College Bowl Projections Identifies New Year’s Six Bowls Favorites
Posted by Eric Williams on Friday,October 28, 2016 1:42, EDT in
If you’re fired about the 2016 college football season and you’d like to know which title contenders are set to reach the four-team CFB Playoff and which ones are likely going to make appearances in the other New Year’s day Bowl Six matchups, then you’ve come to the right place.
My expert college bowl game predictions will identify the handful of teams that could find their way into the most coveted bowl games in all of college football. With that said, let’s get started.
Analyzing The College Bowl Projections Identifies New Year’s Six Bowls Favorites
Bowl Game – Date – Location – Matchup – Projection
Peach Bowl (CFB Semifinal) – Dec. 31 – Atlanta – TBD – Alabama vs. Washington
Analysis: Right now, the top-ranked Huskies look like they’d take on No. 4 Washington in the Peach Bowl semifinal. While the Alabama Crimson Tide get a ton of national love for their perennially powerful ways, I’m going on record to say that Washington looks like a team that could beat anyone – the Tide included. The Huskies are ranked fourth in scoring (48.2 ppg) and sixth in points allowed (14.5 ppg).
Fiesta Bowl (CFB Semifinal) – Dec. 31 – Glendale, Ariz. – TBD – Michigan vs. Clemson
If they both win out from this point, the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines and No. 3 Clemson Tigers would meet up in the Fiesta Bowl semis. Personally, I don’t see how the Wolverines, even with their elite defense, stop Deshaun Watson and company from making back-to-back national championship game appearances.
Orange Bowl – Dec. 30 – Miami – ACC vs. Big Ten/SEC/ND – Louisville vs. Wisconsin
While I currently have No. 5 Louisville set to participate in the 2016 Orange Bowl, I think it’s quite possible the Cardinals could still make a push for the CFB playoff – if they win out an some other top title contenders struggle or lose outright. I love Wisconsin and their stout defense, but I believe the Badgers’ lack of scoring will come back to bite them in the rear end.
Cotton Bowl – Jan. 2 – Arlington, Texas – TBD – Boise State vs. West Virginia
If one – or both – of these national title hopefuls go unbeaten, they could get serious consideration for a berth in the four-team CFB Playoff. The more likely scenario is that voters screw both teams over, putting them in this New Year’s Day Bowl Six matchup.
Rose Bowl – Jan. 2 – Pasadena, Calif. – Big Ten vs. Pac-12 – Ohio State vs. Utah
If this pairing takes place between the currently sixth-ranked Buckeyes and 17th-ranked Utes, then the SU pick for an Ohio State win is a virtual lock!
Sugar Bowl – Jan. 2 – New Orleans – SEC vs. Big 12 – Texas A&M vs. Baylor
This Lone Star State matchup looks like a flat-out thriller just waiting to happen – if Baylor doesn’t run the table to challenge for a berth in the four-team CFB Playoff that is. Texas A&M still has hopes of reaching the four-team playoff, but the Aggies would need a ton of favorable circumstances happen for that to become a reality.
