Our CFP bracket predictions. Who takes home the national championship?

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The College Football Playoffs are here.

Twelve teams from across college football begin the march to the national championship beginning Friday night and Saturday on four campus sites across the nation.

With the pairings set for the opening round and the four top seeds locked into a bye before the quarterfinals, here’s the Journal Star Sports reporters’ predictions for the 12-team playoff:

How did we do? Our preseason picks to win the college football national championship

College Football Playoff predictions: Journal Star picks CFP national champ

Each reporter picked every winner in the bracket and eventual national championship matchup, plus why each thinks the winning program will hoist the trophy on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Adam Duvall: Alabama over Ohio State

  • Why Alabama? Alabama makes a run to the program’s first natty in five years and fourth since 2015. The Crimson Tide’s quest for the CFP title starts by avenging a two-point loss to Oklahoma, putting behind them the blowout loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship game. Bama quarterback Ty Simpson, who has 3,649 yards and 26 touchdowns, has orchestrated an offense that’s scoring 31.2 points a game. Defensively, Alabama is one of the top defenses in the country, giving up 17.4 points a game. 
  • First-round picks: No. 9 Alabama over No. 8 Oklahoma; No. 10 Miami (Fla.) over No. 7 Texas A&M; No. 6 Ole Miss over No. 11 Tulane; No. 5 Oregon over No. 12 James Madison.
  • Quarterfinal picks: No. 9 Alabama over No. 1 Indiana; No. 5 Oregon over No. 4 Texas Tech; No. 3 Georgia over No. 6 Ole Miss; No. 2 Ohio State over No. 10 Miami.
  • Semifinal picks: No. 9 Alabama over No. 5 Oregon; No. 2 Ohio State over No. 3 Georgia.

Dave Eminian: Ohio State over Indiana

  • Why Ohio State? Ohio State is the most talented team in the playoff dozen, and this would be a great rematch if Georgia doesn’t throw a wrench into it in the semis. The Buckeyes defense is championship caliber, leading the nation in points and yards allowed and led by a projected NFL lottery pick in safety Caleb Downs. The QBs will settle this national title 2.0. Heisman runnerup Julian Sayin has thrown six INTs all season, and he has a pair of NFL Draft pick wideouts to throw to. Indiana Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza upset Ohio State in national title 1.0, a 13-10 epic battle in the Big Ten championship. 
  • First-round picks: No. 9 Alabama over No. 8 Oklahoma; No. No. 7 Texas A&M over No. 10 Miami (Fla.); No. 6 Ole Miss over No. 11 Tulane; No. 5 Oregon over No. 12 James Madison.
  • Quarterfinal picks: No. 1 Indiana over No. 9 Alabama; No. 4 Texas Tech over No. 5 Oregon; No. 3 Georgia over No. 6 Ole Miss; No. 2 Ohio State over No. 7 Texas A&M.
  • Semifinal picks: No. 1 Indiana over No. 4 Texas Tech; No. 2 Ohio State over No. 3 Georgia.

Wes Huett: Ohio State over Alabama

  • Why Ohio State? Alabama will show why it belonged in the field, but an inspired Ohio State team will wrap up back-to-back titles on the heels of a loss in the Big Ten title game. The Buckeyes defense is legit, led by soon-to-be NFL safety Caleb Downs. Freshman quarterback phenom Julian Sayin has pieces all over the field and the ability for just enough big plays to complement the defense.
  • First-round picks: No. 9 Alabama over No. 8 Oklahoma; No. 7 Texas A&M over No. 10 Miami (Fla.); No. 11 Tulane over No. 6 Ole Miss; No. 5 Oregon over No. 12 James Madison.
  • Quarterfinal picks: Alabama over No. 1 Indiana; Oregon over No. 4 Texas Tech; No. 3 Georgia over Tulane; No. 2 Ohio State over Texas A&M.
  • Semifinal picks: Alabama over Oregon; Ohio State over Georgia.

CFP bracket: First-round schedule

The first round of the College Football Playoff will begin with one game on Friday, Dec. 19 and conclude with three games scheduled for Dec. 20.

All times Central

FRIDAY, DEC. 19

SATURDAY, DEC. 20

CFP quarterfinals schedule

The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s weekend, with one game on Dec. 31 and three on Jan. 1. All games will be televised by ESPN.

All times Central

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31

  • Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. Miami/Texas A&M winner, 6:30 p.m. | ESPN

THURSDAY, JAN. 1

  • Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Oregon/James Madison winner, 11 a.m. (ESPN)
  • Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. Oklahoma/Alabama winner, 3 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss/Tulane winner, 7 p.m. | ESPN

CFP semifinals schedule

The semifinal games will be played on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9. Both games will be televised by ESPN.

All times Central

THURSDAY, JAN. 8

  • Peach Bowl: Orange Bowl winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FRIDAY, JAN. 9

  • Fiesta Bowl: Sugar Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)

CFP national championship game schedule

MONDAY, JAN. 19

  • Game: Peach Bowl winner vs. Fiesta Bowl winner
  • Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
  • Time: 6:30 p.m.
  • TV: ESPN

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: CFP expert bracket predictions: Who wins national title?

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