B/R Experts Answer Biggest College Football Playoff and NY6 Bowl Questions

After two weeks of enjoyable matinees, the marquee games of college football's 2022 bowl season are up next.

Most importantly, of course, we have the College Football Playoff semifinals. Second-ranked Michigan takes on No. 3 TCU before top-ranked and defending-champ Georgia squares off with No. 4 Ohio State.

But there's also the remainder of the New Year's Six lineup, including the Orange, Sugar, Cotton and Rose Bowls.

B/R's panel—Max Escarpio, David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Morgan Moriarty and Brad Shepard—focused entirely on the New Year's Six matchups in this edition of expert picks.

Adam Kramer

There's a good chance the buzz surrounding true freshman Cade Klubnik will be deafening after this game. I'm just warning you.

The 5-star recruit played sparingly this season before taking over as Clemson's starter early in the ACC Championship Game. He was brilliant in a win over North Carolina. In fact, he was so brilliant that DJ Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal almost immediately after.

That answer probably gives away my pick. I really like Clemson in this game for a few reasons, including the QB.

On the other side, Tennessee's Joe Milton III, who's stepping in for the injured Hendon Hooker (torn ACL), is wildly talented. He might have the strongest arm in the sport, and that is not at all hyperbole. With that said, accuracy is an issue, and the opt-outs of receivers Cedric Tillman and Jalin Hyatt really hurt this team.

Clemson has some key opt-outs on defense, although it won't be enough. In the battle of range, the Tigers come out on top—and perhaps by double digits.

Morgan Moriarty

We're in for a treat in this year's Orange Bowl, even as both teams start backups. But I'm also going with Klubnik. His numbers in the ACC title game were remarkable, given it was only his second game this season with meaningful snaps.

He went 20-of-24 for 279 yards and a touchdown. He added a rushing score, too. Klubnik went 15-of-15 for 107 yards on passes thrown less than five yards downfield, the most such attempts without an incompletion by a Clemson QB in the last 15 seasons, per ESPN Stats & Info.

This isn't a knock on Tennessee's Milton—he's also talented and should have a good game. But his production has never matched his potential, even when he was the Vols' starter last season.

Klubnik will have the better night, and Tigers coach Dabo Swinney will have to answer yet again why he didn't make a quarterback change sooner this season.

Max Escarpio

The Crimson Tide will be equipped with two of the nation's top 2023 NFL draft prospects, Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. Both are projected top-10 picks, and despite their impending departure from Tuscaloosa, each will play in the Sugar Bowl.

Kansas State has had a great season, going 10-3 and taking the Big 12 championship. The Wildcats finished the year on a four-game winning streak, grabbing their biggest victory against an undefeated TCU squad on conference-title weekend.

The Wildcats have a solid resume, but they have no shot to topple an Alabama squad that'll field a majority of its starters.

Head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide have been in rare form by losing multiple games, and that won't continue during bowl week. The importance of bowls has been debated, but in this case Alabama will want to make a statement to enforce its top-tier status.

David Kenyon

Two parts to my answer.

First, I'm glad to see Young and Anderson one last time in college. If the Tide lose, the refrain will inevitably be that Alabama had nothing to play for and it didn't matter. But that's simply not true for Kansas State, which has a chance to earn a win over (nearly) full-strength Bama. That matters.

Naturally, then, I'm not picking Kansas State to win. While I recognize the value of this opportunity for the Wildcats, Alabama is still a massive obstacle to overcome.

The transfer portal has been unkind to the Tide, but most—not all, but most—departures were viewed as future contributors. Alabama snags an 11th win for the 12th straight year.

Brad Shepard

All season, I've been bullish on Tulane. Tyjae Spears is the best player in the Group of Five and one of the top five running backs in the nation. Quarterback Michael Pratt is among the Green Wave's many playmakers on both sides of the ball, and Willie Fritz is a phenomenal coach.

But the competition will ramp up a notch against the Trojans to the extent I just can't fathom the Green Wave will walk away victorious.

We'll see a lot of points scored because Tulane can churn out the yardage, and USC isn't very good on defense. Still, I don't see Tulane stopping Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and all that skill-position talent.

This game should surge into 70-plus combined points. USC is favored, and I like Williams and Co. to score at will in a comfortable win.

David Kenyon

I won't bury the lede: USC wins. That part is unsurprising, so let's consider how the opposite result may happen.

Short of non-offensive scores, Tulane needs to control the clock. Time of possession is overrated as a standalone stat, and it doesn't mean a whole lot if your defense gives up fast touchdowns. Provided the defense cooperates, though, there is value here.

Look, no reasonable person would argue Tulane has as much individual talent on offense as USC. However, the Green Wave have a steady, run-focused attack led by Spears and Pratt. USC, which ranks 106th nationally in yards allowed per carry, struggled to contain dual-threat QBs in Utah's Cam Rising and UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

This isn't a hugely unfavorable matchup for Tulane, especially since the defense is a solid unit. But the Green Wave probably cannot keep up with USC's talent in what should be a high-possession game.

Brad Shepard

Every time Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is doubted, the Utes seem to embrace the role of the underdog and find a way to churn out rapid-fire heroics on national television.

The problem is that the Utes are favored to win the Rose Bowl against Penn State.

After its maiden voyage to the game a season ago, Utah is back in Pasadena and wanting some redemption this year. But Penn State is sneaky solid on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Sean Clifford has kicked it up a notch from being just a game manager this year. The freshman running back combo of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen have been special and are going to show out for years to come.

Even against Utah's 16th-rated run defense, I like Penn State to break through for some big plays and do enough defensively to win a close one in the 27-24 range.

David Kenyon

October losses to Michigan and Ohio State basically dropped Penn State from the national radar, but the Nittany Lions closed the season well. They outscored their last four opponents 165-40.

Utah had a higher-profile finish with its victory over USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game. But in the Rose Bowl, Utah will be without tight end Dalton Kincaid, the offense's top target and Cam Rising's safety outlet.

The good news is that the Utes' tight end factory may be unveiling Thomas Yassmin, who's caught four touchdowns in his last five outings. As the featured player at the position, can he still produce?

It's such a small storyline, but a matchup this even is likely to be decided on the margins. Penn State wins a tight game.

Adam Kramer

It will be Michigan, and in many ways, the outcome will feel familiar.

That might seem like an odd thing to say given how the Wolverines' semifinal game went last year. They were physically overwhelmed by Georgia, and you could tell within the first five minutes that the game would not go well.

This time around, Michigan has a chance to be Georgia. Jim Harbaugh's group is more athletic at most positions, which will ultimately take a toll over the course of the game.

The fact that Michigan is doing this without star running back Blake Corum is remarkable. His replacement, Donovan Edwards, hasn't just filled in. He's been a more explosive version.

While TCU has quarterback Max Duggan along with a handful of difference-makers on offense, it won't be enough. Michigan plays the role of Georgia this time around.

Max Escarpio

Michigan will punch its first ticket to the national title game in the Harbaugh era. Although the Wolverines have only one postseason win in Harbaugh's tenure—which came back in his first year in 2015—they're poised to reverse that trend this year.

TCU had a tremendous season in head coach Sonny Dykes' first year. However, the Horned Frogs aren't ready to take down a Michigan team that has CFP experience.

TCU will have to wait its turn for a shot at the championship. The Wolverines have gone through numerous disappointing postseasons in recent years, but they'll have something to cheer for after defeating the Horned Frogs.

Morgan Moriarty

Few teams have come anywhere close to threatening Georgia given how dominant the Dawgs have been in all three phases of the game.

While I believe Ohio State's defense will be one of the best units Georgia has faced—it's a top-15 unit in both scoring and total yardage allowed—it's hard to see the Dawgs stumbling here. Georgia's offensive line has allowed only seven sacks all season, tied for the second-fewest nationally, and Stetson Bennett can take off on the run when he's pressured.

I'm still waiting to see whether Georgia receiver Ladd McConkey and offensive tackle Warren McClendon are healthy. But the Dawgs still have plenty of weapons outside of McConkey in Darnell Washington, Brock Bowers and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint for Bennett to throw to. And Georgia's backup offensive linemen could probably start on most teams.

If Ohio State can be the first offense to unsettle UGA's defense, the Buckeyes will have a chance to move on to the national title game. But Georgia has probably the best defense in the nation and can contain a quarterback even as talented as C.J. Stroud.

It's hard to see Georgia losing this one. Hopefully Ohio State can at least keep it close.

Brad Shepard

Georgia has to be angrier than anybody. The defending national champion is facing a dangerous Buckeyes team that was dominated by Michigan late in the season but backed its way into the Top Four.

OSU is probably the third-best team in the CFP and the second-most talented. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, the Dawgs are the best and the most talented. They're the most complete team with the best defense and most complete offense, too.

UGA's aggressive, talented defense has a way of making great offenses look average. While the Bulldogs aren't going to wow anybody with their offensive skill-position players, Bennett just makes throws, Bowers and McConkey just make catches and the O-line just paves paths.

There isn't anything flashy about this year's rendition of the Dawgs, but they have won every game they've played thus far. That won't change here. UGA will win and cover, 36-27.

Max Escarpio

Georgia seems to be playing on a different level than anyone else in college football. While UGA will be playing an experienced Ohio State team, that won't stop the Dawgs' plans to go back-to-back. Michigan will join UGA in California for the title game after defeating TCU.

David Kenyon

The favorites, please and thanks. Michigan limits the explosiveness of TCU's offense to win the Fiesta Bowl and put Jim Harbaugh on the championship stage. I need to see Ryan Day solve an elite defense again before I predict OSU to topple a Georgia-caliber team.

Adam Kramer

Give me Ohio State and Michigan.

Yes, I know what that would mean. No, I am not just doing that because of how weird and exciting college football would be because of it. Ohio State pulls a mild upset, Michigan wins by double digits and the sport loses its collective mind as a result.

Morgan Moriarty

I like Michigan and Georgia. Michigan will be too much for TCU's defense, and I don't think the Horned Frogs' offense can match the pace. Georgia's defense limits OSU and sends the Dawgs back to the title game.

Brad Shepard

Georgia is going to win and cover because the Buckeyes are too one-dimensional on offense. While TCU would be a nice story, Michigan is battle-tested and appears poised enough to make it to the championship game with Donovan Edwards leading the way.

Recruit ratings via 247Sports.