The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast · FOX Sports

Klatt’s CFP Prediction & National Champion Pick + First Round Picks Against the Spread

·32 min·2 clips

Joel Klatt reveals why home playoff games could be the biggest factor in the new 12-team format.

This episode features Joel Klatt analyzing the first-round matchups of the 12-team College Football Playoff and making his championship prediction. Klatt, a prominent college football analyst, provides picks against the spread for each opening game and projects the entire playoff bracket. He predicts Oklahoma will defeat Alabama outright, citing Alabama's distractions and Oklahoma's elite pass rush and home-field advantage. Klatt picks Texas A&M to cover against Miami, highlighting A&M's defensive line and Miami's questionable run game. He forecasts Ole Miss will cover a large spread against Tulane despite Lane Kiffin's departure. Klatt also selects Oregon to cover against James Madison, emphasizing Oregon's home dominance and rushing attack. His bracket prediction has Oklahoma, Indiana, Georgia, and Ohio State advancing from the quarterfinals. Klatt ultimately projects Indiana and Ohio State to reach the national championship, with Ohio State winning it all. Klatt argues home-field advantage is a massive factor in the new playoff format, referencing last year's results. He expresses concern about how Ole Miss will manage play-calling without Kiffin in later rounds. Klatt describes Oregon as a quiet national title threat and calls the potential Oregon-Texas Tech quarterfinal an "epic game." He also revisits a controversial take about the NCAA basketball tournament, clarifying he believes its format prioritizes entertainment over reliably crowning the best team. The host later explains his view that the College Football Playoff's objective is to crown the best team, unlike the NCAA basketball tournament. He suggests Group of Five teams might be better served with their own championship. Klatt acknowledges his original comments were poorly articulated and generated significant online criticism. The tone is analytical and conversational, blending game previews with personal commentary and bracketology. Klatt's style is energetic and opinionated, often using emphatic language to underscore his points. Devoted college football fans and gamblers interested in detailed matchup analysis and betting angles will appreciate this episode. Listeners who prefer objective reporting or are sensitive to strong, debatable opinions about playoff structures might find parts less engaging.

As heard by us

A brisk playoff preview that stays grounded in concrete picks and bracket talk.

Joel Klatt frames the first 12-team playoff as more than a bracket exercise, and he keeps the focus on what home games might mean once the field settles in.

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Need a fast college-football playoff read before Friday night kicks off?

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