Washington had to wait but one week to jump into the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings. We are fast approaching the mid-point of November, which means bowl season shall make its presences known soon. Here are the LWOS Bowl Projections Week 10.
College Football Playoff
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
CFP Semifinal
#1 Alabama vs. #4 Washington
Fiesta Bowl
CFP Semifinal
#2 Michigan vs. #3 Clemson
National Championship Game
#1 Alabama vs. #2 Michigan
SEC Champion Alabama is in, even with a loss. If Auburn takes them out in the Iron Bowl, the CFP Committee would likely put both teams in the playoff.
The Big Ten Champion is in as well, with Michigan and Ohio State the likely recipients of a spot in the playoff from the conference.
Clemson has the fast track for the ACC Championship. If the Tigers finish off the regular season and the ACC Title Game to go 13 – 0, they are in.
Washington made its first appearance in the CFP Poll at number four. The above chaos scenario with two SEC schools in the CFP would likely put the Huskies on the outside looking in. As we have seen, the undefeated teams up top will be in the CFP if things hold sway. Washington will need to run the table to leave no doubt.
New Years Six Bowls
Rose Bowl
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Ohio State vs. Washington State
Sugar Bowl
Big 12 vs. SEC
Oklahoma vs. Auburn
Capital One Orange Bowl
ACC vs. Big Ten
Louisville vs. Wisconsin
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
At Large vs. At Large
Penn State vs. Western Michigan
Explanation
Penn State has come blasting into the national picture, especially since their upset win over Ohio State. The Nittany Lions appear to be on a roll to a 10 – 2 finish. I have three Big Ten teams in my New Year’s Six projections, due to an At-Large projection for Penn State.
If Boise State cannot win the Mountain West, they are not eligible for the New Year’s Six spot for the Group of Five. Wyoming and San Diego State are heading for one another in the Mountain West Title Game, and only the Aztecs will have a shot to get to the Cotton Bowl. Wyoming has two losses already, and Western Michigan is sitting atop the Group of Five at 9 – 0.
Bowl Season Projections
Outback Bowl
Big Ten vs. SEC
Nebraska vs. Texas A&M
TaxSlayer Bowl
SEC vs. ACC/Big Ten/Notre Dame
Arkansas vs. Florida State
Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl
SEC vs. ACC/Big Ten/Notre Dame
Florida vs. Virginia Tech
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
ACC/Big Ten vs. SEC
Minnesota vs. Tennessee
Hyundai Sun Bowl
ACC/Notre Dame vs. Pac-12
Pitt vs. USC
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Big 12 vs. SEC
TCU vs. Georgia
Arizona Bowl
Mountain West vs. Sun Belt
New Mexico vs. Idaho
Valero Alamo Bowl
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Oklahoma State vs. Utah
Belk Bowl
ACC vs. SEC
Miami (FL) vs. Kentucky
Birmingham Bowl
AAC vs. SEC
Tulsa vs. Ole Miss
AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl
Big 12 vs. SEC
Texas vs. LSU
Foster Farms Bowl
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Indiana vs. Stanford
Russell Athletic Bowl
ACC vs. Big 12
UNC vs. West Virginia
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
ACC/Notre Dame vs. Big Ten
Georgia Tech vs. Maryland
Cactus Bowl
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Baylor vs. California
Holiday Bowl
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Northwestern vs. Colorado
Military Bowl
AAC vs. ACC
Memphis vs. Wake
Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl
Big Ten vs. C-USA
Texas Tech * vs. UT San Antonio
Camping World Independence Bowl
ACC vs. SEC
Boston College ** vs. South Carolina
Quick Lane Bowl
ACC vs. Big Ten
Army * (**) vs. Iowa
St. Petersburg Bowl
AAC vs. ACC
South Florida vs. Arkansas State *
Hawai’i Bowl
C-USA vs. Mountain West
Old Dominion vs. Air Force
Dollar General Bowl
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Akron vs. Troy
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
AAC vs. Big 12
Navy vs. Kansas State
Popeyes Bahamas Bowl
C-USA vs. MAC
Southern Mississippi vs. Ohio
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
MAC vs. Mountain West
Toledo vs. Wyoming
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
BYU vs. Mountain West
BYU vs. Colorado State
Marmot Boca Raton Bowl
AAC vs. C-USA
Temple vs. Western Kentucky
Miami Beach Bowl
AAC vs. MAC
Houston vs. Eastern Michigan
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
C-USA vs. Sun Belt
Middle Tennessee vs. Appalachian State
AutoNation Cure Bowl
AAC vs. Sun Belt
Central Florida vs. South Alabama
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Miami (OH) vs. Georgia Southern
Las Vegas Bowl
Mountain West vs. Pac-12
San Diego State vs. Arizona State
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
C-USA vs. Mountain West
Louisiana Tech vs. Boise State
Explanation
I’m leaving Boston College and Army as my Academic Progress Rate beneficiaries this week.
I have the ACC two teams short in their fulfillment, with Army and Arkansas State filling in. With the Big Ten in the Orange Bowl, the ACC will land in the Citrus Bowl. The Quick Lane and St. Petersburg have the last selections in the Tier Two ACC Bowls.
Given that Boston College may need the APR waiver to go bowling, the bottom two bowls will select other eligible teams to fill in. I do not foresee more than one ACC team receiving the APR waiver.
* = Replacement team
** = APR waiver
