CBS Sports updates College Football Playoff, full Bowl predictions ahead of Week 10
With Week 9 in the books, the first College Football Playoff rankings are set to come out on Halloween. Those will give everyone a glimpse of where the rankings stand with a month or so remaining in the season.
This comes after a weekend that helped to shape the race for New Year’s Six Bowls. That includes Oklahoma losing on the road to Kansas a week after getting scared by UCF and North Carolina dropping a second game in a row. Those will impact the NY6 games but the teams currently being projected for the College Football Playoff all held firm this weekend, though there is still plenty of time for that to change.
With the First Playoff rankings coming out soon, there are a lot of predictions and projections for those rankings. That includes CBS Sports‘ projections for where the College Football Playoff and every single bowl game will end up at season’s end.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia remained unbeaten over the weekend with a win over the Florida Gators in Jacksonville over the weekend. It was a big game for the Bulldogs in several different ways. Importantly, it showed the offense can be effective without tight end Brock Bowers. This was also an excellent game for quarterback Carson Beck, who was phenomenal as he continues to improve throughout the season.
The win over Florida leads Georgia into a key stretch this season that includes games against three straight teams ranked in the AP Poll. Two of those three will be home games in a stretch of the season that is expected to test the Bulldogs the most and includes the most important games for Georgia’s Playoff resume.
2. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan had a bye week in Week 9, which is something the Wolverines were happy to have amid a massive scandal. That scandal involves illegal in-person scouting and possibly using technology to scout and steal signs. There are still details that need to be revealed and an investigation is ongoing, but this could be a distraction down the stretch for Michigan.
At the same time, this is probably head coach Jim Harbaugh‘s best team since he got to Michigan and this team has a legitimate shot to win a championship. However, to do that, the Wolverines are going to need to go on to beat tough opponents like Ohio State and Penn State while avoiding any upsets in the last stretch of the season.
3. Florida State Seminoles
Florida State is in a good place to try and make a run at the College Football Playoff at this point in the season. The Seminoles have a resume that includes several ranked wins and wins against name-brand opponents. With the back stretch of the season to go, the Seminoles are expected to play in the ACC Championship Game, which would be huge for their resume.
The Seminoles will likely need to win out to make the Playoff. However, with how well Florida State has been playing and the veteran talent at quarterback in Jordan Travis, that seems fairly likely. In turn, that turnaround would solidify Florida State as being back after several years struggling to live up to expectations.
4. Texas Longhorns
With an injury to starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, Texas started Maalik Murphy against BYU. Despite some struggles with turnovers early, Murphy played well and the Longhorns got a 35-6 win. For a team trying to hold onto a College Football Playoff spot, it was a huge win.
The reality for Texas is that the Longhorns lost to Oklahoma. Another loss would almost certainly eliminate them from Playoff contention. So, Texas needs to be careful moving forward against teams like Kansas State with a backup quarterback. Otherwise, Texas may not even make the Big 12 Championship Game to try and avenge the loss to Oklahoma.
Fiesta Bowl: Washington vs. Air Force
The unbeaten Washington Huskies are still looking to make the College Football Playoff. However, in back-to-back weeks, Washington nearly was upset by teams at the bottom of the Pac-12. Going forward, the Huskies are going to need to find a way to refocus because the schedule doesn’t get easier from here, with games against teams like USC and Washington State, not to mention a likely rematch with Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Air Force, meanwhile, continues to roll. The Falcons played against Colorado State in the snow over the weekend and got a huge win. With that, Air Force stayed unbeaten and appears to be the favorite to win the Mountain West, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, and represent the Group of Five in the New Year’s Six.
Orange Bowl: Louisville vs. Ohio State
Coming out of the ACC and in head coach Jeff Brohm‘s first season with the program, the Louisville Cardinals have been phenomenal. The Cardinals only have one loss and look like they’re in a good position to play for the ACC Championship Game and potentially the New Year’s Six. At this point, it’s an incredible start and a sign of good things to come.
As of now, Louisville is projected to play Ohio State in the Orange Bowl. The Buckeyes are going to get their shot to win the Big Ten and play in the College Football Playoff. However, with a third straight loss to Michigan, Ohio State will likely be heading to the New Year’s Six, despite an excellent resume to this point in the season.
Peach Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Penn State
Oklahoma dropped its first game of the season to Kansas. That loss, in a competitive season for the College Football Playoff race, is going to make it hard for the Sooners to make the Playoff. Still, there is still hope for Oklahoma to make the Playoff and certainly to play for the Big 12 Championship Game and play in a major bowl game this season.
Penn State is in a similar position. The Nittany Lions recently lost a tough game to Ohio State and even with a chance to try and make up for that loss against Michigan coming, it probably puts the Playoff just out of reach. Still, there is plenty to play for as the Nittany Lions are continuing to improve, particularly behind first-year starting quarterback Drew Allar.
Cotton Bowl: Oregon vs. Alabama
Since losing to Washington, Oregon has been absolutely dominant against a pair of tough opponents. That includes blowing out a good Utah team on the road in Salt Lake City. That, in turn, has made Oregon an interesting postseason pick with most people thinking the Ducks are the better team than the Huskies. If they keep winning, the Ducks will likely even be able to avenge that loss to the Huskies.
Alabama has a similar story of losing earlier in the season but rapidly improving at this point. The Crimson Tide haven’t lost since the Texas game and now they’re in a good position to not only play in the SEC Championship Game but go to a major bowl game and possibly the College Football Playoff if the Crimson Tide were to win the SEC.
Remaining bowl game projections
SATURDAY, Dec. 16
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Troy vs. Toledo
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
2:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Liberty vs. James Madison
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
2:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Cure Bowl: Tulane vs. Ohio
Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
New Mexico Bowl: UNLV vs. New Mexico State
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
LA Bowl: Fresno State vs. UCLA
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: UCF vs. Washington State
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
MONDAY, Dec. 18
Bahamas Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Northern Illinois
Jerry Richardson Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
TUESDAY, Dec. 19
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl: SMU vs. Texas State
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
THURSDAY, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. Mississippi State
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
FRIDAY, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Georgia State vs. Minnesota
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SATURDAY, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl: Marshall vs. Kentucky
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Camellia Bowl: Memphis vs. Western Kentucky
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: BYU vs. Wyoming
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Colorado State
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
68 Ventures Bowl: UTSA vs. Georgia Southern
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
7 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Iowa vs. USC
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl: San Jose 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: Purdue vs. Eastern Michigan
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Louisiana vs. South Carolina
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Iowa State vs. Nebraska
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27
Military Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Navy
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
2 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Duke vs. Florida
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
5:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Holiday Bowl: Syracuse vs. Oregon State
Petco Park (San Diego)
8 p.m., Fox
TaxAct Texas Bowl: Kansas State vs. Texas A&M
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
THURSDAY, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl: Boston College vs. USF
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: NC State vs. Rutgers
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 vs. Arizona
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
FRIDAY, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: North Carolina vs. Tennessee
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Clemson vs. Utah
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: West Virginia vs. Auburn
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SATURDAY, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Maryland vs. Missouri
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Boise State vs. Miami (OH)
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.
MONDAY, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl: Miami vs. LSU
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN2 and the ESPN App
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Ole Miss
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
1 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
At this point, there will likely be numerous changes as the season comes into the final stretch. Upsets are going to happen and teams will make runs as the season comes to a close. All of that is going to have an impact on the College Football Playoff and bowl race. Among the big games going into Week 10 that could have some impact moving forward are the Georgia-Missouri game, the Alabama-LSU game, and the Kansas State-Texas game.