College Football Playoff: Expert Predictions for Fiesta and Peach Bowl Semifinals

The College Football Playoff for the 2022-23 season starts on Saturday, Dec. 31 with TCU and Michigan squaring off in the Fiesta Bowl and Ohio State and Georgia meeting in the Peach Bowl. Could a rematch of last year's Orange Bowl take place in the national championship this season? According to oddsmakers and expert predictions, the Bulldogs and Wolverines are favored to play in Inglewood, Calif. on Jan. 9 to decide the winner of college football's national title this year.

With the start of the CFB Playoff just days away, it's time to make final predictions for the Fiesta and Peach Bowls. Athlon's editors and writers make predictions and picks for the CFB Playoff semifinals:

College Football Playoff: Expert Predictions for Fiesta and Peach Bowl Semifinals

Fiesta Bowl - No. 2 Michigan (13-0) vs. No. 3 TCU (12-1)

Spread: Michigan -7.5; Over/Under: 58.5

A matchup of contrasting styles is set to unfold in Arizona. Michigan is led by a prolific ground game (No. 5 nationally), while TCU hopes to lean on quarterback Max Duggan and a standout group of receivers to push this matchup into a shootout. The Horned Frogs lived on the edge all year, but Duggan and a timely defense is more than enough to threaten Michigan in this game. For most of the season, the Wolverines simply dominated on the scoreboard and finished the year with a huge win in Columbus against rival Ohio State and a victory over Purdue in the Big Ten title game. Michigan enters the Fiesta Bowl with an edge on both lines of scrimmage, and coach Jim Harbaugh's team should have the secondary to slow TCU's passing game (have allowed only nine passing scores all year).

Peach Bowl - No. 1 Georgia (13-0) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (11-1)

Spread: Georgia -6.5; Over/Under 62.5

A clash of titans from the Big Ten and SEC is set for the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31. Ohio State is eager for a second chance after a 45-23 loss to Michigan in the regular season finale nearly cost coach Ryan Day's team a spot in the CFB Playoff. Quarterback C.J. Stroud and receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. lead a Buckeyes' attack averaging 44.5 points a game, but Georgia's defense limits opponents to 12.8 points per contest. It's a strength versus strength battle when the Bulldogs' defense meets the high-powered Ohio State offense. Although that matchup is going to play a huge role in the outcome of the Peach Bowl, the Buckeyes have to cut down on the big plays allowed in the loss to Michigan to have a shot at the upset. The Bulldogs are ultra-efficient on offense, led by quarterback Stetson Bennett and tight end Brock Bowers. Georgia has an edge in the trenches and the defense to slow down Ohio State. Will the Bulldogs return to the national title game for the second year in a row? Or can the Buckeyes rebound from a disappointing loss and potentially get a shot again at Michigan in the national championship?

Podcast: Previewing the CFB Playoff and Breaking Down the Matchups to Watch and Predictions