New Year’s Six Bowl Projections: Week 12
– The College Football Playoff committee wants to create the best matchups possible. Geography will matter a wee bit, but it’s all about creating the best matchups possible.
– 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: Ole Miss vs Pitt
Last Year: Georgia 24, Cincinnati 21
The winner of the ACC Championship will be here – don’t be shocked it we’re getting Clemson vs Notre Dame. The Irish could be here no matter what, but the best guess will be that the Atlanta bowl will get the highest-ranked SEC team possible. Besides, Matt Corral vs Kenny Pickett – it would be the most fun bowl o the season.
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: Michigan State vs Notre Dame
Last Year: Iowa State 34, Oregon 17
The Irish will be really, really close to getting into the College Football Playoff, but will come up just short. Again, they could be in the Peach, but the idea of Michigan State vs Notre Dame would be cool. This only happens if the Spartans beat Penn State.
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
There are several ways Michigan doesn’t go to the Rose Bowl – most involve the Big Ten West winning the Big Ten championship – but as long as the date with Ohio State isn’t a total wipeout, Jim Harbaugh should be in Pasadena.
It’s very, very possible a dinged up Oregon loses to Oregon State, but we know how the narrative goes. Oregon loses November road game, Oregon gets to Pac-12 Championship, Oregon wins Pac-12 Championship, Oregon beats random Big Ten team in Rose Bowl.
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: Baylor vs Alabama
Last Year: Ohio State 49, Clemson 28
Nah, a two-loss Alabama isn’t getting in … maybe. It’s almost certainly here with a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship. Baylor is the more interesting case.
A Big 12 team has to be here. The call is that Oklahoma State beats Oklahoma this weekend, Baylor takes care of Texas Tech, and it’s Cowboys – Bears for the Big 12 title. The committee will still rank Baylor over OU for the head-to-head win.