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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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 30: KJ Hamler #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions carries the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

7. Baylor vs. 10. Penn State

Though the Baylor Bears ultimately ended the season with two losses, both of those came against an Oklahoma team that wound up in the top four of the final College Football Playoff rankings. Moreover, both of those games were within reach for Matt Rhule’s team as they blew a 28-3 lead in the regular-season matchup and took the Sooners to overtime in the Big 12 Championship Game.

While that may all be true, the simple fact remains that Baylor, outside of those two games against Oklahoma, did not really face elite competition in the 2019 season. Though the Big 12 is exciting and enjoyable to watch, it’s difficult to say that they stack up one-for-one very well against the other Power 5 conferences, particularly the Big Ten and the SEC. And it just so happens they’re up against a team from one of those conferences.

Make no mistake, I’m not the biggest believer in the Penn State Nittany Lions. This club has a good defense led by playmakers such as Yetur Gross-Matos and Micah Parsons as well as having explosive offensive weapons such as K.J. Hamler at their disposal. But in terms of consistency from the likes of Sean Clifford, they’re lacking.

Even while that may be the case, the Penn State defense is talented enough to stop Baylor — especially if Charlie Brewer would not be available for this matchup. Moreover, their explosive playmaking could make enough noise, similar to how Oklahoma succeeded on offense, to ultimately give them a cushion and allow the No. 10 seed to secure an upset victory.

Winner: Penn State Nittany Lions