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Could a one-loss Oregon jump an undefeated Florida State in the College Football Playoff pairings? That’s what we’re projecting in our latest bowl predictions.
With FSU quarterback Jordan Travis losing his season to a gruesome injury Saturday, the Ducks have a shot at leapfrogging the Seminoles come Selection Sunday. As for the other two spots, there’s no change with Georgia No. 1 and Michigan No. 2.
One interesting anecdote involves the Orange Bowl. It will select the highest-ranked non-champion from the Big Ten and SEC. Right now, that’s the Michigan-Ohio State loser. What’s unfortunate is it prevents a potential Ohio State-Alabama game. Also, the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion will play in either the Peach or Fiesta bowl.
One mid-tier game to watch: Wisconsin versus Auburn in the Music City Bowl.
One note: If the Big Ten competes in the Orange Bowl, then it forfeits its ReliaQuest Bowl spot to the ACC/Notre Dame.
With the lack of 6-6 qualifiers, it means both James Madison and Jacksonville State earn a bowl bid despite their transitional year from the FCS ranks. There is one projected 5-7 team to make it based on the highest APR score: Mississippi State.
Friendly reminder: Most bowls do not have to choose in order of conference standings. When you see Rutgers listed as “Big Ten No. 5,” it does not mean that we think the Scarlet Knights are the Big Ten’s fifth-place team, but rather that the Pinstripe Bowl uses its No. 5 pick to select them.
Another note: If ESPN is listed after a team, that means ESPN Events has the selection for that bowl game. ESPN Events owns and operates 18 bowls and picks from a pool of mostly Group of 5 teams.
The fine print:
*Replacement for a conference without enough eligible teams
**Projected 5-7 team
New Year’s Six
BowlDateTeamsLocationTime
Cotton
Dec. 29
Texas (Big 12) vs. Penn State (at-large)
Arlington, Texas
8 p.m.
Peach
Dec. 30
Missouri (at-large) vs. SMU (at-large)
Atlanta
Noon
Orange
Dec. 30
Louisville (ACC) vs. Ohio State (SEC/B1G/ND)
Miami
4 p.m.
Fiesta
Jan. 1
Washington (at-large) vs. Alabama (at-large)
Glendale, Ariz.
1 p.m.
Rose
Jan. 1
No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 Oregon
Pasadena, Calif.
5 p.m.
Sugar
Jan. 1
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Florida State
New Orleans
8:45 p.m.
Remaining Bowls
BowlDateTeamTeam
Independence
Dec. 16
Iowa State (Big 12 No. 7)
Texas State* (Pac-12 7)
LA Bowl
Dec. 16
UCLA (Pac-12 6)
UNLV (MWC 1)
New Mexico
Dec. 16
Wyoming (MWC)
New Mexico State (ESPN)
Cure
Dec. 16
USF (ESPN)
Coastal Carolina (ESPN)
New Orleans
Dec. 16
Louisiana (Sun Belt)
Jacksonville St. (C-USA)
Myrtle Beach
Dec. 16
James Madison (ESPN)
Ohio (ESPN)
Famous Toastery
Dec. 18
Applachian State (ESPN)
Western Kentucky (ESPN)
Frisco
Dec. 19
Arkansas State (ESPN)
Colorado State (ESPN)
Boca Raton
Dec. 21
Troy (ESPN)
Toledo (ESPN)
Gasparilla
Dec. 22
UCF (ESPN)
Georgia Tech (ACC/SEC)
Hawaii
Dec. 23
Boise State (MWC)
Rice (AAC)
Vegas
Dec. 23
Utah (Pac-12 3)
Maryland (Big Ten 3)
68 Ventures
Dec. 23
South Alabama (Sun Belt)
NIU (MAC)
Idaho Potato
Dec. 23
Utah State (MWC)
Georgia Southern (ESPN)
Armed Forces
Dec. 23
Texas Tech (Big 12 No. 8)
Air Force (ESPN)
Birmingham
Dec. 23
Tulane (ESPN)
Liberty* (SEC 9)
Camellia
Dec. 23
Bowling Green (ESPN)
Old Dominion (ESPN)
Guaranteed Rate
Dec. 26
Northwestern (Big Ten 6)
Kansas (Big 12 6)
First Responder
Dec. 26
San Jose State (ESPN)
Georgia State (ESPN)
Quick Lane
Dec. 26
Illinois (Big Ten 7)
Eastern Michigan (MAC)
Texas
Dec. 27
Oklahoma State (Big 12 4)
Texas A&M (SEC 3-8)
Holiday
Dec. 27
Clemson (ACC 3-5)
Oregon State (Pac-12 4)
Duke’s Mayo
Dec. 27
Kentucky (SEC 3-8)
Duke (ACC 6-8)
Military
Dec. 27
UTSA (AAC)
Virginia Tech (ACC 9)
Alamo
Dec. 28
Oklahoma (Big 12 2)
Arizona (Pac-12 2)
Pop Tarts
Dec. 28
Kansas State (Big 12 3)
NC State (ACC 3-5)
Pinstripe
Dec. 28
Rutgers (Big Ten 5)
Boston College (ACC 6-8)
Fenway
Dec. 28
Syracuse (ACC 10)
Mississippi State** (AAC)
Liberty
Dec. 29
West Virginia (Big 12 5)
Memphis* (SEC 3-8)
Sun
Dec. 29
Miami (ACC 6-8)
USC (Pac-12 5)
Gator
Dec. 29
North Carolina (ACC 3-5)
Tennessee (SEC 3-8)
Arizona
Dec. 30
Fresno State (MWC)
Miami of Ohio (MAC)
Music City
Dec. 30
Wisconsin (Big Ten 4)
Auburn (SEC 3-8)
Citrus
Jan. 1
Iowa (Big Ten No. 2)
Ole Miss (SEC No. 2)
ReliaQuest
Jan. 1
Notre Dame (ACC No. 2)
LSU (SEC 3-8)
(Photo: Ric Tapia / Getty Images)
2023-11-21 13:05:09
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