Last Word On College Football Week 13 Bowl Projections
“Rivalry Week” lived up to its billing as it was another crazy week in college football. There was a major injury and some upsets along the way. How does that affect this week’s picks? Let’s find out as we begin the Last Word On College Football Week 13 bowl projections. As always we start with the playoffs.
College Football Playoffs
Cotton Bowl- December 29th- Alabama versus Ohio State. If the playoffs were today this would be Alabama versus Georgia. However, we are basing our picks on how we believe things will play out. The committee has a tough decision between the Buckeyes and Oklahoma. In addition, Urban Meyer’s team still has to beat Northwestern in the Big 10 Championship.
There’s no doubt about the Crimson Tide as they blitzed Auburn 52-21 in the Iron Bowl. Tua Tagovailoa accounted for six touchdowns to cement his Heisman Trophy resume.
Orange Bowl- December 29th- Clemson versus Notre Dame. This is one of two games which stayed the same from last week. The Tigers knocked off in-state rival South Carolina while the Fighting Irish outlasted USC knocking the Trojans out of bowl contention in the process.
Notre Dame is done for the regular season and must wait until Selection Sunday. Clemson faces Pittsburgh in the ACC title game Saturday.
National Championship- January 8th- Alabama versus Clemson. These have been the two best teams all season and there’s no reason to think they won’t meet for the third time in four years for the championship. However, all signs still point to yet another title for Nick Saban.
As we head into the New Year’s Six games, here is where things get very interesting. Not only did several teams lose but a major injury could affect one of the games.
New Year’s Six Bowls
Peach Bowl- December 29th- LSU versus Washington State. Both teams are coming off tough losses. The Tigers lost 74-72 in seven overtimes to Texas A&M. Given the nature of the loss, it’s difficult to drop them out of the top 12.
The Cougars were defeated 28-15 by Washington in the battle for the Apple Cup in a snowstorm. In addition, Penn State can make a case to be here but for now, we are keeping Washington State here.
Rose Bowl- January 1st- Michigan versus Washington. As previously mentioned, the Huskies are the favorites to land here from the Pac-12. They do have to beat Utah in their title game.
As a result of their blowout loss to Ohio State, the Wolverines are now pegged as the Big 10 representative.
Fiesta Bowl- January 1st- Florida versus Central Florida. This is a huge game for bragging rights in the Sunshine State. However, the Knights chances took a major hit when star quarterback McKenzie Milton went down with a severe leg injury.
Sophomore Darriel Mack leads them into the AAC Championship against Memphis on Saturday. Should they lose look for Boise State to move up as a result of being the highest ranked group of five team.
Sugar Bowl- January 1st- Oklahoma versus Georgia. The Sooners played their way into the Big 12 title game by beating West Virginia in a shootout. The Bulldogs get a chance to play king slayer when they take on Alabama in the SEC Title game. This matchup remains unchanged from previous weeks.
The decision between Ohio State and Oklahoma is going to be discussed heavily this week. While the Buckeyes have a better win than the Sooners they also have a worse loss. Make no mistake this could go either way come Sunday. However, for now, we are going with the Buckeyes.
Time to look at the New Year’s set of games as we continue with the Last Word On College Football Week 13 bowl projections.
Remaining Upper Tier Bowls
Citrus Bowl- January 1st- Kentucky Versus Penn State. The first nine-win regular season since 1977 earns the Wildcats their first New Year’s Day game in 20 years.
As a result of Washington moving into the Rose Bowl, the Nittany Lions are now the first team out. This will be a rematch of the 1999 Outback Bowl won by Penn State 26-14. Should LSU get squeezed out they end up here and everyone in the SEC moves down a game.
Outback Bowl- January 1st- Mississippi State versus Iowa. It’s a difficult decision between the Bulldogs and Texas A&M as to who plays here. Both teams finished the season 8-4, however, Joe Moorhead’s squad won 28-13 earlier this year so they get the nod.
TaxSlayer Bowl- December 31st- Texas A&M versus Michigan State
Holiday Bowl- December 31st- Northwestern versus Oregon
Liberty Bowl- December 31st- Oklahoma State versus Vanderbilt. While he won’t be in the coach of the year discussion no one has done a better job than Derek Mason. The trip to Memphis is the second bowl game under Mason for the Commodores.
Redbox Bowl- December 31st- Stanford versus Wisconsin
Sun Bowl- December 31st- Boston College versus Arizona State
Military Bowl- December 31st- Georgia Tech versus Cincinnati
As we head through the next set of games there is one big thing to remember. Right now there is more bowl-eligible teams than there are slots. In addition, you have to include Virginia Tech who plays Marshall this weekend to attempt to get six wins. As a result, some teams will be left out. It is much like the NCAA’s basketball tournament, which is better a mediocre power five school or a strong mid-major?
Middle Tier Bowl Games
Arizona Bowl- December 29th- Fresno State versus Arkansas State
Belk Bowl- December 29th- Pittsburgh versus South Carolina
Alamo Bowl- December 28th- Texas versus Utah. The two teams who don’t win their respective championship games meet in San Antonio.
Camping World Bowl- December 28th- Syracuse versus West Virginia. What a matchup this would be featuring two teams who were looking at New Year’s six games a couple of weeks ago.
Music City Bowl- December 28th- North Carolina State versus Missouri
Texas Bowl- December 27th- TCU versus Auburn
Pinstripe Bowl- December 27th- Duke versus Minnesota
Independence Bowl- December 27th- Miami (FL) versus UAB
Cheez-It Bowl- December 26th- Iowa State versus Utah State
Quick Lane Bowl- December 26th- Virginia Tech versus Purdue. As a result of beating Virginia on Saturday, the Hokies now have a chance to keep their bowl streak alive by defeating Marshall.
First Responder Bowl- December 26th- Army versus Wake Forest
Now, it’s time to check out the last tier of games as we continue with the Last Word On College Football Week 13 bowl projections. As always there are some interesting contests on paper.
Lower Tier Bowl Games
Hawaii Bowl- December 22nd- Hawaii versus Marshall
Dollar General Bowl- December 22nd- Buffalo versus Georgia Southern
Armed Forces Bowl- December 22nd- Temple versus Baylor
Birmingham Bowl- December 22nd- Memphis versus BYU
Idaho Potato Bowl- December 21st- Nevada versus Northern Illinois
Bahamas Bowl- December 21st- Middle Tennessee versus Toledo
Gasparilla Bowl- December 20th- Houston versus Southern Mississippi
Frisco Bowl- December 19th- Tulane versus Ohio
Boca Raton Bowl- December 18th- Florida International versus South Florida
New Orleans Bowl- December 15th- Louisiana Tech versus Appalachian State
Cameilla Bowl- December 15th- Eastern Michigan versus Troy
Las Vegas Bowl- December 15th- Boise State versus California. As it stands right now the Broncos are playing in this game. However, if Central Florida loses to Memphis then they likely move up to a New Year’s Six Bowl.
Cure Bowl- December 15th- Tulane versus Louisiana-Lafayette
New Mexico Bowl- December 15th- Nevada versus North Texas
Thanks for checking out the Last Word On College Football Week 13 bowl projections. Before all the games are announced next Sunday we will be back with one more update.
