But here at ESPN bowl prediction headquarters in downtown Indianapolis, we're not afraid of any circumstances. So let's get to the picks, from campus CFP sites through traditional bowls and all the way to the national title game on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

The first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff didn't feature many thrilling games, but on-campus atmospheres helped set the tone for the new system. It was a clean sweep for the favorites in the first round,

We heard it for more than twostraight weeks, from the day that the College Football Playoff field was set, through the first round of games, and all through this past week. Alabama should have been in the playoff instead of SMU.