Brett McMurphy’s College Football Bowl Projections After Week 11

For the past four weeks, I’ve been projecting the same four teams to reach the College Football Playoff: LSU, Ohio State, Clemson and Oklahoma.

And I’m not changing… yet.

LSU strengthened its grip on making its first College Football Playoff appearance with a win over Alabama while Ohio State and Clemson continue to roll along as well. Oklahoma? Well, the Sooners still need to win out and then probably need some help to make a third consecutive College Football Playoff. But I’ll keep the Sooners in my fourth spot until they lose.

OU’s biggest test will be Saturday at undefeated Baylor.

With Minnesota’s upset of Penn State, I now have Minnesota headed to the Rose Bowl, where they would play the Pac-12 champion. Before the season, I picked Utah to win the Pac-12, so I’ll stick with the Utes.

Onto this week’s bowl projections:

 

College Football Playoff

ChampionshipJan. 13 (CFP semifinal winners)
Projection: LSU vs. Ohio State

Semifinals
Peach BowlDec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: LSU (CFP No. 1) vs. Oklahoma (CFP No. 4)

Fiesta BowlDec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Ohio State (CFP No. 2) vs. Clemson (CFP No. 3)

 

New Year’s 6 bowls

Rose BowlJan. 1 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Minnesota vs. Utah

Sugar BowlJan. 1 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Baylor vs. Alabama

Orange BowlJan. 1 (ACC vs. SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame)
Projection: Wake Forest vs. Georgia

Cotton BowlDec. 28 (at-large vs. Group of Five*)
Projection: Florida vs. Memphis*

 

Other Bowls

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

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

Gator Bowl(Big Ten/ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Indiana vs. Tennessee

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

Liberty Bowl(Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Kansas State vs. Navy**

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

Sun Bowl(ACC vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Virginia Tech vs. Arizona State

Military Bowl(ACC vs. American)
Projection: Louisville vs. Cincinnati

Arizona Bowl(Mountain West vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Hawaii vs. Georgia Southern

Belk Bowl(ACC vs. SEC)
Projection: Miami vs. Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quick Lane Bowl(ACC vs. Big Ten)
Projection: NC State vs. Michigan State

First Responder Bowl(Big 12 vs. C-USA)
Projection: Utah State** vs. Marshall

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

Mobile Bowl(MAC vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Central Michigan vs. Georgia State

Armed Forces Bowl – (Big Ten vs. Mountain West)
Projection: North Texas** vs. Wyoming

Birmingham Bowl (American vs. SEC)
Projection: SMU vs. UAB**

Idaho Potato Bowl(MAC vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Miami (OH) vs. San Diego State

Bahamas Bowl – (C-USA vs. MAC)
Projection: Charlotte vs. Buffalo

Gasparilla Bowl(American vs. C-USA)
Projection: Tulane vs. Florida Atlantic

Frisco Bowl(American vs. Open)
Projection: Ohio** vs. San Jose State**

Boca Raton Bowl(American vs. MAC)
Projection: Temple vs. Toledo

New Orleans Bowl(C-USA vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Southern Miss 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. Washington State

Cure Bowl(American vs. Sun Belt)
Projection: Liberty** vs. Arkansas State

New Mexico Bowl(C-USA vs. Mountain West)
Projection: Western Kentucky 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.