Bowl Projections 2019: Predictions, Updated College Football Playoff Outlook

Joe Tansey

Oct 1, 2019

The College Football Playoff discussion cranked into another gear in Week 5 when Clemson pulled out a narrow win over North Carolina.

An argument can be made that Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Georgia deserve to be ranked above the defending national champion, but due to the weakness of the ACC, the Tigers should land in the final four come December.

While Clemson is expected to cruise through its conference, Alabama and Georgia could be involved in hard-fought SEC battles, while Oklahoma faces a challenge from Texas and as the Buckeyes compete in the tougher of two Big Ten divisions.

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Plenty will change between now and the first week of December, but one thing may be certain: the presence of the SEC in the New Year's Six games.

With five programs currently ranked in the Top 10, the SEC could command at-large berths because of the strength of its conference compared to others.

If that is the case, the amount of second-tier bowls involving SEC programs could decrease, opening up the potential for more Group of Five vs. Power Five matchups.

Postseason Projections

College Football Playoff

Peach Bowl (December 28): No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Oklahoma

Fiesta Bowl (December 28): No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 3 Ohio State

The College Football Playoff could feature undefeated conference champions from the SEC, ACC, Big Ten and Big 12.

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Alabama's toughest test comes at home versus LSU on November 9, and by the time it faces Auburn at the end of the regular season, the Tigers could be worn down from a brutal schedule.

Through five weeks, the Crimson Tide look like the best team in the SEC with a quintet of 20-plus-point victories, two of which were over conference foes.

If Nick Saban's team does not lose, it should land the top seed due to the overall strength of its league.

The same can't be said for Clemson, who has a single Top 25 foe left on its schedule. But there is no guarantee Wake Forest will still be ranked by November 16. One more loss by Virginia could land a two-loss squad in the ACC Championship Game opposite Dabo Swinney's side.

For now, the Tigers are second in the AP Top 25 and Amway Coaches Poll, but the amount of quality sides on Ohio State's schedule may make force an extended discussion.

The Buckeyes have four ranked foes left, and they could face Wisconsin twice if the Badgers take first in the Big Ten West.

An unblemished resume with victories over Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State might be enough to persuade the committee to place Justin Fields and Co. at No. 2.

Jalen Hurts and Oklahoma could be on a collision course for a meeting with his old team. If the Sooners beat Texas on October 12, they should have a clear path to the Big 12 Championship Game, but then they would likely have to beat the Longhorns again.

If Texas suffers a second conference loss, the Sooners may have to hurdle Oklahoma State or TCU to land in the playoff.

If the quartet of conference winners remain without a loss, Notre Dame would be on the outside looking in as well as the other contenders from the SEC.

New Year's Six

Cotton Bowl (December 28): Boise State vs. Georgia

Orange Bowl (December 30): Notre Dame vs. Auburn

Rose Bowl (January 1): Wisconsin vs. Oregon

Sugar Bowl (January 1): LSU vs. Texas

Even if Georgia, Auburn and LSU end up with two losses, the power of the SEC could land them in New Year's Six games.

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

A year ago, Florida landed a spot alongside Georgia and LSU in these games, and if the Gators beat Auburn on Saturday, they will be in the mix for a premier bowl game.

Since the loser of the ACC Championship Game may have three losses, one of the SEC teams could jump over it to earn one of the at-large positions.

If Notre Dame wins out, it should lock into the New Year's Six and likely position itself with a foe from the South.

Oregon needs to finish the campaign without another loss and some help to be considered in the playoff conversation as the Pac-12 champion, but the Rose Bowl would be a nice consolation.

As the possible loser of the Big Ten title game, Wisconsin would land in Pasadena, California. If Ohio State runs through all of its opponents, Penn State would be the only one-loss squad that could be left in the Big Ten East.

Other Bowls

Bahamas Bowl (December 20): Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan

Frisco Bowl (December 20): Temple vs. Toledo

New Mexico Bowl (December 21): Southern Miss. vs. Wyoming

Cure Bowl (December 21): Cincinnati vs. Coastal Carolina

Boca Raton Bowl (December 21): Tulane vs. Louisiana Tech

Camellia Bowl (December 21): Kent State vs. Arkansas State

Las Vegas Bowl (December 21): Washington State vs. Utah State

New Orleans Bowl (December 21): Florida Atlantic vs. Appalachian State

Gasparilla Bowl (December 23): UCF vs. North Texas

Hawai'i Bowl (December 24): BYU vs. Hawaii

Independence Bowl (December 26): Miami vs. UAB