Stewart Mandel’s college football bowl projections for all 40 games
I made a few notable changes this week to my New Year’s Six lineup. After watching Ohio State throttle a 7-1 Nebraska team 62-3, I put the Buckeyes back in my playoff field after ceding its bid to Michigan last week. As dominant as the Wolverines have been, it’s hard to picture Urban Meyer’s team losing at home.
That, in turn, sent Michigan to Pasadena. Figuring out which Pac-12 team goes to the Rose Bowl if Washington makes the playoff is a challenge. It could be any of 7-2 Colorado, 7-2 Utah or 7-2 Washington State. I had the Utes last week; I switched to Wazzu this week. One of the three will likely fall to the Foster Farms Bowl if surging USC is in play for the Alamo or Holiday bowls.
And I moved Oklahoma back into the Big 12’s Sugar Bowl spot because while Oklahoma may lose at West Virginia, the Mountaineers may lose a second conference game as soon as this weekend. Note: I did not drop Texas A&M out after its loss to Mississippi State. I still see the Aggies finishing 10-2.
(NOTE: * -- replacement team for a conference without enough eligible teams)
Peach Bowl: Alabama vs. Washington (playoff)
Date: Dec. 31 -- Atlanta
Bowl affiliation: CFP No. 1 vs. CFP No. 4
Fiesta Bowl: Clemson vs. Ohio State (playoff)
Date: Dec. 31 -- Glendale, Arizona
Bowl affiliation: CFP No. 2 vs. CFP No. 3
Orange Bowl: Louisville vs. Wisconsin
Date: Dec. 30 -- Miami
Bowl affiliation: ACC vs. SEC/Big Ten/Notre Dame
Cotton Bowl: Penn State vs. Western Michigan
Date: Jan. 2 -- Arlington, Texas
Bowl affiliation: at-large vs. Group of 5
Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Washington State
Date: Jan. 2 -- Pasadena, California
Bowl affiliation: Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Sugar Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma
Date: Jan. 2 -- New Orleans
Bowl affiliation: SEC vs. Big 12
New Mexico Bowl: Colorado State vs. Southern Miss
Date: Dec. 17 -- Albuquerque
Bowl affiliation: MWC vs. C-USA
Las Vegas Bowl: Boise State vs. Arizona State
Date: Dec. 17 -- Las Vegas
Bowl affiliation: MWC vs. Pac-12 No. 6
Camellia Bowl: South Alabama vs. Miami of Ohio
Date: Dec. 17 -- Montgomery, Alabama
Bowl affiliation: Sun Belt vs. MAC
Cure Bowl: UCF vs. Georgia Southern
Date: Dec. 17 -- Orlando
Bowl affiliation: American vs. Sun Belt
New Orleans Bowl: Troy vs. UTSA
Date: Dec. 17 -- New Orleans
Bowl affiliation: Sun Belt vs. C-USA
Miami Beach Bowl: Tulsa vs. Ohio
Date: Dec. 19 -- Miami
Bowl affiliation: American vs. MAC
Boca Raton Bowl: USF vs. Old Dominion
Date: Dec. 20 -- Boca Raton, Florida
Bowl affiliation: American vs. C-USA
Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State vs. BYU
Date: Dec. 21 -- San Diego
Bowl affiliation: MWC vs. BYU
Idaho Potato Bowl: Air Force vs. Central Michigan
Date: Dec. 22 -- Boise, Idaho
Bowl affiliation: MWC vs. MAC
Bahamas Bowl: Memphis vs. Akron
Date: Dec. 23 -- Nassau, Bahamas
Bowl affiliation: American vs. MAC
Armed Forces Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Navy
Date: Dec. 23 -- Fort Worth, Texas
Bowl affiliation: Big 12 No. 7 vs. American/Navy
Dollar General Bowl: Toledo vs. Appalachian State
Date: Dec. 23 -- Mobile, Alabama
Bowl affiliation: MAC vs. Sun Belt
Hawaii Bowl: Middle Tennessee State vs. Hawaii
Date: Dec. 24 -- Honolulu
Bowl affiliation: C-USA vs. MWC
St. Petersburg Bowl: Arkansas State vs. SMU
Date: Dec. 26 -- St. Petersburg, Florida
Bowl affiliation: ACC* vs. American
Quick Lane Bowl: Indiana vs. Eastern Michigan
Date: Dec. 26 -- Detroit
Bowl affiliation: Big Ten Nos. 8-9 vs. ACC Nos. 8-10*
Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Wyoming
Date: Dec. 26 -- Shreveport, Louisiana
Bowl affiliation: ACC Nos. 8-10* vs. SEC No. 10*
Heart of Dallas Bowl: Baylor vs. Western Kentucky
Date: Dec. 27 -- Dallas
Bowl affiliation: Big Ten Nos. 8-9* vs. C-USA
Military Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Temple
Date: Dec. 27 -- Annapolis, Maryland
Bowl affiliation: ACC Nos. 8-10 vs. American
Holiday Bowl: Colorado vs. Minnesota
Date: Dec. 27 -- San Diego
Bowl affiliation: Pac-12 No. 3 vs. Big Ten Nos. 3-4
Cactus Bowl: Kansas State vs. Cal
Date: Dec. 27 -- Phoenix, Arizona
Bowl affiliation: Big 12 No. 6 vs. Pac-12 No. 7
Pinstripe Bowl: Miami vs. Maryland
Date: Dec. 28 -- Bronx, New York
Bowl affiliation: ACC Nos. 4-7 vs. Big Ten Nos. 5-7
Russell Athletic Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State
Date: Dec. 28 -- Orlando
Bowl affiliation: ACC No. 3 vs. Big 12 No. 3
Foster Farms Bowl: Utah vs. Northwestern
Date: Dec. 28 -- Santa Clara, California
Bowl affiliation: Pac-12 No. 4 vs. Big Ten Nos. 5-7
Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Texas
Date: Dec. 28 -- Houston
Bowl affiliation: SEC Nos. 3-8 vs. Big 12 No. 4
Birmingham Bowl: Houston vs. Georgia
Date: Dec. 29 -- Birmingham, Alabama
Bowl affiliation: America vs. SEC No. 9
Belk Bowl: South Carolina vs. Wake Forest
Date: Dec. 29 -- Charlotte
Bowl affiliation: SEC Nos. 3-8 vs. ACC Nos. 4-7
Alamo Bowl: West Virginia vs. USC
Date: Dec. 29 -- San Antonio
Bowl affiliation: Big 12 No. 2 vs. Pac-12 No. 2
Liberty Bowl: Tennessee vs. TCU
Date: Dec. 30 -- Memphis
Bowl affiliation: SEC Nos. 3-8 vs. Big 12 No. 5
Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Stanford
Date: Dec. 30 -- El Paso, Texas
Bowl affiliation: ACC Nos. 4-7 vs. Pac-12 No. 5
Music City Bowl: Kentucky vs. Iowa
Date: Dec. 30 -- Nashville
Bowl affiliation: SEC Nos. 3-8 vs. Big Ten Nos. 5-7
Arizona Bowl: New Mexico vs. Idaho
Date: Dec. 30 -- Tucson, Arizona
Bowl affiliation: MWC vs. Sun Belt
Citrus Bowl: Auburn vs. Florida State
Date: Dec. 31 -- Orlando
Bowl affiliation: SEC No. 2 vs. ACC/Big Ten
TaxSlayer Bowl: Arkansas vs. North Carolina
Date: Dec. 31 -- Jacksonville
Bowl affiliation: SEC Nos. 3-8 vs. ACC Nos. 4-7
Outback Bowl: Nebraska vs. Florida
Date: Jan. 2 -- Tampa, Florida
Bowl affiliation: Big Ten Nos. 3-4 vs. SEC Nos. 3-8
