What time is the Alabama national championship playoff game (Peach Bowl) on New Year’s Eve? Prediction, odds

Published 5:03 pm Monday, December 26, 2016

It’s almost time for the college football playoff this year, Alabama vs. Washington in the semifinal matchup. They will meet in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on New Year’s Eve (December 31, 3016).

Here’s a prediction from the AP, with game time and TV channel:

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Semifinals

Peach Bowl in Atlanta

Alabama (minus 15 ½) vs. Washington, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

You are running out of chances to see Nick Saban yell at Lane Kiffin … ALABAMA 37-14.

Alabama is in familiar territory and not just because of a quick return trip to Atlanta.

For the third time in six seasons the top-ranked Crimson Tide head into the playoffs — or previously into the BCS national championship game — with a coordinator preparing to leave for a head coaching job. This time, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin is leaving to take over at Florida Atlantic after ‘Bama’s season ends.

Alabama (13-0) faces No. 4 Washington (12-1) in a semifinal game on Dec. 31 at the Georgia Dome.

It wasn’t an issue before: Jim McElwain left after the 2011 season to take over at Colorado State. Alabama beat LSU 21-0 in the title game.

Kirby Smart’s imminent departure for Georgia didn’t impede a championship run last season.

Now, it’s Kiffin’s turn to pull double duty and prepare for at least one more game while starting to work on recruiting and assembling a staff at Florida Atlantic.

“He’s done a great job here molding our offensive players to what they can do to have the best chance to be successful, and I think that’s always something that is very telling about the quality of a coach,” Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday.