CBS Sports releases updated College Football Playoff, full bowl projections ahead of Week 2

Every FBS team has now played a football game, and after a sample from every club in the country, CBS Sports‘ Jerry Palm has revisited his predictions for the College Football Playoff and each bowl game.

While the first week of play featured mostly blowouts, there were a handful of contests that caused quite a stir in the projections, especially regarding the games that happened after Saturday. Palm still has the same two teams at the top, but among his New Year’s Six and CFP teams, there was a little bit of movement.

So, below you can find Palm’s CFP and New Year’s Six projections with a little bit of analysis, then scroll down towards the bottom to find out who he has playing in each bowl game.

1. Georgia

After two straight national championships, the Dawgs rightfully opened the season at No. 1 on virtually every list of rankings, including these bowl projections. Following a ho-hum 48-7 win over UT-Martin, that standing has not changed and CBS still has Kirby Smart’s group as the top seed in the CFP.

In that win, new QB Carson Beck showed why he has the talent to propel Georgia to a third title, even if he lacks the experience and veteran presence that Stetson Bennett possessed. In game No. 1, Beck passed for 294 yards and a touchdown on 21 completions in 31 tries.

2. Michigan

Michigan is simply running No. 2 right now in the college football landscape. Over previous two seasons, no program aside from Georgia has achieved the success the Wolverines had — two straight wins over Ohio State, two straight Big Ten titles and two straight playoff appearances.

With JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum back as leaders of the offense, plus another loaded defense, Michigan is the surefire No. 2 team in the country behind Georgia to start this season. They’re just waiting for the Dawgs to slip up to grab that No. 1 ranking for the first time since 1997.

3. Florida State

Whoever won the Sunday night battle between Florida State and LSU was going to be thrust towards the very top of the rankings and projections — and that’s held true for Florida State. Thanks to a breakout performance from Keon Coleman out wide and another leap from Jordan Travis in year six, the Seminoles looked as dangerous as anyone in Week 1.

With Clemson faltering in fantastic fashion while the Seminoles absolutely whupped the No. 5 team in the country on a neutral field, FSU became the obvious choice as the ACC representative in the College Football Playoff. For now, Jerry Palm has them running at No. 3.

4. Alabama

Alabama’s quarterback conundrum seem to get a clear answer after Jalen Milroe played well enough to earn SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors on Saturday. Against Middle Tennessee State, he threw 18 passes and completed 13 for 194 yards and three touchdowns while also running for 48 more yards and two touchdowns.

The five total touchdowns and two-way flashes were enough for CBS to remain faithful in a ‘Bama return to the CFP. However, since Alabama is fourth and Georgia is first, CBS seems to think the two sides will meet in the SEC title with the Dawgs coming out on top but leaving the Tide with a good enough resume to still get in.

Fiesta Bowl: Washington vs. Tulane

Boise State came out hot in the season-opener against Washington, but Michael Penix and crew quickly showed why the Huskies’ firepower is too much to handle. Penix went for 450 yards and five touchdowns while his top three targets went for a combined 328 yards and the team as a whole scored 56.

Meanwhile, Tulane triumphed over South Alabama by 20 points and has its biggest game of the year coming up, which could be the biggest Tulane home game in decades since they are ranked in the top 25 and hosting a top 25 team in Ole Miss. Win that game and the Green Wave become overwhelming favorites to represent the group of five in the Fiesta Bowl.

Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. Ohio State

With Michigan penciled in at No. 2, CBS predicts a third straight season where the Buckeyes likely lose to the Wolverines and fail to win the Big Ten, this time falling out of the CFP field. But hey, after getting handled by their bitter rivals the last two years, it’s hard to argue another scenario. Plus, the debut vs. Indiana wasn’t exactly dominant. All of that, and still, OSU makes the Orange Bowl per Palm.

On the other side, North Carolina proved themselves as a legit all-around football team after taking care of business against South Carolina. Drake Maye was fabulous, but more importantly, the defense made plays. More performances like that out of Maye and the defense and UNC can dream of a New Year’s bowl.

Peach Bowl: Penn State vs. LSU

LSU looked about as bad as possible in the second half vs. Florida State — and certainly didn’t appear to be a team worthy of playing in the Peach Bowl. But FSU is elite and the Tigers did win the SEC West last season with most of these same players, so there’s reason to believe in a bounce-back.

On the other hand, Penn State is hoping to finally break through and compete for the Big Ten title. They’ll go through a gauntlet to get there with Ohio State and Michigan on the schedule, and CBS is betting that the Nittany Lions again finish as the No. 3 club in the division.

Cotton Bowl: USC vs. Texas

With USC in a New Year’s Six bowl and no other Pac-12 team in the picture, CBS is suggesting that the Trojans end the two-year reign of Utah atop the standings to earn their first conference title under Lincoln Riley. That’s certainly good news, although USC would much rather be in the College Football Playoff.

On the other hand, CBS has Texas in a similar spot as the only Big 12 club in the New Year’s Six bowls or CFP field. If the Longhorns were to win the league and make it to the Cotton Bowl, it’d be their most successful finish since at least 2018, and their first bowl game that isn’t the Alamo Bowl since then too.

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. Louisiana
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Cure Bowl: North Texas 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: UConn vs. Coastal Carolina
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

FRIDAY, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Duke vs. South Alabama
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

SATURDAY, Dec. 23

Birmingham Bowl: Minnesota vs. Mississippi State
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App

Camellia Bowl: East Carolina 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. Houston
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. Miami (OH)
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Appalachian State 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: Pittsburgh vs. Auburn
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Holiday Bowl: Louisville 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: Boston College vs. Navy
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: NC State vs. Illinois
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: Syracuse 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: Maryland vs. Arkansas
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Air Force vs. Northern Illinois
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