Fake College Football Playoffs: Crimson Tide shuts down Baylor to win Chick-fil-A Bowl

Note: This is a simulation of a college football bowl playoff scenario. Read the full proposal here.

ATLANTA - Entering the NCAA Championship Tournament, fans and pundits alike circled the Chick-fil-A Bowl and the first-round matchup between Baylor and Alabama. It was destined to be a dog fight and it did not disappoint.

The Crimson Tide used its stout defense and some luck to defeat the Bears 17-10 and advance to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on December 28 against the winner of the Nokia Sugar Bowl - either Ohio State or rival Auburn.

Late in the third quarter with the score tied at 10, Baylor was driving and headed towards the end zone on the Alabama 12-yard line when RB Lache Seastrunk fumbled.  The ball was recovered and returned 40 yards by DT Darren Lake.  The turnover set up what would eventually be the go-ahead and deciding score, a one-yard touchdown run by Alabama's T.J. Yeldon.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth quarter.  Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron was perfect, hitting three consecutive passes late in the quarter to maintain possession. This opened the door for Yeldon, who gained 17 of his game-total 62 yards on three straight carries to run down the clock and ice the game for the Crimson Tide.