Bowl Projections 2014: Latest Playoff Predictions Before Critical Week 14
It’s finally here.
Week 14 could otherwise be known as rivalry week in the race to the College Football Playoff, as some of the country’s most famous and heated showdowns will go a long way toward determining the four postseason spots up for grabs.
With that in mind, here is a look at the latest playoff projections heading into a crucial Week 14.
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Playoff Projections
Sugar Bowl: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Baylor
Rose Bowl: No. 2 Florida State vs. No. 3 Oregon
Championship Bowl (in Arlington, Texas): TBD (semifinal winners)
Week 14 Look Ahead for Playoff Contenders
Don’t have too much tryptophan on Thanksgiving, because TCU faces off with in-state rival Texas on Thursday evening.
The Horned Frogs will certainly be favored as a serious playoff contender, but the Longhorns have recently turned the corner and won three games in a row in dominating fashion. Quarterback Tyrone Swoopes is fresh off a 305-yard throwing performance against Oklahoma State and could give a TCU defense that struggled to contain Kansas’ attack some trouble.
On Saturday, Michigan will travel to Ohio State for the 2014 edition of The Game.
Get ready to hear the cliche “throw the records out when these two teams play” all week, especially since Michigan only lost to the favored Buckeyes by a single point last year. Still, the Buckeyes have won nine of 10 games in this rivalry and have much more at stake than the Wolverines at this point of the season.
That doesn’t seem to faze Michigan center Jack Miller, via Angelique S. Chengelis of The Detroit News:
"We're not playing for a whole lot like they are. They're trying to get a bid into the playoff. Games like this is what this rivalry is built on when one team is going to be a big underdog going in, and all three kids in here (the postgame interview) are Ohio kids, and I can tell you it would be pretty sweet to go in their backyard and get a win.
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Another nationally relevant rivalry clash is the one between Auburn and Alabama.
This year, it is the Crimson Tide going for the national championship, while Auburn will have to play spoiler. The Tigers won on one of the most incredible plays in the history of college football last season when they returned a missed field goal the distance of the field in the final seconds, but the Crimson Tide will certainly be out for revenge at home.
Elsewhere, Oregon has to travel to Oregon State and needs to beware of a Beavers squad that knocked off Arizona State in Corvallis, and Florida State takes on a Florida team that features a stingy defense. In fact, the Gators give up fewer than 21 points a game and will try to prevent Jameis Winston from orchestrating yet another second-half comeback.
One game that Ohio State, Baylor and TCU will pay close attention to is Mississippi State’s trip to Ole Miss.
Assuming Alabama, Oregon and Florida State have a stranglehold on the top three spots if they all win out, it is between the Buckeyes, Bears, Horned Frogs and Bulldogs for the final seed. Even if Mississippi State beats its rival, Ole Miss’ loss on Saturday to Arkansas could be a problem for the Bulldogs, via Bleacher Report’s Barrett Sallee:
Finally, the Bears have to travel to Texas Tech, but the Red Raiders are an abysmal 4-7 this year. It is difficult to envision Texas Tech slowing down Baylor’s high-octane offense.
Expect plenty of debate and posturing for those four spots if all the playoff contenders win, but beating a rival is often easier said than done. Buckle up for the best week on the college football schedule.
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