The bowl page is now up-to-date, and it’s been rough going for yours truly. Hopefully we can round into shape with the remainder of the playoff.

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Thursday, January 9

7:30: Notre Dame (#7) vs. Pennsylvania State (#6) (Orange Bowl @ Miami Gardens; ESPN): The first of the two semis definitely feels like it’s going to be more of a game. That said, I’m not so sure. James Franklin deserves credit for more gutsy playcalling than he’s been known for, and better decision-making late in games this season. Suffice it to say, though, Notre Dame has been one of best and certainly most consistent teams in the country since their Week 2 loss, and if this game is close late, I certainly would rather have Marcus Freeman making decisions. I’m leaning toward the Irish in this one.
SP+ line: Penn State by 0.3
Vegas line: Irish by 1.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: These teams have met nineteen times previously. The first was in 1913, a 14-7 Notre Dame win. There were sporadic meetings up to the 80’s, where they then played often in the regular season until Penn State joined the Big Ten. The last meeting was a 2007 regular season contest that Penn State won 31-10. Overall, the series is exactly tied: 9-9-1. (The tie was a surely thrilling 0-0 contest in 1925.)
Last bowl game: Back on New Year’s Eve, Penn State contained Ashton Jeanty and company and beat Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl.
Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath, and Katie George

Friday, January 10

7:30: Ohio State (#8) vs. Texas (#5) (Cotton Bowl @ Arlington, TX; ESPN): On New Year’s Day, I was set to enjoy a quiet afternoon of watching college football and enjoying the sunset over the San Gabriels in college football’s most picturesque setting. Some friends had messaged me that they were going to get Bloody Mary’s, but I planned to wait until the end of the Rose Bowl. Suffice it to say, at some point in the middle of the second quarter I checked back in and headed out. Ohio State has been head-scratching at times this season (the Michigan loss looks increasingly like the second most baffling loss of the season) but they have been far and away the best team so far in the playoff. Texas’s offense, which disappeared in the fourth quarter of the Peach Bowl and let Arizona State back in the game, doesn’t figure to score enough points to keep up with Jeremiah Smith and company.
SP+ line: Ohio State by 4.8
Vegas line: Buckeyes by 5.5
Watchability tier: IV
Previous meetings: Just three. The schools played a regular season home-and-home in 2005 and 2006, with Texas losing in Columbus 25-22 in 2005, and then winning 24-7 at home in 2006. The teams then met in the 2008-09 Fiesta Bowl, a 24-21 Ohio State win.
Last bowl game: Back on New Year’s Day, Ohio State absolutely dominated Oregon 41-21 in the Rose Bowl (and it wasn’t really even that close). Texas survived a fourth quarter collapse to beat Arizona State 39-31 in overtime in the Peach Bowl.
Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, and Laura Rutledge