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Paul Finebaum Predicts Ohio State Will Return to College Football Playoff

Finebaum and host Matt Barrie agree the Buckeyes will be one of the four teams competing for the 2023 National Championship, though they have different thoughts as to the other three.

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum revealed his picks to make the 2023 College Football Playoff, placing the Ohio State Buckeyes among his chosen four teams.

Finebaum unveiled his picks Monday during an appearance on “The Matt Barrie Show.”

"I can't believe I'm going to give you the four most predictable names in the world, but I'm going to because I can't find anyone else," Finebaum said. "So I'm going with Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Alabama."

The SEC Nation commentator admitted he chose one of, if not the most predictable combination of schools, but that those are the four in which he has confidence to make the postseason.

"It's very safe, it's unimaginative, it would get me laughed off the noon 'SportsCenter,' but I just gave it," Finebaum said.

Barrie then disclosed his choices to make the CFP, disagreeing with each of Finebaum’s choices except for the Buckeyes

The USC Trojans, LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs were Barrie’s first three schools to make the four-team tournament.

"And finally, I'm going with the Ohio State Buckeyes," Barrie said. "I believe that out of any team in the country, when it comes to skill positions from wide receiver to running back, they are loaded."

Ohio State begins their season in three days, which means there is a lot of time before an accurate CFP picture begins to take shape.

However, games against conference opponents (like the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday) will be of special importance in determining which schools make the dance…and which do not.


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