College Football Playoff 2019: 16-team bracket simulation

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers talks with Joe Burrow #9 in the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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BATON ROUGE, LA – OCTOBER 12: LSU Tigers running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (22) rushes the ball during a game between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on October 12, 2019. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. LSU vs. 9. Florida

After just gassing up the Florida Gators, it’s time to now bring them back down to Earth. Yes, this offense is miles better with Kyle Trask under center, which was evident in the regular-season matchup against LSU. Trask threw for 310 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against the Tigers to at least make things interesting against the Tigers, actually holding a 28-21 lead early in the third quarter.

While that may be true, the simple fact remains that Trask is still not a perfect player and the Florida offense still has a defined ceiling. And that’s simply not the case for Joe Burrow and LSU’s offense. Even when they were stumbling a bit early against the Gators, there is just too much firepower and too much playmaking for even a great defense to be able to contain.

Whether it’s Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson or Thaddeus Moss or even Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who had 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the first game against Florida, this team is too dangerous when they have the ball for any defense to hope to stop them. And that’s especially true when the opposing offense is prone to making a mistake or two per game, or at least stalling.

Florida, unfortunately, fits that bill. They surely could push the Tigers to play their best brand of football once again but, when it’s all said and done, the Gators just aren’t the type of team capable of hanging with LSU. The No. 1 seed advances again, though they might actually have to sweat in this one, unlike against Iowa.

Winner: LSU Tigers