latest edition of the elite Alabama running back. The sophomore rushed for 983 yards this season, averaging 7.4 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns. But the Crimson Tide have a whole bench full of backs they rotate in including Josh Jacobs and Bo Scarbrough.
At wideout, sophomore Calvin Ridley may be one of the Top Five in the country. He’s caught 66 passes for 727 yards and seven touchdowns. ArDarius Stewart on the other side is a legit NFL prospect in his own right, but will probably play another year of college football.
On defense, the two best players coming out in the 2017 draft play for Alabama. Inside linebacker Reuben Foster is a tackling machine, with 94 total tackles, 12 for a loss, four sacks and two pass defenses. Defensive end Jonathan Allen could end up the first non quarterback taken in the draft. He has eight sacks, 17 tackles for a loss, 51 total tackles, two pass defenses, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick. At corner, Marlin Humphrey is the No. 1 rated defensive back in the upcoming draft. Outside linebacker Tim Williams should also be a first round pick.
Trends and Notes
The Peach Bowl was first played in 1968. LSU beat No. 19 Florida State 31-27. It is the ninth oldest bowl game in college football history.
The Peach Bowl has been one of the biggest bowls in America since 2007, but was not invited to be part of the BCS Championship rotation. The BCS Bowls were the Rose, the Fiesta, the Sugar and the Orange.
When the College Football Playoff replaced the BCS in 2014 the Peach and the Cotton Bowl were added to the previous BCS rotation.
The SEC is 4-4 in the Peach Bowl since 2007. No. 20 Texas A&M was the last SEC team to win the Peach Bowl, beating No. 22 Duke 52-48 in 2013.
The Pick
Listen, I like Washington. I like how they play. I’d love nothing more than to pick an upset here, but it’s not happening. If the Huskers beat the spread that will be victory enough. But they probably won’t. Alabama 38, Washington 24
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