College Football Playoff picks, schedule: predictions against the spread, quarterfinal bowl game odds

The College football The playoff field has been reduced to eight teams as we move through the first-ever bracket of twelve teams. On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the remaining teams will compete at traditional New Year's Six bowl venues for the right to advance to the semi-finals as we move closer to crowning a national champion for the 2024 season. The matches in the first round left a lot to be desired in terms of tension, but the hope is that the quarter-finals will provide a solution.

The action begins Tuesday as 6-seed Penn State heads to the Fiesta Bowl to clash with 3-seed Boise State. Wednesday's three-game series kicks off with 5-seed Texas taking on 4-seed Arizona State in the Peach Bowl before moving to a monumental rematch in the Rose Bowl with 8-seed Ohio State clashing with 1-seed Oregon. Finally, the quarterfinals conclude with seven-seed Notre Dame against two-seed Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

CBS Sports experts have made their picks for the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, so let's take a look at what to expect this weekend.

Always Oriental

Peach Bowl: (5) Texas vs. (4) Arizona State 1 p.m. |ESPN,fubo(Try for free) —Arizona State's ability to win on the margins has been a key to their success this season, and I think that will be the path to keeping things close against a Texas team that tends to leave points on the table leave in the red zone. Thanks to key play from Cam Skattebo and timely stops from a defense that has built a good statistical profile against the pass, the Sun Devils should be able to keep the game tight. Pick: Arizona State +13.5 –Chip Patterson

Rose Bowl: (8) Ohio State vs. (1) Oregon

5 p.m. |ESPN,fubo(Try for free) — The playing style during the first meeting was no fluke. You could even argue that both offenses left a few points on the board. We've seen many high-scoring matches in recent years where elite teams have met. Considering all the stars on the offensive side of the ball for both teams, it makes sense. The Granddaddy of Them All promises to be another high-scoring affair.Choice: over 55 –Tom Fornelli

Sugar Bowl: (7) Notre Dame vs. (2) Georgia

8:45 PM | ESPN,fubo(Try for free)— Georgia is the slight favorite, according to SportsLine's consensus, which gives me pause. The Bulldogs enter the playoff as favorites at 1-9 against the spread this season. There's no question that Georgia played a tougher schedule than Notre Dame, and the grind was noticeable with two overtime wins to end the season, but it does make you wonder if the Bulldogs will allow opponents to better dictate the pace of those matches, resulting in closer… than expected results. Gunner Stockton appears to be a quarterback player even if he isn't the most talented passer, but that plays into the hands of Notre Dame with one of the best pass defenses in the country. All signs point to a Notre Dame win, even with Kirby Smart's ability to prepare his teams for playoff runs. Choice: Notre Dame +1.5 –Brandon Marcello

Fiesta Bowl: (6) Penn State vs. (3) Boise State

7:30 PM (Tuesday) | ESPN,fubo(Try for free) —Penn State was able to capitalize on SMU miscues in the first round, but the Broncos rarely make mistakes. In fact, Boise State ranks second nationally in lost turnovers with just four fumbles and four interceptions. Even the regular Nittany Lions had 13 turnovers. Ultimately, this means the game remains four quarters closer than expected.Choice: Boise State +11 –Shehan Jeyarajah