Tag: NCAA Bowl Projections

Notre Dame’s bowl outlook still peachy according to ESPN

Hot-lanta?

Although the Irish have finally gotten an early signature win over Wisconsin, there really hasn’t been much change to how they’re viewed for a bowl destination. The projections before the season, many of which had Notre Dame heading to the Peach Bowl, haven’t changed.

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Today, ESPN released their updated bowl projections (insider) and both Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach have the Irish heading to Atlanta to partake in the Peach Bowl. The difference between the two are who they’ll play in a New Year’s Six game.

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Schlabach has the Irish facing off against Wake Forest, not the most intriguing opponent. Currently the Demon Deacons are just inside both polls. That matchup really doesn’t move the needle for me too much.

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Bonagura on the other hand has the Irish potentially facing Florida, which would be a Top-10 matchup. This game would bring many more eyes, as Notre Dame facing off against an SEC opponent would be a great measuring stick.

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The season is just in it’s early stages so these projections are exactly what they are, projections. It is fun to see where and who the Irish could play in the offseason however.

The latest USA TODAY bowl projections see Wisconsin facing a familiar foe

The Badgers are projected to a face a familiar Pac-12 opponent

If there is one out of conference team that Wisconsin fans, in both basketball and football, have become well acquainted with in recent years, it’s the school in Eugene, Oregon with as many uniform combinations as the entire Big Ten combined.

In USA TODAY’s latest 2020 bowl projection, Wisconsin has a trip to the Fiesta Bowl against none other than the Oregon Ducks. Given the fact that the Rose Bowl is a College Football Playoff game this season, the two would potentially meet as at-large bids in the Fiesta Bowl on January 2.

Wisconsin fans still have fresh images of questionable pass interference calls, Oregon QB Justin Herbert running wild, and dropped punts in their minds after a tough loss to the Ducks in the 2020 Rose Bowl. A rematch with Oregon would certainly have a different edge to it than other at-large matchups for the Badgers this bowl season.

Big Ten’s return shakes up ESPN’s Bowl Projections, Irish going where?

With the impending return of the Big Ten, there was some change in ESPN’s Bowl Projections.

The Irish are riding high after a very impressive win against South Florida yesterday, blanking the Bulls 52-0. Even with the dominant performance it wasn’t enough for two ESPN analysts to project the Irish into the College Football Playoff.

Mark Schlabach and Kyle Bonagura have Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Ohio State in different orders, but all playing for a championship. Both of them also have a Alabama and Clemson battling it out once again for the crown.

Now for the Irish, it’s not exactly where they want to be. The return of the Big Ten makes the margin for error razor thin and it seems like Schlabach and Bonagura don’t have faith the Irish can make it past Clemson.

The both agree on Notre Dame’ bowl destination, the Orange Bowl against Florida. Yes, it’s a New Years Six game, but it’s not the one the Irish want to play in. It’s a very good consolation prize, but not the grand prize. If the Irish can beat Clemson, they’d have a great chance at crashing the CFP party.