With no losses among the Top 10 teams in last week’s Associated Press rankings, this week’s bowl projections look pretty similar to last week’s. However,
With no losses among the Top 10 teams in last week’s Associated Press rankings, this week’s bowl projections look pretty similar to last week’s.
However, there was one slight – but major – change in my College Football Playoff projections. Since Notre Dame has been so dominating and it has the head-to-head victory against Michigan, I’m projecting Notre Dame to be No. 3 and Michigan No. 4.
A few weeks ago, I thought because the Irish had been lackluster in some of their wins, the committee would reward Michigan for posting more dominating wins. With Syracuse now nationally-ranked, that will help offset any advantage Michigan will get if it wins at Ohio State.
Obviously, it will have a huge impact whether a team is No. 3 or No. 4, since No. 4 will have to face No. 1 Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.
One other thing to keep an eye on: How does the committee rank Kentucky and Florida on Tuesday? I think if both teams win out, the Wildcats or Gators will be competing for the final at-large New Year’s 6 bowl bid.
Onto this week’s bowl projections:
College Football Playoff
Championship – Jan. 7 (CFP semifinal winners)
Projection: Alabama vs. Clemson
Semifinals
Cotton Bowl – Dec. 29 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Alabama (CFP No. 1) vs. Michigan (CFP No. 4)
Orange Bowl – Dec. 29 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Clemson (CFP No. 2) vs. Notre Dame (CFP No. 3)
New Year’s 6 Bowls
Rose Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Ohio State vs. Washington State
Sugar Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: West Virginia vs. Georgia
Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 1 (at-large vs. Group of 5*)
Projection: Kentucky vs. UCF
Peach Bowl – Dec. 29 (at large vs. at-large)
Projection: LSU vs. Oklahoma
Other Bowls
Citrus Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Northwestern vs. Florida
Outback Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Penn State vs. Texas A&M
Gator Bowl – Dec. 31 (ACC/Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Purdue vs. Auburn
Holiday Bowl – Dec. 31 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Iowa vs. Oregon
Liberty Bowl – Dec. 31 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Baylor vs. Arizona**
Redbox Bowl – Dec. 31 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Michigan State vs. Stanford
Sun Bowl – Dec. 31 (ACC vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Boston College vs. Cal
Military Bowl – Dec. 31 (ACC vs. American)
Projection: Duke vs. Cincinnati
Arizona Bowl – Dec. 29 (Mountain West vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Nevada vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Belk Bowl – Dec. 29 (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Pitt vs. Missouri
Alamo Bowl – Dec. 28 (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Texas vs. Utah
Camping World Bowl – Dec. 28 (ACC vs. Big 12)
Projection: Syracuse vs. Iowa State
Music City Bowl – Dec. 28 (ACC/Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Virginia vs. South Carolina
Texas Bowl – Dec. 27 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Texas Tech vs. Mississippi State
Pinstripe Bowl – Dec. 27 (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: NC State vs. Wisconsin
Independence Bowl – Dec. 27 (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Georgia Tech vs. Louisiana Tech**
Cheez-It Bowl – Dec. 26 (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Oklahoma State vs. USC
Quick Lane Bowl – Dec. 26 (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: Eastern Michigan** vs. Indiana
First Responder Bowl – Dec. 26 (C-USA vs. Big Ten)
Projection: UAB vs. BYU**
Hawaii Bowl – Dec. 22 (C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: FIU vs. Hawaii
Dollar General Bowl – Dec. 22 (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Buffalo vs. Troy
Armed Forces Bowl – Dec. 22 (American vs. Big 12)
Projection: SMU vs. Army**
Birmingham Bowl – Dec. 22 (American vs. SEC)
Projection: Memphis vs. San Diego State**
Idaho Potato Bowl – Dec. 21 (MAC vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Toledo vs. Boise State
Bahamas Bowl – Dec. 21 (C-USA vs. MAC)
Projection: FAU vs. Northern Illinois
Gasparilla Bowl – Dec. 20 (ACC vs. American)
Projection: Miami vs. USF
Frisco Bowl – Dec. 19 (American vs. MAC)
Projection: Houston vs. Western Michigan
Boca Raton Bowl – Dec. 18 (American vs. C-USA)
Projection: Temple vs. Marshall
New Orleans Bowl – Dec. 15 (C-USA vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State
Camellia Bowl – Dec. 15 (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Ohio vs. Georgia Southern
Las Vegas Bowl – Dec. 15 (Mountain West vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Utah State vs. Arizona State
Cure Bowl – Dec. 15 (American vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Tulane vs. Arkansas State
New Mexico Bowl – Dec. 15 (C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: North Texas vs. Fresno State
* – The highest rated champion from the Group of Five conferences (American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt) will be selected to play in either the Cotton, Fiesta or Peach Bowl.
** – Replaces team from league that can’t fill bowl.