With the exception of replacing Texas in the Sugar Bowl with Oklahoma, there wasn’t a lot of movement in my New Year’s 6 bowl projections this week.
However, my projections in the non-New Year’s 6 bowls were a much different story.
Northwestern, Iowa State, Utah, Boston College and Florida International were among the teams that made significant movements up their respective conference bowl pecking orders after wins last week.
My projections this week actually account for enough teams with at least six wins to fill all 78 spots. That could change, but right now with five weeks left I’m projecting 80 or 81 bowl-eligible teams for 78 spots.
Onto this week’s bowl projections:
College Football Playoff
Championship – Jan. 7 (CFP semifinal winners)
Projection: Alabama vs. Clemson
Semifinals
Orange Bowl – Dec. 29 (CFP Playoff semifinal)
Projection: Alabama (CFP No. 1) vs. Notre Dame (CFP No. 4)
Cotton Bowl – Dec. 29 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Clemson (CFP No. 2) vs. Michigan (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: Oklahoma vs. Georgia
Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 1 (at-large vs. Group of 5*)
Projection: Florida vs. UCF
Peach Bowl – Dec. 29 (at large vs. at-large)
Projection: LSU vs. Texas
Other Bowls
Citrus Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Penn State vs. Kentucky
Outback Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Michigan 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: Northwestern vs. Washington
Liberty Bowl – Dec. 31 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Oklahoma State vs. Cal**
Redbox Bowl – Dec. 31 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Iowa vs. Stanford
Sun Bowl – Dec. 31 (ACC vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Virginia vs. Oregon
Military Bowl – Dec. 31 (ACC vs. American)
Projection: Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati
Arizona Bowl – Dec. 29 (Mountain West vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: San Diego State vs. Appalachian State
Belk Bowl – Dec. 29 (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Miami vs. Missouri
Alamo Bowl – Dec. 28 (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: West Virginia vs. Utah
Camping World Bowl – Dec. 28 (ACC vs. Big 12)
Projection: Boston College vs. Iowa State
Music City Bowl – Dec. 28 (ACC/Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: NC State 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: Syracuse vs. Wisconsin
Independence Bowl – Dec. 27 (ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Pitt vs. Arizona**
Cheez-It Bowl – Dec. 26 (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Fresno State** vs. Arizona State
Quick Lane Bowl – Dec. 26 (ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: Duke vs. Indiana
First Responder Bowl – Dec. 26 (C-USA vs. Big Ten)
Projection: UAB vs. Maryland
Hawaii Bowl – Dec. 22 (C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Florida International vs. Hawaii
Dollar General Bowl – Dec. 22 (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Buffalo vs. Georgia Southern
Armed Forces Bowl – Dec. 22 (American vs. Big 12)
Projection: Memphis vs. Eastern Michigan**
Birmingham Bowl – Dec. 22 (American vs. SEC)
Projection: Houston vs. BYU**
Idaho Potato Bowl – Dec. 21 (MAC vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Toledo vs. Boise State
Bahamas Bowl – Dec. 21 (C-USA vs. MAC)
Projection: Marshall vs. Northern Illinois
Gasparilla Bowl – Dec. 20 (ACC vs. American)
Projection: Georgia Tech vs. USF
Frisco Bowl – Dec. 19 (American vs. MAC)
Projection: Army** vs. Ohio
Boca Raton Bowl – Dec. 18 (American vs. C-USA)
Projection: Temple vs. Middle Tennessee
New Orleans Bowl – Dec. 15 (C-USA vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Louisiana Tech vs. Louisiana
Camellia Bowl – Dec. 15 (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Western Michigan vs. Troy
Las Vegas Bowl – Dec. 15 (Mountain West vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Utah State vs. USC
Cure Bowl – Dec. 15 (American vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Liberty** vs. Coastal Carolina
New Mexico Bowl – Dec. 15 (C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: North Texas vs. Nevada
* – 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.