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.