Can't Wait For Saturday Predictable first round sets up stellar quarterfinals

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Dec. 21—***

Miami showed it belonged. So did Alabama.

And all those people whining about two Group of Five entries in the College Football Playoff have a point.

After two days of the CFP, the tournament is down to eight teams. Oh, how I wish the next round was going to campus sites. That's an argument for another day.

For now, the Big Ten is happy with three quarterfinalists (Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon). The SEC is satisfied with three schools too. Though its goal is apparently to have all eight.

Miami (ACC) and Texas Tech (Big 12) will represent the rest of the world in the quarterfinals, which start Dec. 31 with Ohio State-Miami at the Cotton Bowl.

I still like the Buckeyes to win the whole deal, but Miami's defense played well enough Saturday against Texas A&M to scare anybody. Ohio State needs to bring its A game.

I'm sticking with Oregon over Texas Tech at the Orange Bowl. The Ducks got rid of some rust against James Madison.

Alabama is capable of beating Indiana at the Rose Bowl, but the Hoosiers remain the pick. And Georgia seems to be a safe pick against Mississippi, which did just fine Saturday against Tulane without Lane Kiffin on the sidelines.

Just like last year, it is a great tournament and so much better than it was in the old days. All that can be done now is make it better.

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