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
Championship – Jan. 13 (CFP semifinal winners)
Projection: LSU vs. Ohio State
Semifinals
Peach Bowl – Dec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: LSU (CFP No. 1) vs. Oklahoma (CFP No. 4)
Fiesta Bowl – Dec. 28 (CFP semifinal)
Projection: Ohio State (CFP No. 2) vs. Clemson (CFP No. 3)
New Year’s 6 bowls
Rose Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big Ten vs. Pac-12)
Projection: Minnesota vs. Utah
Sugar Bowl – Jan. 1 (Big 12 vs. SEC)
Projection: Baylor vs. Alabama
Orange Bowl – Jan. 1 (ACC vs. SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame)
Projection: Wake Forest vs. Georgia
Cotton Bowl – Dec. 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.