College Football Playoff Open Game Thread

This afternoon, we'll get to see the semifinals of the first college football playoff. Nearly a month after the initial controversy from the exclusion of TCU and Baylor, we finally get a chance to see the four selected teams try to prove their worth. Feel free to hang around RCT and discuss the New Year's bowl action this afternoon and tonight

Game One

3) Florida State vs 2) Oregon - 4pm Central on ESPN

Is anyone outside of Tallahassee not rooting for Oregon in this one?  Florida State and controversial quarterback James Winston repeatedly scraped by opponent after opponent, but found a way to finish the season undefeated. Meanwhile, Oregon rode the play of Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and a lightning-quick offense to a Pac-12 title and playoff appearance. Oregon enters a 7.5 point favorite, but Florida State has found a way to win 29 straight games going back to the 2012 season

Game Two

4) Ohio State vs 1) Alabama - 7:30pm Central on ESPN

Ohio State notoriously hopped the two playoff contenders from the Big 12 to get into this one after dismantling Wisconsin for the Big championship. Like FSU, they enter their game 7.5 point underdogs. Alabama has looked both overpowering and vulnerable at times this year, and it will be interesting to see how they come out in a playoff situation after laying an egg in postseason play last year