Bowl Predictions 2014: Full TV Schedule, Odds, Playoff Projections and More
The 2014 college football regular season has been full of unpredictable twists and turns, and this weekend’s schedule of conference championships will lead into one of the most exciting bowl game schedules in recent memory.
With Alabama, Oregon, TCU and Florida State currently situated as the four teams making the semifinal matchups, the battle for the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship will be intense.
Here is the full television schedule for the 2014-15 bowl season, College Football Playoff predictions, odds and more.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
| R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl | Dec. 20 | 11 a.m. | ESPN |
| Gildan New Mexico Bowl | Dec. 20 | 2:20 p.m. | ESPN |
| Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl | Dec. 20 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | Dec. 20 | 5:45 p.m. | ESPN |
| Raycom Media Camellia Bowl | Dec. 20 | 9:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| Miami Beach Bowl | Dec. 22 | 2 p.m. | ESPN |
| Boca Raton Bowl | Dec. 23 | 6 p.m. | ESPN |
| San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl | Dec. 23 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Popeyes Bahamas Bowl | Dec. 24 | 12 p.m. | ESPN |
| Hawai'i Bowl | Dec. 24 | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl | Dec. 26 | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Quick Lane Bowl | Dec. 26 | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| BITCOIN St. Petersburg Bowl | Dec. 26 | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Military Bowl presented By Northrop Grumman | Dec. 27 | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Hyundai Sun Bowl | Dec. 27 | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| Duck Commander Independence Bowl | Dec. 27 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| New Era Pinstripe Bowl | Dec. 27 | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| National University Holiday Bowl | Dec. 27 | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| AutoZone Liberty Bowl | Dec. 29 | 2 p.m. | ESPN |
| Russell Athletic Bowl | Dec. 29 | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl | Dec. 29 | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl | Dec. 30 | 3 p.m. | ESPN |
| Belk Bowl | Dec. 30 | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Foster Farms Bowl | Dec. 30 | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Dec. 31 | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| VIZIO Fiesta Bowl | Dec. 31 | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| Capital One Orange Bowl | Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl | Jan. 1 | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| Outback Bowl | Jan. 1 | 12 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic | Jan. 1 | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Rose Bowl Game Presented By Northwestern Mutual | Jan. 1 | 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| Allstate Sugar Bowl | Jan. 1 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | Jan. 2 | 12 p.m. | ESPN |
| TaxSlayer Bowl | Jan. 2 | 3:20 p.m. | ESPN |
| Valero Alamo Bowl | Jan. 2 | 6:45 p.m. | ESPN |
| TicketCity Cactus Bowl | Jan. 2 | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| Birmingham Bowl | Jan. 3 | 1 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| GoDaddy Bowl | Jan. 4 | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| College Football Playoff National Championship Presented By AT&T | Jan. 12 | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Breaking Down the Current Semifinalists
The College Football Playoff voting committee has shaken the semifinals to their core over the last week with its decision to catapult TCU over Florida State in the latest rankings. While the Seminoles' drop to No. 4 despite being undefeated had many fans talking, the voting committee has done a stellar job overall.
The old BCS system was far worse, and the inaugural season for the College Football Playoff has been an overwhelming success thus far.
The best team in the nation right now isn't much of a debate, though. The Alabama Crimson Tide are incredibly dangerous on the offensive side of the ball and still possess the elite defense that has made them a perennial national powerhouse.
As long as Alabama can take down Missouri in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, there is little doubt the Crimson Tide will enter the playoff as the No. 1 seed. The road to a national championship won’t be easy, though.
| Rose Bowl | No. 2 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs | Oregon |
| Sugar Bowl | No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 4 Florida State Seminoles | Alabama |
| Championship Game | No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 3 Oregon Ducks | Alabama |
| No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide | 8-5 | |
| No. 2 Oregon Ducks | 12-5 | |
| No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs | 9-2 | |
| No. 4 Florida State Seminoles | 7-1 |
Another viable championship contender is Oregon. If the Ducks can get past Arizona in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday, there is no doubt the high-powered offense will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoff.
The Ducks defense has been much better than expected this season, but it is the No. 4-ranked offensive unit, which is averaging an astounding 45.9 points per game, that has made Oregon such a title threat.
The biggest surprise of the Top Four is TCU. Many college football fans have questioned the decision to rank the Horned Frogs at No. 3 overall, but TCU has another chance to shine Saturday against Iowa State in its final regular-season game.
With an offense averaging 46.1 points per game and a hard-hitting defense allowing only 21.9 points per game, TCU has racked up an impressive 10-1 record and is tied for first in the Big 12, with another win likely this week.
The undefeated Florida State Seminoles are creating the most buzz. Despite not losing a game this season, Florida State was leapfrogged by TCU, dropping from No. 3 in the standings to No. 4. The Seminoles have been strong on defense and offense, ranking 27th and 34th, respectively, in points allowed and points scored per game.
Florida State controls its own destiny. The team squares off against Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday. If the Seminoles are victorious and finish the season with a perfect record, the College Football Playoff committee will be forced to put the program in the postseason.
Once in the playoff, any program can get hot and run all the way to a national championship. That’s what makes the concept of the College Football Playoff so exciting. Let’s just hope it lives up to the hype.
Stats via ESPN.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
