This week’s bowl projections include several new teams in the 70 team field, including a shake up in the College Football Playoff. Every matchup is below.

Celebration Bowl (Dec. 12 at 12 PM EST)

South Carolina State vs Alabama State

Arizona Bowl (TBD)

UMass vs UNLV

Salute to Veterans Bowl (Dec. 15 at 5:30 PM EST)

UAB vs Miami OH

Frisco Football Classic (Dec. 15 at 9 PM EST)

Arkansas State vs Ohio

Boca Raton Bowl (Dec.18 at 11 AM EST)

Middle Tennessee State vs South Alabama

Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 18 at 2:30 PM EST)

Appalachian State vs UConn

Myrtle Beach Bowl (Dec. 21 at 11 AM EST)

Georgia State vs Florida Atlantic

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 21 at 2:30 PM EST)

Toledo vs Wyoming

Puerto Rico Bowl (Dec. 22 at 1:30 PM EST)

Troy vs Tulane

Cure Bowl (Dec. 22 at 5 PM EST)

Western Michigan vs Liberty

Independence Bowl (Dec. 22 at 8:30 PM EST)

Tulsa vs Arizona State

New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 23 at 2 PM EST)

Jacksonville State vs Louisiana

Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 23 at 5:30 PM EST)

UCF vs Army

Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 23 at 7:30 PM EST)

North Dakota State vs Colorado State

Frisco Bowl (Dec. 23 at 9 PM EST)

Delaware vs Texas State

New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 24 at 2:30 PM EST)

New Mexico vs Florida International

Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24 at 7 PM EST)

UTSA vs Fresno State

Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 26 at 12 PM EST)

Pittsburgh vs Wisconsin

Fenway Bowl (Dec. 26 at 2 PM EST)

Duke vs South Florida

Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Dec. 26 at 3:30 PM EST)

Virginia vs Michigan

68 Ventures Bowl (Dec. 26 at 5:30 PM EST)

Marshall vs North Texas

Cactus Bowl (Dec. 26 at 7:30 PM EST)

Northwestern vs Cincinnati

Military Bowl (Dec. 28 at 2 PM EST)

Clemson vs Memphis

Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28 at 5 PM EST)

Virginia Tech vs USC

Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 29 at 2 PM EST)

Auburn vs James Madison

Pop Tarts Bowl (Dec. 29 at 5:30 PM EST)

Wake Forest vs Houston

Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29 at 9 PM EST)

Oklahoma State vs UCLA

Gator Bowl (Dec. 30 at 11:30 PM EST)

Louisville vs LSU

Music City Bowl (Dec. 30 at 3 PM EST)

Nebraska vs Kentucky

Reliaquest Bowl (Dec. 31 at 12 PM EST)

Penn State vs Mississippi State

Sun Bowl (Dec. 31 at 2 PM EST)

SMU vs Arizona

Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 31 at 3:45 PM EST)

Oregon vs Tennessee

Texas Bowl (Dec. 31 at 7:30 PM EST)

West Virginia vs Missouri

Citrus Bowl (Jan. 2 at 12 PM EST)

Iowa vs Ole Miss

First Responder Bowl (Jan. 2 at 3:30 PM EST)

Minnesota vs Air Force

Liberty Bowl (Jan 2. At 7:30 PM EST)

Baylor vs Texas A&M

CFP First Round:

8/9:

Utah vs BYU

Photo Courtesy BYU Athletics

The Holy War. This could very well be a rematch of the Big 12 championship. Two of the top teams in the conference collide in the first round of the CFP, and I give Utah the edge here as the higher seed and the Big 12 champion.

5/12:

Notre Dame vs Boise State

Photo Courtesy Boise State Athletics

Falling a few spots in my rankings this week, Notre Dame finds themselves playing in a first round game against the Pac-12 champions, Boise State. The Broncos showed that they can hang with Oregon a few weeks ago, and while I expect them to be competitive, Notre Dame is all around a stronger and deeper team.

7/10:

Alabama vs Florida

Photo Courtesy Alabama Athletics

With two of the most explosive offenses facing off here, this would be the highest scoring game of the first round. Alabama’s defense concerns me in this type of game, while Florida has shown that their defense can hold up against good offenses, like they did against Ole Miss this past weekend.

6/11:

Indiana vs Texas Tech

Photo Courtesy Alabama Athletics

Indiana also falls after a shaky performance against Northwestern and hosts Texas Tech in the first round. Josh Hoover gets to face off against his former conference in a game that Indiana should cruise in. Texas Tech has not looked like they did last year, but they still manage to be the last team in the playoff in this scenario.

CFP Quarterfinals:

Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30 at 7:30 PM EST)

3 Texas vs Indiana

Despite beating Tennessee on the road, Texas does not look like a dominant No. 1 team in the country. Their defensive line is what will win them games in the playoffs, but with an experienced quarterback on the other end, the Longhorns will have their work cut out for them on both sides of the ball. I have Indiana advancing in this one.

Peach Bowl (Jan 1. at TBD)

2 Georgia vs Florida

We will get to see this matchup in a few weeks before a rematch in the playoffs in this scenario. Georgia has the all-around experience that Florida does not have, and I think that will boost the Bulldogs to advancing to the semifinals.

Cotton Bowl (Jan. 1 at TBD)

1 Miami vs Utah

No change here from last week’s projections. I still have Miami beating Utah.

Rose Bowl (Jan 1. at TBD)

4 Ohio State vs Notre Dame

The last time the Buckeyes were playing in the Rose Bowl, Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith put on a show against Oregon. The appearance before that saw CJ Stroud and Jaxon Smith-Njigba setting records for the bowl game with their performances. The point is that Ohio State always comes to play in Pasadena and will push Notre Dame on their backs early on to win this one.

CFP Semifinals:

Orange Bowl (Jan 14. at 7:30 PM EST)

Miami vs Ohio State

Sugar Bowl (Jam 15. At 7:30 PM EST)

Georgia vs Indiana

Conference Winners:

ACC

Miami

American

Tulsa

Big 12

Utah

Big Ten

Ohio State

CUSA

Liberty

MAC

Western Michigan

Mountain West

North Dakota State

Pac-12

Boise State

SEC

Georgia

Sun Belt

James Madison

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