The most wonderful time of the year---for me anyway.

First of all, keep your eyes out for Wofford. They are still in the FCS playoffs and are facing another team that pulled an upset in Youngstown State.

As for the Gamecocks, the Birmingham Bowl was the last Bowl I wanted to go to. Nothing against Birmingham, but we're paying South Florida. A 10-2 USF team. I know this is going to sound like a stupid TV football analyst thing to say, but I don't think we can score enough points to beat them. We are gonna get our hat handed to us ( only I'm not thinking 'hat' while I'm typing this). No score prediction but ESPN says

Birmingham Bowl: South Florida vs. South Carolina
(2 p.m., ESPN, Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama)
Remember what Deshaun Watson did to South Carolina a few weeks ago? Expect a slightly less severe version of that with South Florida's Quinton Flowers, one of the nation's most underappreciated stars. Flowers accounts for four touchdowns in the Bulls' first bowl win since 2010. 
South Florida 41, South Carolina 24.

I can't really argue with that.

As for Clemson and Ohio State, I remember the 1978 Gator Bowl when Ohio State coach Woody Hayes hit Clemson Player Charlie Bauman My family and I were watching when it happened, and to use a wrestling term, you have never seen people do a heel turn ( or I guess in the eyes of my Clemson friends it was a face turn) so fast. We immediately started pulling for Clemson and I have never liked Ohio State since. ESPN says

College Football Playoff semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl
No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Clemson
(7 p.m., ESPN, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona)
Clemson has the right talent mix to beat Alabama, but the Tigers have been too inconsistent. Urban Meyer has only two bowl losses -- one to Clemson three years ago -- but he elevates his young team, especially the passing game, in this one. Ohio State builds a lead and holds on against Deshaun Watson in an instant classic, winning on a field goal. 
Ohio State 31, Clemson 29.

I disagree. I think Clemson wins.

As for the national championship, anyone who's not a totally delusional fan of the other three schools knows that Alabama is going to win.

If something screwy happens, and Washington beats Alabama and Clemson beats Ohio State, I think Clemson would beat Washington. If it's Washington and Ohio State, it's a hypothetical so let's say Washington would win that. That way I don't have to come back and make a prediction.