Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) throws during the NCAA football game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.. PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

The Rose Bowl remains in Pasadena and the late-afternoon sun setting off the San Gabriel Mountains will surely be picturesque. But the luster is off the game after the demise of the Pac-12.

Sure, we have Oregon and Ohio State playing in this contest and we can make-believe the Ducks never left for the Big Ten. Even though this is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game, it is not the traditional Rose Bowl purists looked forward to on Jan. 1.

Setting the nostalgia aside, the Buckeyes and top-seeded Ducks are set for the much-anticipated rematch. And No. 2 seed Georgia will be without star quarterback Carson Beck when it meets Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.

The Philadelphia 76ers have won four straight games, but here we go again—Joel Embiid has been ruled out of Wednesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. OK, let’s break down the two playoff games and the NBA contest.

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES VS. OREGON DUCKS

If not for a mental mistake by Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the initial meeting, the No. 8 seed Buckeyes might be the higher seed for this contest. Howard slid down on a scramble after time ran out, preventing Ohio State from a chance at a game-winning field goal as the Ducks prevailed 32-31.

Howard has expressed he is glad to get a chance to atone for the mistake. What Ohio State has to do is play better on the defensive side, as it didn’t allow more than 17 points in any other contest.

Oregon is just fine with shootouts, as it also won games in which it allowed 37 points to Penn State and 34 to Boise State. The Ducks scored over 30 on 11 occasions and quarterback Dillon Gabriel has poise to go with impeccable accuracy.

Oregon finds itself as the underdog in the rematch, which is a crazy predicament for the No. 1 seed. This is another close game, so take the points.

Oregon +2.5 spread, -105 (DraftKings)

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NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH AT GEORGIA BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs saw their national championship hopes take a big hit when Beck underwent season-ending surgery on his right (throwing) shoulder after being injured in the SEC Championship Game against Texas. So now it falls on Gunner Stockton to lead the way.

Stockton went 12 of 16 for 71 yards with an interception after replacing Beck in a 22-19 overtime win over Texas. The biggest factor will be how much Stockton has improved with all the practice repetitions designed to get him comfortable on the big stage.

Notre Dame beat Indiana 27-17 in its first CFP game in a contest nowhere near as close as the final score. The Fighting Irish have won 11 straight games since being upset by Northern Illinois on Sept. 7.

Notre Dame also lost a key player in defensive tackle Rylie Mills (7 1/2 sacks) to a knee injury against Indiana, but quarterback Riley Leonard provides the experience factor to help the Fighting Irish squeeze out a victory.

Notre Dame +1, -112 (DraftKings)

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PHILADELPHIA 76ERS VS. SACRAMENTO KINGS

Embiid is out of the lineup for the 20th time in 31 games this season. He scored a season-high 37 points in Monday’s 125-103 rout of the host Portland Trail Blazers. This is the front end of a back-to-back that ends with a matchup with the Golden State Warriors on Thursday.

Tyrese Maxey is averaging 30 points over the four-game winning streak and has topped 20 in nine consecutive appearances. Paul George continues to have trouble meshing with his new teammates and is averaging only 11.5 points over the past six games.

The Kings are back to being a mess, and they just ended a six-game skid by beating the Dallas Mavericks 110-100 on Monday. Sacramento fired coach Mike Brown after the fifth game of the losing streak and dismissed him shortly before it was time to board the plane for a road game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Doug Christie is the interim coach, and he has a tough chore ahead of him in the tough Western Conference. Sacramento has three 20-point scorers in De’Aaron Fox (26.5), Domantas Sabonis (20.8) and DeMar DeRozan (20.6) but lacks depth.

Kings -6.5, -115 (DraftKings)