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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.
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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: Minnesota.
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
| Bowl | Date | Teams | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
| Bowl | Date | Team | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
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) | Minnesota** (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)