Predicting end-of-season bowl matchups is a bit of a guessing game right now. The number of FBS squads competing this fall has shrunk from 130 to 76, meaning that not all 43 bowl games will be able to be filled.
The lack of participation from the Big Ten and Pac-12 will also impact conference tie-ins for these matchups, making it extremely difficult to project postseason matchups.
USA TODAY Sports tried its hand, however, releasing predicted matchups for this season’s College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six Bowl games.
The Gators make an appearance here, projected to make a return trip to Miami for the Orange Bowl, which they won over Virginia last season. This time around, college sports editor Erick Smith foresees a matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who are usually a football independent but will be competing in the ACC this fall.
With the smaller field of teams, the SEC has a good representation in these predictions, with two squads (Alabama and Georgia) projected to make the College Football Playoff, and three more (Florida, LSU and Texas A&M) slated for the NY6.
Alabama is predicted to win its semifinal over Oklahoma and face Clemson, not the Bulldogs, in the National Championship. Meanwhile, LSU is given a date with Virginia Tech in the Peach Bowl, while Texas A&M faces Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl.
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