Florida State Football: Bowl Projections for the Seminoles

Last season, Florida State reached the ACC Championship game with a little bit of good fortune on the final weekend of the regular season.

This year, the Seminoles lost their first two Atlantic division games against Clemson and Wake Forest, which means their hopes of sneaking into the title game this year would take another miracle. 

So while their BCS bowl dreams may be on life support, there is no denying that the ‘Noles have righted their once-sinking ship and look to be playing their best ball in November. 

The Orange Bowl may be out of reach, but where will the ‘Noles go bowling for an NCAA-best 30^th consecutive season? 

Here are the top five bowl projections for Florida State:

5. Belk Bowl

Formerly the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Belk Bowl played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte would pit the ‘Noles against a Big East team.

If FSU lands in this spot, it would be disappointing for a number of reasons.

One, they planned on being in Charlotte at the beginning of December and not the end. 

Also, it would likely mean that they slipped up and lost one of their three remaining games, and given how they are currently playing, this would represent a step backward for Jimbo Fisher’s program.

4. Sun Bowl

A trip to El Paso, Texas to face a Pac-12 team would be the challenge facing Florida State if the representatives from the Sun Bowl select them. 

While the ‘Noles defense would surely get a workout facing one of the numerous high-powered offenses from the West Coast, the trip to the Lone Star State would not exactly rile up the fanbase. 

Even though the Seminoles bring a brand name that would potentially draw viewers in, the bowl officials for the Sun Bowl may be weary of the ‘Nole Nation and their reluctance to make the long trek from Tallahassee.

3. Music City

Florida State made the trip to Nashville for the 2007 Music City Bowl.

Despite their loss to SEC representative Kentucky, that match up set an attendance record for the largest crowd in the bowl’s 13-year history. 

With that tidbit in mind, officials for the game would certainly welcome back the Seminoles with open arms. 

While FSU may prefer to be closer to home, this game could be FSU’s consolation prize if it loses another regular-season game.  

2. Chik-Fil-a Bowl

If the Seminoles win their last three games, they could make a strong bid to return to Atlanta for the second consecutive season. 

Considering their performance a year ago, that could be a mutually enticing possibility for them and the bowl’s representatives. 

Normally, the Chik-Fil-A Bowl takes the loser of the ACC Championship game. 

However, if Georgia Tech wins the Coastal Division or another team emerges from that division with a worse record than FSU, the ‘Noles could once again have Georgia on their minds this New Year's Eve.  

1. Champs Sports Bowl

If you go by most current bowl projections, the Seminoles will be a bus ride away from their postseason destination. 

Throw in the enticing possibility of Notre Dame being their opponent, and it looks like that scenario would be a dream come true for the Champs Sports representatives. 

Getting to play a big-name opponent in a de facto home game would not necessarily be a bad thing for the ‘Noles either, with a game against the Irish sure to fire up their fanbase.

If this scenario plays out, it would certainly end up being one of the most intriguing non-BCS bowl matchups this postseason.