New Year’s Six Bowl Projections: Week 12
– The College Football Playoff committee wants to create the best matchups possible. Geography will matter, 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
This hasn’t changed over the last few weeks. Ole Miss took care of business against Mississippi State to be the third-best SEC team, and the winner of the ACC Championship will likely fit in here. No matter if it’s Pitt or Wake Forest, demand a whole lot of fireworks.
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
Like the Peach Bowl projection, this also hasn’t changed for a while. Michigan State is here unless something crazy happens – like Iowa beats Michigan for the Big Ten championship – and Notre Dame gets a disappointing consolation prize after finishing fifth in a four team College Football Playoff rankings race.
Rose Bowl Game
Saturday, January 1
ESPN, 5:00 pm
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Bowl Tie-Ins: Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Bowl Projection: Ohio State vs Oregon
Last Year: Alabama 31, Notre Dame 14
Here’s the one big change in the bunch, and it stinks. Going to the Rose Bowl is never disappointing, but Ohio State and Oregon in a rematch of the early season showdown is. Ohio State vs Utah – if the Utes win the Pac-12 championship – would be entertaining.
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
Alabama has played the second half of the season like it’s destined to go through the motions in a high-end-not-CFP bowl, and Baylor just doesn’t provide the national interest pop that Oklahoma or even Oklahoma State would. Even so, this might turn out to be among the most competitive of the NewYear’s Six bowls if it keeps playing like it has over the last few weeks.