The time for all the arguing over who was selected to play in the College Football Playoff field has come to an end, while the time has come to settle it all on the field. The CFP kicks off in earnest on Friday night as we begin the journey toward crowning a national champion for the 2025 season. By Saturday night, the 12-team field will be cut to eight and the quarterfinal matchups will be set. Alabama stormed back from an early 17-point deficit to stun Oklahoma on the road on Friday night. Saturday’s slate is highlighted by a noon Eastern kickoff between No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 10 Miami, as the Hurricanes hit the road looking to validate their inclusion after securing the final at-large berth over Notre Dame. Miami will face a stiff test against Texas A&M’s raucous “12th Man” crowd at Kyle Field.The day’s final two games feature Group of Five teams attempting to defy long odds. In the afternoon, No. 11 Tulane travels to No. 6 Ole Miss seeking to avenge a 45-10 loss to the Rebels in September. The nightcap pits No. 5 Oregon against No. 12 James Madison in a David vs. Goliath matchup between the well-funded Ducks and a Dukes program in just its fourth season at the FBS level. Here are the CBS Sports expert predictions for each of the first-round matchups. No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M
Saturday noon on ABC/ESPN, fuboTV (try for free):The matchup between Texas A&M and Miami is a true heavyweight battle. Both teams have the upside to win the national championship if things break right, and the first round will be an important stress test. Miami quarterback Carson Beck has the experience edge, but Texas A&M’s offense has an explosive component that will prove to be the difference in College Station. Pick: Texas A&M -3.5 — Shehan Jeyarajah No 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane
Saturday 3:30 p.m. on TNT/Max: Tulane is better than the 35-point whupping it received back in September. And with all the change and drama Ole Miss has experienced in the last month, it is easy to see how this result will be closer. But even with all that said, I don’t see how Tulane pulls off the upset in Oxford. The team is fired up to play for new head coach Pete Golding. Ole Miss fans have been waiting for a moment like this their whole lives and the Rebels are simply too talented for Tulane to keep up. Take the Rebels. Pick: Ole Miss -17.5 — John Talty No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12…
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2025-12-20 13:45:27
