Tuesday, December 3, 2013

College Football Bowl Projections - December 3, 2013

It is Championship Game Week, sprinkled with bedlam and a few other meaningful games.  Speculating on bowl destinations is commonplace and I am always willing to put my spin on things.  I am going to provide 4 sets of projections, just so one can see how it might play out.  In all projections, I am assuming a Florida State victory over Duke.  I am also going on record picking Missouri to win the SEC Championship, Arizona State to win the PAC 12 Championship and Oklahoma State to win Bedlam.

PROJECTION #1 (Ohio State wins, Northern Illinois wins and Michigan State stays in Top 14)

BCS National Championship Game:  Florida State Seminoles vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Rose Bowl:  Arizona State Sun Devils vs Michigan State Spartans
Sugar Bowl:  Missouri Tigers vs UCF Golden Knights
Orange Bowl:  Clemson Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide
Fiesta Bowl:  Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Northern Illinois Huskies

The Orange Bowl will be silly not to pick Alabama to replace Florida State in all scenarios. The Rose will take Michigan State if they are in the Top 14. Finally, I believe the Orange will stay true to their ACC tie and take a very good 2-loss Clemson team.

PROJECTION #2 (Ohio State loses, Northern Illinois wins)

BCS National Championship Game: Florida State Seminoles vs Missouri Tigers
Rose Bowl: Arizona State Sun Devils vs Michigan State Spartans
Sugar Bowl:  Ohio State Buckeyes vs UCF Golden Knights
Orange Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Northern Illinois Huskies

 The only change in these two scenarios is the flip between Ohio State and Missouri (or Auburn for those that disagree with me on the SEC result).  The rest of the bowls could shake-out like this for both of these Projections...

Capital One Bowl:  Auburn Tigers vs Wisconsin Badgers
Cotton Bowl:  Texas A&M Aggies vs Baylor Bears
Alamo Bowl:  Oregon Ducks vs Oklahoma Sooners
Outback Bowl:  South Carolina Gamecocks vs Iowa Hawkeyes
Russell Athletic Bowl:  Louisville Cardinals vs Miami Hurricanes
Chick Fil-A Bowl:  LSU Tigers vs Duke Blue Devils
Holiday Bowl:  Stanford Cardinal vs Kansas State Wildcats
Sun Bowl:  UCLA Bruins vs Virginia Tech Hokies
Gator Bowl:  Georgia Bulldogs vs Michigan Wolverines
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl:  Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Texas Longhorns
Music City Bowl:  Ole Miss Rebels vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Belk Bowl:  North Carolina Tar Heels vs Cincinnati Bearcats
Advocare V100 Bowl:  Boston College Eagles vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Pinstripe Bowl:  Rutgers Scarlett Knights vs Maryland Terrapins
Military Bowl:  East Carolina Pirates vs Pittsburgh Panthers
Liberty Bowl:  Vanderbilt Commodores vs Marshall Thundering Herd
Las Vegas Bowl:  USC Trojans vs Fresno State Bulldogs
Texas Bowl:  Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl:  BYU Cougars vs Washington Huskies
New Mexico Bowl:  Arizona Wildcats vs Boise State Broncos
Armed Forces Bowl:  Navy Midshipmen vs Utah State Aggies
Poinsettia Bowl:  San Diego State Aztecs vs Toledo Rockets
Hawaii Bowl:  Rice Owls vs UNLV Running Rebels
Heart of Dallas Bowl:  North Texas Mean Green vs Syracuse Orange
Beef O'Brady's Bowl:  Middle Tennesse State Blue Raiders vs Ohio Bobcats
New Orleans Bowl:  Tulane Green Wave vs Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Little Caesars Bowl: Bowling Green Falcons vs Washington State Cougars
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Ball State Cardinals vs Arkansas State Red Wolves
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl:  Buffalo Bulls vs Colorado State Rams
BBVA Compass Bowl:  Houston Cougars vs Mississippi State Bulldogs

PROJECTION #3 (Ohio State wins, Northern Illinois wins, Michigan State falls out of top 14)

BCS National Championship Game: Florida State Seminoles vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Rose Bowl: Arizona State Sun Devils vs Baylor Bears
Sugar Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs UCF Golden Knights
Orange Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Northern Illinois Huskies

The Rose Bowl will be left to choose between Baylor and Clemson if the Orange snatches up Alabama, leaving an odd Rose Bowl match-up.  I am not sure Michigan State can fall 5 spots, but it is has a trickle-down effect if it does...including a possible change for Notre Dame.  The Irish would prefer a warm weather destination, and the Holiday Bowl might be willing to negotiate a deal to take them over Texas Tech with other Big 12 ties left in the hopper. 

Capital One Bowl: Auburn Tigers vs Michigan State Spartans
Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs Texas Longhorns
Alamo Bowl: Oregon Ducks vs Oklahoma Sooners
Outback Bowl: South Carolina Gamecocks vs Wisconsin Badgers
Russell Athletic Bowl: Louisville Cardinals vs Miami Hurricanes
Chick Fil-A Bowl: LSU Tigers vs Duke Blue Devils
Holiday Bowl:  UCLA Bruins vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Sun Bowl:  Stanford Cardinal vs Virginia Tech Hokies
Gator Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs Iowa Hawkeyes
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Kansas State Wildcats
Music City Bowl: Ole Miss Rebels vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Belk Bowl: North Carolina Tar Heels vs Cincinnati Bearcats
Advocare V100 Bowl: Boston College Eagles vs Washington State Cougars
Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers Scarlett Knights vs Maryland Terrapins
Military Bowl: East Carolina Pirates vs Pittsburgh Panthers
Liberty Bowl: Vanderbilt Commodores vs Marshall Thundering Herd
Las Vegas Bowl: USC Trojans vs Fresno State Bulldogs
Texas Bowl:  Michigan Wolverines vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: BYU Cougars vs Washington Huskies
New Mexico Bowl: Arizona Wildcats vs Boise State Broncos
Armed Forces Bowl: Navy Midshipmen vs Utah State Aggies
Poinsettia Bowl: San Diego State Aztecs vs Toledo Rockets
Hawaii Bowl: Rice Owls vs UNLV Running Rebels
Heart of Dallas Bowl: North Texas Mean Green vs Minnesota Golden Gophers
Beef O'Brady's Bowl: Middle Tennesse State Blue Raiders vs Ohio Bobcats
New Orleans Bowl: Tulane Green Wave vs Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Little Caesars Bowl: Bowling Green Falcons vs Syracuse Orange
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Ball State Cardinals vs Arkansas State Red Wolves
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Buffalo Bulls vs Colorado State Rams
BBVA Compass Bowl: Houston Cougars vs Mississippi State Bulldogs

PROJECTION #4 (Ohio State wins, Northern Illinois loses, Michigan State stays in Top 14)

BCS National Championship Game: Florida State Seminoles vs Ohio State Buckeyes
Rose Bowl: Arizona State Sun Devils vs Michigan State Spartans
Sugar Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs Baylor Bears
Orange Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs UCF Golden Knights

Similar in concept, Baylor is once again added to the mix.  If the Bears lose to Texas, Oregon becomes the next best option in this scenario.

Capital One Bowl: Auburn Tigers vs Wisconsin Badgers
Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs Texas Longhorns
Alamo Bowl: Oregon Ducks vs Oklahoma Sooners
Outback Bowl: South Carolina Gamecocks vs Iowa Hawkeyes
Russell Athletic Bowl: Louisville Cardinals vs Miami Hurricanes
Chick Fil-A Bowl: LSU Tigers vs Duke Blue Devils
Holiday Bowl:  UCLA Brunis vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Sun Bowl:  Stanford Cardinal vs Virginia Tech Hokies
Gator Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs Michigan Wolverines
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Kansas State Wildcats
Music City Bowl: Ole Miss Rebels vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Belk Bowl: North Carolina Tar Heels vs Cincinnati Bearcats
Advocare V100 Bowl: Boston College Eagles vs Oregon State Beavers
Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers Scarlett Knights vs Maryland Terrapins
Military Bowl: East Carolina Pirates vs Pittsburgh Panthers
Liberty Bowl: Vanderbilt Commodores vs Marshall Thundering Herd
Las Vegas Bowl: USC Trojans vs Fresno State Bulldogs
Texas Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Texas Tech Red Raiders
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: BYU Cougars vs Washington Huskies
New Mexico Bowl: Arizona Wildcats vs San Diego State Aztecs
Armed Forces Bowl: Navy Midshipmen vs Utah State Aggies
Poinsettia Bowl:  Boise State Broncos vs Northern Illinois Huskies
Hawaii Bowl: Rice Owls vs UNLV Running Rebels
Heart of Dallas Bowl: North Texas Mean Green vs Syracuse Orange
Beef O'Brady's Bowl: Middle Tennesse State Blue Raiders vs Toledo Rockets
New Orleans Bowl: Tulane Green Wave vs Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns
Little Caesars Bowl: Buffalo Bulls vs Washington State Cougars
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Bowling Green Falcons vs Arkansas State Red Wolves
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Ball State Cardinals vs Colorado State Rams
BBVA Compass Bowl: Houston Cougars vs Mississippi State Bulldogs

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