“Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes”
The above lyrics from David Bowie’s “Changes” accurately sum up my bowl projections this week as my College Football Playoff picks are different: Alabama vs. Clemson, Ohio State vs. Oklahoma.
I have LSU ranked No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot this week, but believe the Tigers will lose at Alabama on Nov. 9. The Tide then should win the SEC against Georgia or Florida and earn the playoff’s top seed.
The Crimson Tide will be joined in the playoff by three other undefeated teams: Ohio State, Oklahoma and Clemson.
New teams in my New Year’s 6 bowl projections this week are Notre Dame and Boise State. The Irish should finish 11-1, which would earn them a bid to the Orange Bowl. Since I predicted before the season that Memphis would earn the Group of Five’s New Year’s 6 bowl bid, I continued to stick with the Tigers. However, after Memphis’ loss at Temple, Boise State becomes the clear-cut favorite to earn the Group of Five bid.
Regarding the non-College Football Playoff and New Year’s 6 bowls, new teams in my bowl projections this week include Louisville, Ball State and Liberty.
Onto this week’s projections:
College Football Playoff
Championship – Jan. 13 (CFP semifinal winners)
Projection: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Semifinals
Peach Bowl – Dec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Alabama (CFP No. 1) vs. Clemson (CFP No. 4)
Fiesta Bowl – Dec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Ohio State (CFP No. 2) vs. Oklahoma (CFP No. 3)
New Year’s 6 bowls
Rose Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Texas vs. LSU
Orange Bowl – Jan. 1 (ACC vs. SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame)
Projection: Wake Forest vs. Notre Dame
Cotton Bowl – Dec. 28 (at-large vs. Group of 5*)
Projection: Georgia vs. Boise State*
Other Bowls
Citrus Bowl – (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Michigan vs. Auburn
Outback Bowl – (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Penn State vs. Texas A&M
Gator Bowl – (Big Ten/ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Holiday Bowl – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Iowa vs. Arizona State
Liberty Bowl – (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Texas Tech vs. Cincinnati**
Redbox Bowl – (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Minnesota vs. Washington
Sun Bowl – (ACC vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Louisville vs. USC
Military Bowl – (ACC vs. American)
Projection: North Carolina vs. UCF
Arizona Bowl – (Mountain West vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Wyoming vs. UL-Monroe
Belk Bowl – (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Duke vs. Florida
Alamo Bowl – (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Baylor vs. Utah
Camping World Bowl – (ACC vs. Big 12)
Projection: Virginia vs. Iowa State
Music City Bowl – (ACC/Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Pitt vs. Mississippi State
Texas Bowl – (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Oklahoma State vs. Kentucky
Pinstripe Bowl – (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: NC State vs. Michigan State
Independence Bowl – (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Miami vs. Washington State**
Cheez-It Bowl – (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: West Virginia vs. Cal
Quick Lane Bowl – (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: Florida State vs. Indiana
First Responder Bowl – (Big 12 vs. C-USA)
Projection: TCU vs. Southern Miss
Hawaii Bowl – (AAC vs. BYU)
Projection: Navy vs. BYU
Mobile Bowl – (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Ball State vs. Arkansas State
Armed Forces Bowl – (Big Ten vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Virginia Tech** vs. Air Force
Birmingham Bowl – (American vs. SEC)
Projection: SMU vs. Syracuse**
Idaho Potato Bowl – (MAC vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Toledo vs. San Diego State
Bahamas Bowl – (C-USA vs. MAC)
Projection: North Texas vs. Central Michigan
Gasparilla Bowl – (American vs. C-USA)
Projection: Tulane vs. Louisiana Tech
Frisco Bowl – (American vs. Open)
Projection: Memphis vs. Army
Boca Raton Bowl – (American vs. MAC)
Projection: Temple vs. Ohio
New Orleans Bowl – (C-USA vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: FAU vs. Appalachian State
Camellia Bowl – (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Western Michigan vs. Louisiana
Las Vegas Bowl – (Mountain West vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Utah State vs. Stanford
Cure Bowl – (American vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Liberty** vs. Georgia State
New Mexico Bowl – (C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: UAB vs. Hawaii
*-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 the Cotton Bowl.
**-Replaces team from league that can’t fill bowl.