CBS Sports updates College Football Playoff, full bowl predictions ahead of Week 3
Week 2’s college football action provided a ton of energy and exciting games, some of which changed the postseason landscape of the sport as we know it.
CBS Sports Bowl Expert Jerry Palm took a look into the College Football Playoff and bowl game picture following Week 2’s action and made a few changes compared to last week’s postseason predictions.
Texas‘ big win over Alabama had a direct impact on Palm’s predictions, creating a ripple effect that impacted both the College Football Playoff picture and the bowl game matchups as a result. Look below to check out Palm’s CFP and New Year’s Six projections along with each and every bowl matchup now that Week 2 is in the rear view mirror.
1. Georgia
Per usual, the Georgia Bulldogs remain atop of the rankings as the defending two-time national champions have continued to take care of business this season. Georgia’s Week 2 win over Ball State resembled their Week 1 win over Tennessee-Martin, scoring over 40 points on teams and holding opponents to single-digit scoring days.
Georgia has looked like themselves against lesser competition, but the stakes rise for them in Week 3. Kirby Smart and his squad host South Carolina this Saturday in their first SEC game and true test of the 2023 season.
2. Michigan
Similar to Georgia, the Michigan Wolverines remain in the No. 2 sport of CBS’ rankings following another strong performance versus a non-Power 5 opponent. The Wolverines secured a 35-7 win over UNLV on Saturday where both sides of the ball were firing on all cylinders.
Quarterback JJ McCarthy had just three incompletions on Saturday to go along with his two touchdown passes, with running back Blake Corum topping him with a three-touchdown performance. And on the defensive side of the ball, the Wolverines are one of five teams in the country holding opponents to 5 points per game or less.
3. Florida State
Florida State quickly rose into the top four following their impressive opening weekend victory over LSU. And in Week 2 they may have faced less stiff competition, but definitely proved that they can be one of the most dominant teams in the country.
Florida State defeated Southern Miss 66-13 on Saturday in one of the most lopsided games of the weekend. But similar to Georgia, the Seminoles have their first conference game of the season in Week 3, taking on Boston College on the road this Saturday.
4. Texas
After Alabama occupied the No. 4 spot heading into Week 2, the Texas Longhorns dethroned them following their 34-24 win over the Crimson Tide on the road Saturday. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers came through big for the Longhorns with a three-touchdown performance and a strong fourth quarter to secure the win in Tuscaloosa.
Texas’ defense also looked strong and lived in Alabama’s backfield with five sacks and nine tackles for loss on the night. And it may be early, but the Longhorns’ strong showing has many believing that Texas is officially “back”.
Fiesta Bowl: Washington vs. Tulane
Michael Penix proved yet again that Washington’s offense is absolutely lethal with him under center. Penix helped lead the Huskies to a 43-10 win over Tulsa on Saturday behind his 409 passing yards and three touchdowns, as Washington enters Week 3 2-0 ahead of their matchup against Michigan State.
Tulane on the other hand is coming off of a 37-20 loss to Ole Miss, but they were without star quarterback Michael Pratt. Pratt had an impressive Week 1 showing where he threw just one incompletion along with 294 yards and four touchdown passes. And CBS believes that with him at QB, the Green Wave are still the top Group of 5 team in the country.
Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. Ohio State
Yet again the North Carolina Tar Heels had a close battle with Appalachian State, defeating the Mountaineers 40-34 in a double-overtime thriller. Star quarterback Drake Maye had just his third career game without throwing a touchdown pass, but the Tar Heels rushing attack excelled, with Omarion Hampton accounting for 234 of the team’s 319 yards on the ground.
Ohio State on the other hand regained their footing after an up-and-down performance in Week 1. Starting quarterback Kyle McCord settled in and delivered for the Buckeyes, finding star wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. on two of his three touchdown passes in a 35-7 win over Youngstown State after connecting with him just twice in the team’s Week 1 opener.
Peach Bowl: Alabama vs Penn State
Alabama now takes the place that LSU had last week in CBS’ Peach Bowl projection in a matchup versus Penn State. The Crimson Tide suffered their first double-digit loss at home since 2003 this weekend at the hands of Texas, and will definitely have to get back to and maintain their winning ways if they want to uphold the lofty standards set in Tuscaloosa.
Penn State on the other hand proved yet again that they could be one of the most talented rosters and dangerous teams in the country following their blowout win against Delaware. New quarterback Drew Allar rose to the occasion yet again with an efficient performance, but his first Big Ten test comes in Week 3 when the Nittany Lions visit Illinois.
Cotton Bowl: USC vs. LSU
USC making the Cotton Bowl would mark their second straight appearance in the game after suffering a loss to Tulane in last season’s edition. But so far this season they look like one of the most dominant teams in the country, boasting a 3-0 record and a quarterback looking like he’s in Heisman form yet again, with Caleb Williams already throwing for 878 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions this season.
LSU now occupies the Cotton Bowl slot that Texas held last week, as they bounced back from their brutal Week 1 loss to Florida State this weekend. They took care of business in their 72-10 win over Grambling State, but have their first conference game of the season in Week 3 as they hit the road to take on Mississippi State.
Remaining bowl game projections
SATURDAY, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl: Eastern Michigan vs. UTEP
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Liberty vs. Appalachian State
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Cure Bowl: Army vs. Marshall
Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
New Mexico Bowl: San Diego State vs. UTSA
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
LA Bowl: Colorado vs. Fresno State
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Baylor vs. Washington State
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
MONDAY, Dec. 18
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Troy vs. Toledo
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
TUESDAY, Dec. 19
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl: SMU vs. Ohio
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
THURSDAY, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl: UNLV vs. Coastal Carolina
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
FRIDAY, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Boston College vs. South Alabama
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SATURDAY, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl: Kansas vs. Mississippi State
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Camellia Bowl: Rice vs. James Madison
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: UCF vs. Missouri
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Buffalo vs. Wyoming
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
68 Ventures Bowl: Middle Tennessee State vs. Georgia Southern
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
7 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Iowa vs. Utah
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl: Boise State vs. FAU
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
10:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
TUESDAY, Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Michigan State vs. Northern Illinois
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Louisiana vs. Western Kentucky
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: TCU vs. Purdue
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27
Military Bowl: Wake Forest vs. Memphis
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Duke vs. Auburn
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Holiday Bowl: Syracuse vs. UCLA
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
TaxAct Texas Bowl: Oklahoma vs. South Carolina
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
THURSDAY, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Navy
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Maryland vs. Louisville
Yankee Stadium (New York)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Pop-Tarts Bowl: Notre Dame vs. Oklahoma State
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Valero Alamo Bowl: Kansas State vs. Oregon
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
FRIDAY, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. Ole Miss
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: NC State vs. Oregon State
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Kentucky
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SATURDAY, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Minnesota vs. Arkansas
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Air Force vs. Miami (OH)
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.
MONDAY, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl: Clemson vs. Texas A&M
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App