Bowl Predictions 2015: Latest Projections for College Football Playoff

The first 2015 College Football Playoff rankings will be released in less than two weeks, so the postseason picture is becoming easier to project.

One team has reigned supreme all season in both the Associated Press and Amway polls—the last season's national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. But is OSU a lock to be in the top four? It hardly seems so despite the immense amount of NFL-caliber talent on the roster.

Below is a breakdown of the projected CFP games, based mainly on current rankings but also with some conjecture as to how the rest of the season will play out.

Orange Bowl: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Clemson

Yes, the Buckeyes still stay atop the NCAA football hierarchy in the end with a Big Ten title and an undefeated record still in tow. One big reason for that is coach Urban Meyer's decision to go with J.T. Barrett over Cardale Jones as the starting quarterback.

Despite superior arm talent, upside and a brief track record from last year that could have landed him in the NFL, Jones has lost the job. It might be because Barrett, a team captain, has outworked Jones in an effort to regain a job he lost to injury in the 2014 regular-season finale.

Barrett is a better fit for what Meyer is trying to do. He's a superior ball-carrier in the open field in terms of quickness and acceleration. He can process and read a defense faster and thus get the ball to the Bucks' myriad of playmakers in a more proficient way.

NFL Network's Albert Breer has heard of a comparison for Barrett that bodes well for the Buckeyes:

The OSU defense has been fine and will continue to be with the likes of Joey Bosa and Darron Lee headlining the front seven.

As for Clemson, its path to the playoffs goes through the ACC—an easier gauntlet to run through than the SEC, Pac-12 or even the Big Ten. The ACC Coastal division isn't exactly loaded with world beaters, and the Tigers' hardest remaining game is against Florida State at Death Valley.

ESPN's David Hale references how strong Clemson's playoff resume would be if it maintains a perfect record:

Despite losing first-round NFL draft picks in Vic Beasley and Stephone Anthony on defense, Clemson is allowing less than three yards per carry and ranks 10th in total yards allowed per game.

Sophomore signal-caller Deshaun Watson is undeniably gifted. He lit up Boston College's vaunted D for 420 yards passing in a recent 34-17 victory. The only concern is the two picks he threw, bringing his total to seven on the year.

Watson has thrown at least one interception in all but one game thus far. In what would be a tight game against Ohio State in a prospective Orange Bowl showdown, it'd be hard to pick against the Buckeyes due to Watson's tendency to give the ball away.

Turnovers would do Clemson in, as its stellar front wouldn't be able to contain OSU running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Prediction: Ohio State 27, Clemson 20

Cotton Bowl: No. 2 LSU vs. No. 3 TCU

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The Big 12 representative figures to be TCU. Despite a struggling defense, the Horned Frogs have stayed undefeated and are better suited to face adversity than rival Baylor. TCU also gets the Bears at home in the regular-season finale.

With the privilege of playing in the Sugar Bowl may come an encounter with an SEC powerhouse program. LSU figures to be the team the Horned Frogs face, thanks primarily to Heisman Trophy front-runner Leonard Fournette.

Horned Frogs QB Trevone Boykin has carried TCU when it has failed at keeping opponents off the scoreboard. The contrast of styles between LSU's gritty rushing attack and the Horned Frogs' pass-heavy spread is a dynamic a juxtaposition as a fan could ask for in a playoff matchup.

Road trips to Alabama and Ole Miss still loom for the Tigers, but Fournette gives them a chance to set the tone in both those contests by controlling possession and demoralizing the opposition with big runs.

What shouldn't be lost amid LSU's landmark win over Florida last week is how well Brandon Harris played under center. Harris was 13-of-19 passing for 202 yards and two scores. He just turned 20 this month, is evolving in a big way as a sophomore and has yet to throw an INT in 2015.

ESPN analyst Damien Woody was most impressed by Harris' performance and made a bold proclamation touting LSU as a legitimate challenger for the No. 1 ranking:

Tigers coach Les Miles emphasized how important it is for Harris to keep playing within himself and not be bothered by those who see him as the weak link for a playoff contender, per the Times' Glen Guilbeau:

"

The opinions that matter will all come from that room — that big building that we practice in. And he'll need not to worry about what others say. Others don't know. And all they have to do is watch the film. All they have to do is see him spin a couple of passes for them to realize that, no, this guy can throw it. So he needs to just do the things that he’s been doing and not try to exceed the play call.

"

About any QB would look to be leading an inferior element of an offense with Fournette running the ball. Miles is correct in stating all outsiders need to do is watch Harris throw some downfield passes to realize the high ceiling he has—one Harris hasn't come close to reaching yet.

As Harris continues to improve and gets more comfortable in the system, even when opponents key in on Fournette, it won't be hard for his quarterback to capitalize on favorable matchups.

Boykin would keep TCU close in a hypothetical College Football Playoff clash. He's a senior playing with a chip on his shoulder as well after not making the CFP in its inaugural edition.

The Tigers would ultimately prevail thanks to Fournette's ability to chew up yardage, clock and morale. It would put Boykin in a near-impossible situation to rally from—even with such a lethal weapon in wideout Josh Doctson on his side.

Prediction: LSU 34, TCU 24