Bowl Predictions 2022: Updated Predictions After Week 11 CFP Rankings

No college football program has won back-to-back national championships since Alabama in the 2011 and 2012 seasons, but Georgia is hoping to accomplish that feat in January.

So far, the Bulldogs have been just as impressive as they were in the 2021 campaign, when they went 14-1 and defeated the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

This year, Georgia is off to a 9-0 start and the clear front-runner in the SEC once again.

At this point, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Bulldogs finish the regular season at 12-0, beat the first-place finisher from the SEC West in the conference championship game and then head to the CFP as the No. 1 seed. But anything could happen over the next four weeks.

Let's take a look at how the CFP field could shake out, along with which teams may be playing in a New Year's Six bowl in late December/early January.

Top Bowl Predictions

AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth

The CFP logo is displayed before the Cotton Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

College Football Playoff

Peach Bowl: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Tennessee

Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 TCU

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Rest of New Year's Six

Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Oregon

Cotton Bowl: USC vs. UCF

Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Baylor

Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. Alabama

Georgia, Tennessee Could Have Rematch in CFP Semifinals

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) calls the signals during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tennessee Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

One of the most important games of the 2022 season happened last Saturday. Georgia, which was at No. 3 in the CFP rankings at the time, hosted No. 1 Tennessee in a marquee SEC clash with plenty at stake.

Sure, first place in the SEC East was on the line, but the matchup was also likely going to decide which of these two teams would reach the conference championship game (and probably win it).

The Bulldogs ended up victorious, as they built a 17-point advantage by early in the second quarter, led by 21 late in the third and held on for a 27-13 win. They moved up to the No. 1 spot in the CFP rankings, while the Vols dropped to No. 5, just outside the playoff berths.

Tennessee will likely be 11-1 at the end of the regular season and then won't get to play for the SEC title. It will have to hope its regular-season resume is strong enough for the selection committee to put it into the CFP.

There's a good chance it will be, though. Either No. 2 Ohio State or No. 3 Michigan is going to lose in the final week of the regular season, because the Buckeyes and Wolverines will be facing off in the most important Big Ten contest of the year. And the Vols have enough big wins to make their one-loss record more impressive than either of its rivals.

If Georgia remains undefeated and wins the SEC title, it will be the No. 1 seed in the CFP. That could set up a rematch in the semifinals, because Tennessee may only move up one spot to No. 4. And if that game gets played at the Peach Bowl, which is held in Atlanta, it will be akin to another home contest for the Bulldogs.

Still, the Vols likely believe they can play a better game against their SEC East rival. And they're probably right. So, why not let Georgia and Tennessee run it back and see what happens? Chances are it will be a thrilling matchup with even greater stakes.

Could Ohio State, TCU Meet in Battle of Undefeated Teams?

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, right, celebrates with quarterback C.J. Stroud after scoring a touchdown against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

It's highly probable that either Ohio State or Michigan will be the No. 2 seed in the CFP. The Buckeyes and Wolverines are currently ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, and one of them should end up as the undefeated Big Ten champion.

The prediction here is that will be Ohio State. Junior quarterback C.J. Stroud is having another stellar year, and he'll find a way to guide the Buckeyes past the Wolverines and back into the playoff, which they missed out on last season.

That could put TCU in a position to be the No. 3 seed, as it is currently ranked No. 4 and waiting to jump ahead of the Ohio State-Michigan loser. Of course, the Horned Frogs need to keep taking care of business on their end to make that happen.

They are 9-0, just like Georgia, Ohio State and Michigan. They're the best team in the Big 12, and they're aiming to remain unbeaten heading into the conference championship game. TCU closes out the regular season with road matchups at Texas and Baylor and a home finale vs. Iowa State.

It's not an easy stretch by any means, but the Horned Frogs continue to find ways to win, even in close games. They've already also been challenged by some solid teams on their Big 12 schedule.

TCU's toughest upcoming contest could be this week's game at Texas. If it gets past that, it may be well on its way to a first appearance in the College Football Playoff.