College Football Playoffs: Top recruits predict CFP winner

The 10th annual College Football Playoff featuring Alabama, Michigan, Texas and Washington kicks off on Monday. When it does, football fans nationwide will tune in to see who will claim this season’s championship. High school football recruits will certainly have their sights set on the semifinal games, too.

No. 4 Alabama faces No. 1 Michigan in the Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game at 5 p.m. ET. Later in the night, No. 3 Texas takes on No. 2 Washington in the Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at 8:45 p.m. ET. ESPN will have television coverage of both matchups.

Ahead of Monday’s games, the country’s top recruits participating in the Under Armour All-America Game predicted the winners, who will then play in the title game on Jan. 8.

Georgia OT Michael Uini
Michigan — “Michigan’s defense is nice. Alabama’s offense is nice. I think Alabama’s defense is going to kind of slip late in the game, and Michigan is going to take it up.”
Texas — “I want Washington to win it all. But Texas, with recent pickups, I think they can have a good game.”

Ohio State WR Mylan Graham 
Alabama: 35-14 — “I have Alabama. I think it’s going to be a pretty good game, though.” 
Washington: 40-32 — “That’s a pretty good game. I probably have Washington, though. I like Washington a lot. Washington by a touchdown.”

Texas A&M ATH commit Terry Bussey
Alabama — “It’s going to be a really good game.”
Texas — “It’s going to be a shootout.”

Texas S Xavier Filsaime
Alabama — “I think Alabama is going to get them. Football up North is not the same as football down South.” 
Texas

LSU DL commit Dominick McKinley
Michigan
Texas — “Texas is going to the SEC. I’m not throwing any shade at Washington. They’re great. I don’t think the Pac-12 is more dominant than the SEC.” 

UCF S Jaylen Heyward
Alabama — “Alabama has been clicking a lot. (Jalen) Milore is on fire right now. No one has seen a dual-threat QB like Milroe. That’s something that’s going to be a problem. That’s why Georgia was struggling with a dual-threat QB like that.”
Washington — “I like Washington in that one. The QB is going to be their truth or tell. That’s the truth or tell for the game. The QB is the leader. He has to come in with that swag and leadership mentality to lead them to a win.”

Mississippi State QB Michael Van Buren
Alabama — “I think Alabama is going to win it all. Milroe has been playing well, their defense is great, and it’s Nick Saban. Nick Saban in the playoffs with no Kirby Smart is a no-brainer.”
Washington

West Virginia OL Kyle Altuner
Michigan: 24-14 — “I’m going to go Michigan. I think it’s a close game. They’re dominant all over — defense and offense.”
Texas — “I’d like to see Texas coming out with a win.”

UCF TE Kylan Fox
Michigan: 30-17
Washington: 27-24 — “I think it will be a close one.”

South Carolina EDGE Dylan Stewart
Alabama — “It doesn’t matter who Alabama plays, they’re going to win the whole thing, SEC ball is different. You see what happened last year.” 
Washington

Texas CB Kobe Black
Alabama
Texas — “I have Texas all the way. Washington is a great football team. They have a good quarterback, receivers and a good defense. We’re going to have to play, but I feel like Texas is going to play. It will be good.”

South Carolina WR Debron Gatling
Michigan: 35-28
Washington: 42-35 — “That’s going to be a high-scoring game.” 

NC State RB Jonathan Paylor
Alabama — “I think Alabama is going to get them. That quarterback has been heavily doubted since he stepped into the quarterback room. I think they’re going to pull through.”
Washington — “I love Washington’s quarterback. (Michael) Penix can sling it. I love it. I think Washington is going to get them.”

North Carolina RB Davion Gause
Alabama — “Alabama wants revenge. I feel like they’re going to win.”
Texas — “Texas has a better defense than Washington. So I think they pull it off in a shootout.”

Penn State OL Donovan Harbour
Alabama: 28-7 — “Just because JC (Latham) went to Catholic Memorial, I say Alabama wins by three touchdowns.
Washington: 12-10 — “That’s a close one. But I got to go with Washington.” 

North Carolina CB Zion Ferguson
Alabama — “I like Alabama. They’re the stronger team. They always finish.” 
Texas — “I like Texas. Texas had a strong year. I don’t think Washington has been in that spot in a little minute. So, I don’t know if they know how to handle it.” 

Auburn WR Perry Thompson
Alabama — “I want to see how they play my dogs Malik Benson and Isaiah Bond.”
Washington

Texas A&M DL Dealyn Evans
Alabama: By 28 points — “I probably won’t watch the Michigan-Bama game, honestly. But the Washington-Texas game, that’s going to be a good one. Alabama is going to win by 28.” 
Texas

Missouri DL Williams Nwaneri
Alabama — “Alabama is a good team, so I’m excited to see how that pans out.”
Texas

Texas Tech WR Micah Hudson
Alabama: 28-14
Texas: 31-28

Oklahoma TE Davon Mitchell
Alabama: 32-21
Washington: 28-14

Georgia LB Chris Cole
Michigan
Texas

Colorado OT Jordan Seaton 
Alabama
Washington

Tennessee S Edrees Farooq
Michigan 
Texas

Tennessee WR Mike Matthews 
Alabama
Washington 

Alabama WR commit Ryan Williams
Alabama
Texas

Oklahoma DL David Stone 
Alabama
Washington

Georgia LB Justin Williams
Alabama
Texas

Alabama CB Jaylen Mbakwe
Alabama
Texas

Texas RB Jerrick Gibson
Alabama
Texas