One big advantage for all eight teams in first round of College Football Playoff

The odds for the College Football Playoff’s first-round are not particularly tight: Each is more than a touchdown with Texas laying 11.5 points at home vs. Clemson marking the biggest spread. Nevertheless, the lines suggest one-score games throughout, which will be great television (and though last year’s CFP seminfinals were bangers, usually they had not been very good). 

This is going to be an awesome foray into the expanded 12-team CFP era because, true to the 2024 season, we think each team has a chance to make noise.

With the help of data from TruMedia, these are the matchup advantages each team can hang its hat on in the first-round games. 

(10) Indiana at (7) Notre Dame

When: 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 20 (ESPN, ABC)
Where: Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana
Winner plays: (2) Georgia in Sugar Bowl

Indiana: Natural pressure

Indiana’s defense thrives by generating pressure on the quarterback without relying on blitzing. With a 39% QB pressure rate, ranking third in the nation, the Hoosiers disrupt opposing offenses while maintaining a solid secondary. Notre Dame, despite a strong offensive line, struggles under quick pressure, ranking 129th in average time to pressure allowed at 2.41 seconds.

MetricIND DefenseND OffenseQB Pressure %39% (3rd)26% (55th)Avg Time to Pressure2.40 sec (10th)2.41 sec (129th)

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/one-big-advantage-for-all-eight-teams-in-first-round-of-college-football-playoff/

Author : Ryan McGrady

Publish date : 2024-12-18 17:47:00

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