Brett McMurphy’s College Football Bowl Projections After Week 1

Yes, miracles do happen: After one week, all of my College Football Playoff and New Year’s 6 preseason predictions remain unbeaten.

Clemson, Georgia, Alabama and Utah remain my picks to reach the College Football Playoff. And looking at their upcoming schedules, this likely won’t change for a few weeks (months?).

My remaining New Year’s 6 bowl teams: Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Virginia, Notre Dame, Washington, and LSU, with Memphis as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion.

On to the bowl projections for this week:

 

College Football Playoff
ChampionshipJan. 13 (CFP semifinal winners)
Projection: Clemson vs. Georgia

Semifinals
Peach BowlDec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Clemson (CFP No. 1) vs. Alabama (CFP No. 4)

Fiesta BowlDec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Georgia (CFP No. 2) vs. Utah (CFP No. 3)

 

New Year’s 6 bowls

Rose BowlJan. 1 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Michigan vs. Washington

Sugar BowlJan. 1 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Oklahoma vs. LSU

Orange BowlJan. 1 (ACC vs. SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame)
Projection: Virginia vs. Ohio State

Cotton BowlDec. 28 (at-large vs. Group of 5*)
Projection: Notre Dame vs. Memphis*

 

Other Bowls

Citrus Bowl(Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Penn State vs. Auburn

Outback Bowl(Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: Nebraska vs. Texas A&M

Gator Bowl(Big Ten/ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Michigan State vs. South Carolina

Holiday Bowl(Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Wisconsin vs. Washington State

Liberty Bowl(Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Baylor vs. Duke**

Redbox Bowl (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Iowa vs. Arizona State

Sun Bowl(ACC vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Miami vs. USC

Military Bowl (ACC vs. American)
Projection: Pitt vs. Navy

Arizona Bowl(Mountain West vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Wyoming vs. Troy

Belk Bowl(ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Boston College vs. Florida

Alamo Bowl(Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Texas vs. Oregon

Camping World Bowl (ACC vs. Big 12)
Projection: Syracuse vs. Oklahoma State

Music City Bowl (ACC/Big Ten vs. SEC)
Projection: NC State vs. Mississippi State

Texas Bowl (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Iowa State vs. Kentucky

Pinstripe Bowl(ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: Virginia Tech vs. Indiana

Independence Bowl(ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: North Carolina vs. Minnesota**

Cheez-It Bowl (Big 12 vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Texas Tech vs. Cal

Quick Lane Bowl(ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: Wake Forest vs. Purdue

First Responder Bowl(Big 12 vs. C-USA)
Projection: TCU vs. Marshall

Hawaii Bowl(AAC vs. BYU)
Projection: SMU vs. BYU

Dollar General Bowl (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Eastern Michigan vs. Georgia State

Armed Forces Bowl(Big Ten vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Northwestern vs. Air Force

Birmingham Bowl(American vs. SEC)
Projection: UCF vs. Kansas State**

Idaho Potato Bowl(MAC vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Toledo vs. Utah State

Bahamas Bowl (C-USA vs. MAC)
Projection: Southern Miss vs. Buffalo

Gasparilla Bowl(American vs. C-USA)
Projection: Cincinnati vs. North Texas

Frisco Bowl(American vs. Open)
Projection: Tulane vs. Army

Boca Raton Bowl(American vs. MAC)
Projection: Houston vs. Ohio

New Orleans Bowl(C-USA vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Louisiana Tech vs. Appalachian State

Camellia Bowl (MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Western Michigan vs. Louisiana

Las Vegas Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Boise State vs. Stanford

Cure Bowl(American vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Temple vs. UL-Monroe

New Mexico Bowl (C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: UAB 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 the Cotton Bowl.

**-Replaces team from league that can’t fill bowl.