Complete expert predictions for the College Football Playoff round

The first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff has been decided. The undefeated Oregon Ducks secured first place, while the SMU Mustangs edged out the Alabama Crimson Tide to take the final spot. The automatic selection for the Group of 5 went to the Boise State Broncos, who also received a bye in the first round as one of the top-ranked conference champions. The Georgia Bulldogs (SEC) and Arizona State Sun Devils (Big 12) earned the other two byes after winning their title games on Saturday.

The month-long march to the national championship game begins Dec. 20 with the No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish hosting the No. 10 seed Indiana Hoosiers. Three more first-round games will be played on campus on December 21st. The quarterfinal games will be played on December 31 (Fiesta Bowl) and January 1 (Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls). The semifinals will take place between the Orange Bowls and the Cotton Bowls on January 9th and 10th, respectively, before the title game on January 20th in Atlanta.

Sports Illustrated College football writers Pat Forde and Bryan Fischer offer their group stage predictions and also provide the full CFP schedule with game times and TV information.

No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame, 8 p.m. ET, Dec. 20 (ABC/ESPN)

No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State, noon ET Dec. 21 (TNT/Max)

No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas, 4 p.m. ET December 21 (TNT/Max)

No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State, 8 p.m. ET, Dec. 21 (ABC/ESPN)

Fiesta Bowl: At State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, 7:30 p.m. ET, December 31 (ESPN)

Peach peel: At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET, January 1 (ESPN)

Rose bowl: At Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, Calif., 5 p.m. ET, January 1 (ESPN)

Sugar bowl: At Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, 8:45 p.m. ET, January 1 (ESPN)

Orange peel: At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, 7:30 p.m. ET, January 9 (ESPN)

Cotton cup: At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 7:30 p.m. ET, January 10 (ESPN)

At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. ET, January 20 (ESPN)