Mr. CFB's New Year's Day Picks

Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and three more games ring in 2024

Happy New Year boys and girls!

We've been waiting for almost a month for New Year's Day to finally get here. 

Today we have five games, including two College Football Playoff games.  And Mr. CFB, your loyal prognosticator, is here to break them down for you.

So here we go!

Noon: LSU (9-3) vs. Wisconsin (7-5), Reliaquest Bowl, Tampa (ESPN2): Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner for LSU, is opting out of the game (Remember that phrase. You'll see it again.). Garrett Nussmeier, who had some moments as a backup the past two seasons, will get the start. LSU gets a chance to post its second straight 10-win season  under Coach Brian Kelly. LSU is favored by 9.5 and will cover.

1 p.m. : Liberty (13-0) vs. Oregon (11-2), Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz..  (ESPN).

Liberty, winner of Conference USA in its first year of membership, gets this slot as the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion. It was a very good start for first-year coach Jamey Chadwell,  formerly of Coastal Carolina.  But Oregon is very, very, good as the Ducks only lost two games, both to No. 2 Washington and both by only three points. This is also the final college game for Oregon quarteback Bo Nix,  a Heisman finalist. Oregon wins and covers the 18.

1 p.m.; Tennessee (8-4) vs. Iowa (10-3), Citrus Bowl, Orlando (ABC): 

With Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton opting out (there it is again) of the game  to prep for the NFL Draft, Volunteer fans get to see  extended snaps for highly-touted freshman Nico Iamaleava, who gets his first career start. But his first start will come against one of the best defenses in all of college football. Iowa is No. 3 nationally in scoring defense (13.2 ppg) and No. 5 in total defense (274.8 ypg),  The Hawkeyes are also in the Top Tean in rushing defense and passing defense. Iowa allowed 16 or fewer points in 11 of its 13 games. Tennessee  is averaging 31.5 points per game on offense. Tennessee wins the game but the Vols don't cover the six-point spread.

THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS

5 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama (12-1) vs. No. 1 Michigan (13-0) (Rose Bowl) Pasadena, Calif. (ESPN).

Back in September Alabama did not look like a playoff team. But today the Crimson Tide looks like a team that could win it all. But first Alabama has to get by a Michigan team that has no apparent weaknesses.

Alabama's turnaround since losing to Texas on Sept 9 in Tuscaloosa  has to be credited to how the staff has handled quarterback  Jalen Milroe, who has thrown for 2, 718 yards and 24 touchdowns.

In September some Alabama fans said the game was passing Saban by. In reality, he has done the best coaching job of his career with this team.

This will be a tough, very physical football game. The line is Michigan by two but I'm picking the Crimson Tide to win by a field goal.

8:45 p.m.: No. 2 Washington (13-0) vs.  No. 3  Texas (12-1), (Sugar Bowl), New Orleans (ESPN).  

A lot of people are treating this game as the undercard to Alabama-Michigan. To that I can only say: "Not so fast my friend."

The boys in Vegas have the over/under at 63.5 and that might be a little low. You have two great offenses with both teams having something to prove.

Washington is riding a 20-game winning streak and beat Oregon twice this season. The Huskies have the Heisman Trophy runner-up in quarterback  Michael Pinix, Jr. They also have one of the best wide receiver rooms in country.

Washington also won the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the best offensive line in the country. But they will face one of the nation's best defensive lines.

Texas had the best road win in this county this season when the Longhhorns won 34-24 at Alabama.

Texas is favored by four. I'll take Washington and the points,