The college football playoff has finally been set! Four great teams set out for one common goal: to be crowned as national champions. The teams are, the only undefeated team, the Clemson Tigers; the SEC powerhouse Alabama; Michigan State, who will never give up on a game; and rounding out the top four, the Oklahoma Sooners. So, who takes the cake?

Let's dive head-first into this season's playoff, which I say is head and shoulders better than the playoffs last year. Not a single game was relatively close, and included a blowout in the championship game. The teams this year are poised to be on the big stage. Clemson will face off with the Sooners in Miami at the Orange Bowl, and Alabama and Michigan State will throw down at the Cotton Bowl Classic.

The first semifinal game for the national championship will be played at 4 p.m. on New Year's Eve. It is a contest that's very intriguing. You have two powerful offenses led by excellent quarterback play, Deshaun Watson for Clemson and Baker Mayfield for Oklahoma.

Both have shown all year that they're elusive in the pocket and run. Also, they can sling the ball around the whole field.

The teams also have above average defenses, and this is where i see the difference of this game. Who can make the big play on a 3rd and short, or a 4th down play, to change the trajectory of this football game? I think both offenses will put up big numbers, both through the air and on the ground. And I think both defenses will come up with big stops during the course of this game, especially early, as both teams try and feel each other out through the first few series.

I don't like the defense's chances, though, if and when both teams get their respective offenses going. This is where I see the break in this game going. Whether it be a turnover, a big sack, or just an outstanding last stand by a defense, one defense has to step up and make a big play happen. It won't just come to them. They'll have to make it themselves. And this is where I start to get a little scared for Oklahoma. They have let some powerful offenses in the Big 12 this year put up some points and a lot of yardage. However, the exact same thing can be said about the Clemson defense. I think it will be a high-scoring game, with a last-minute attempt to score a touchdown thwarted by a Oklahoma defense.

Oklahoma: 37
Clemson: 34

The second semifinal game is a time-honored tradition in SEC territory: the Cotton Bowl Classic. It'll be the Alabama Crimson Tide playing host to the Michigan State Spartans. This comes on directly after the first playoff game, and I think this is will be the only game that isn't neck and neck the whole way through. Nick Saban, Alabama's head coach, talked Saturday and Sunday about how he felt his team was just happy to be there last year, and wasn't very crisp in game planning or execution. I see that being avenged in this game on New Year's Eve. Alabama has a record-setting running back in Derrick Henry. Michigan State also has a deep play threat with their quarterback, Connor Cook.

I'm not trying to knock Michigan State in any way, shape, or form, but they will not be able to stop Derrick Henry. No team has been able to stop him for four quarters all year. The Crimson Tide also have arguably the best defensive front seven in all of college football. I just think that Alabama's defense will be too fast and strong to let Michigan State have continuous, lengthy drives like they did on their last drive against Iowa on Saturday. I think the Sparty defense tries and keeps it close for a half a game or three-quarters, but I see Alabama pulling away late.

Michigan State: 17
Alabama: 34

This one is for all the marbles, and what two better, tradition-rich teams to play in such an important game than Oklahoma and Alabama? This game will be super close, though I think Oklahoma will have some sort of game plan to bottle up Henry early with their athletic defense. I also see Coker making a mistake by throwing the ball, giving an early lead to Oklahoma. They even could take the lead into halftime, and I believe this will be one of the better defenses Alabama will have faced this year. I think Baker Mayfield will be able to make plays through the air with a sometimes sketchy Alabama secondary. I also can see him making a couple of plays with his legs, dancing out of trouble and pressure.

However, I see Alabama finally regaining their foothold and showing dominance. I say Henry finally gets in a groove, and just pounds on Oklahoma's defense until they can't stop him. Alabama's defense will continually pressure Mayfield, and will eventually get sacks or make him throw some bad balls. It'll be a game that goes in the fourth quarter, but ultimately Alabama will pull it out

Oklahoma: 24
Alabama: 34

Alabama will once again be crowned the national champions.

Now that i have said all, this neither team will play in the championship game, and they'll all be blowouts again. I'm sorry if I cursed your team!