New Year’s Six Bowl Projections: Week 10
– The College Football Playoff committee wants to create the best matchups possible. Geography will matter a wee bit.
– All Power Five conferences get a team into either the New Year’s Six or the College Football Playoff. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC all get a top team into one of the big games, and the top-ranked Group of Five champion is in, too.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Thursday, December 30
ESPN, 7:00 pm
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Bowl Tie-Ins: At-Large vs. At-Large
Bowl Projection: Michigan State vs Notre Dame
Last Year: Georgia 24, Cincinnati 21
The Purdue win over Michigan State changed the Big Ten track, but the Spartans should be able to win just enough – and probably lose to Ohio State – to get to 10-2 and here against a Notre Dame squad that will come really, really close to the final top four.
Playstation Fiesta Bowl
Saturday, January 1
ESPN, 1:00 pm
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
Bowl Tie-Ins: At-Large vs. At-Large
Bowl Projection: NC State vs Texas A&M
Last Year: Iowa State 34, Oregon 17
NC State, at Clemson, at Boston College. That’s what Wake Forest has yet to deal with. Assume the winner of the battle between the Demon Deacons and Wolfpack ends up here as long as it can take care of business against – most likely – Pitt in the ACC Championship.
Texas A&M has at Ole Miss, Prairie View A&M, and LSU to close things out. If it wins all three games, it’s here. If it doesn’t, pencil in BYU for this spot.
Rose Bowl Game
Saturday, January 1
ESPN, 5:00 pm
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Bowl Projection: Michigan vs Oregon
Last Year: Alabama 31, Notre Dame 14
Oregon will end up playing Utah twice – most likely. It’ll lose in Salt Lake City, but will get the revenge in the Pac-12 Championship.
Michigan will get by road games against Penn State and Maryland, but the annual loss to Ohio State will ruin any Big Ten title hopes. Getting here would still be huge for the Jim Harbaugh era.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Saturday, January 1
ESPN, 8:45 pm
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big 12 vs. SEC
Bowl Projection: Oklahoma State vs Alabama
Last Year: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28
All of the different scenarios have contingency plans just in case Alabama gets by Georgia in the SEC Championship. Don’t assume that’s happening. Oklahoma State will beat Oklahoma the first time at the end of the regular season, but it won’t get it done in the Big 12 Championship.