Bowl Predictions 2015: Updated Projections Entering Week 7

Predicting bowl matchups has gotten a bit easier since the elimination of the oftentimes confusing BCS system, but the failure of teams to separate themselves from the pack thus far in 2015 has certainly complicated matters.

Twelve power-conference teams are still undefeated entering the seventh week of the season, and many of them have had some nervous moments. Simply put, there is no clear-cut top team in college football this year, which means the College Football Playoff selection committee could have its hands full when it comes to choosing four teams.

Those who have strong seasons and aren't selected for the CFP will almost certainly have a gripe, but playing in a major non-CFP bowl isn't a bad consolation.

Here is an early rundown of predictions for which teams will have a chance to play for the national title, and which will be forced to settle for a spot in one of the other "New Year's Six" bowls.

Major Bowl Predictions for 2015-16

Bowl	Date	Team 1	Team 2
Cotton Bowl (CFP semi)	Dec. 31	Baylor	Utah
Orange Bowl (CFP semi)	Dec. 31	Ohio State	Alabama
Peach Bowl	Dec. 31	Clemson	Florida
Fiesta Bowl	Jan. 1	Notre Dame	Florida State
Rose Bowl	Jan. 1	Michigan	Stanford
Sugar Bowl	Jan. 1	TCU	LSU
CFP National Championship	Jan. 11	Ohio State	Baylor

Breaking Down Top Potential Matchups

Ohio State vs. Baylor

Ohio State is the reigning national champion, while Baylor barely missed out on last year's CFP. If they both continue their winning ways, then they may very well be on a collision course for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

The Buckeyes' record is perfect, although the manner in which they have gone 6-0 is anything but. The Bears, on the other hand, have destroyed their first five opponents with the most explosive offense in college football, as evidenced by this tweet courtesy of ESPN Stats and Info:

Baylor has been so good, in fact, that ESPN.com's Tom Luginbill doesn't believe there is a better team in the nation right now:

The Bears offense has been nearly unstoppable behind the arm of junior quarterback Seth Russell and legs of junior running back Shock Linwood, but Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports 1 accurately points out that the level of competition has been unimpressive thus far:

OSU is likely the most talented team in the nation, yet it has trailed or been tied in the second half of four of its six games this season.

That is hard to believe for a team that boasts the likes of quarterbacks Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett, running back Ezekiel Elliott, quarterback-turned-wide receiver Braxton Miller and defensive end Joey Bosa to name a few.

Despite their struggles, the Buckeyes remain undefeated, which is really all that matters in the eyes of Dave Biddle of 247Sports:

The fact that Ohio State is winning despite playing average football may be a good sign for Buckeyes fans since their team is bound to hit its stride sooner rather than later.

The Buckeyes will have to figure it out in order to beat teams like Michigan and Michigan State moving forward, while Baylor's only big challenge on paper looks to be TCU.

Assuming both teams take care of business, they should secure the top two seeds in the CFP and ultimately play for all the marbles at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Michigan vs. Stanford

While it will technically be called the Rose Bowl, if Michigan and Stanford meet on New Year's Day, it will inevitably be rebranded as the Harbaugh Bowl by some.

Jim Harbaugh has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround at the University of Michigan in his first season as head coach, as the Wolverines are 5-1 with their only loss coming to an excellent Utah team. This isn't the first time Harbaugh has done something special at the collegiate level, though, as he previously helped make Stanford a viable program again.

The Cardinal are thriving in the unpredictable Pac-12 Conference, and they stand to benefit if Utah makes the CFP since Oregon and USC are unexpectedly struggling.

Michigan likely has a tougher road to the Rose Bowl with Michigan State and Ohio State still on its schedule, but it has arguably played better football than any team in the nation over the past five weeks.

The Wolverines have three consecutive shutouts to their credit, and as pointed out be ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, Harbaugh has changed the culture in Ann Arbor:

ESPN's Mike Greenberg agreed with that assessment and paid Harbaugh the ultimate compliment for what he has accomplished at Michigan thus far:

Provided Ohio State goes to the CFP, Michigan will have to beat out Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa to play in the Rose Bowl, but the Wolverines undoubtedly look like the best of the bunch currently.

They aren't without some question marks as quarterback Jake Rudock has yet to be tested and forced to make plays aside from the season-opening game against Utah, but Harbaugh has his team playing hard and moving toward a big-time bowl game.

TCU vs. LSU

TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin and LSU running back Leonard Fournette are perhaps the two leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy, and it is entirely possible that they could clash in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day.

The Horned Frogs felt as though they were snubbed from the CFP last year, and while they have had some close calls against the likes of Minnesota, Texas Tech and Kansas State, they remain in position to be among the final four teams vying for a national title.

Saturday night's contest against the Wildcats was especially close as they trailed by 18 points in the second half, but Boykin made up for some miscues by leading his team to victory.

Some might be inclined to dock TCU points for playing close games, but as pointed out by the school's assistant athletic director for media relations, Mark Cohen, the Frogs have played in front of some huge and hostile crowds:

TCU certainly has a chance to play in the CFP, but it will likely have to beat Baylor in order to do so. If it isn't able to do that, then LSU looks like a potential opponent.

The Tigers are undefeated like the Horned Frogs, but they have gotten to this point in a much different manner, relying almost exclusively on the running game and defense.

Fournette was expected to be great when LSU brought him in, but the sensational sophomore has been even better than anyone could have possibly imagined.

According to ESPN Stats and Info, the New Orleans native is enjoying one of the greatest collegiate seasons a running back has ever had thus far:

Fournette has 1,063 total yards and 12 touchdowns to his credit through just five games after rushing for 1,034 yards and 10 scores in his entire freshman campaign.

LSU has an incredibly difficult SEC schedule coming up with games against Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. It will have a chance to win all of those games thanks to Fournette, but with quarterback Brandon Harris having thrown for just 610 yards, it is likely that a slip-up will occur somewhere along the way.

Both TCU and LSU have realistic CFP aspirations, but college football fans certainly won't mind seeing them clash in a lesser bowl since it could turn out to be one of the season's most entertaining games.

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