CBS Sports updates College Football Playoff, full Bowl predictions ahead of Week 8
With Week 8 just around the corner, the second half of the college football season is in full swing. At the same time, the College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six ace are starting to heat up, along with the New Year’s Six bowl games. At the same time, the race for bowl games and to become bowl eligible is also in full effect.
Week 7 helped to clarify the College Football Playoff race. USC lost to Notre Dame in a game that wasn’t particularly competitive. Meanwhile, Washington and Oregon played one of the best games of the season in what could be a Pac-12 Championship preview. Those games and more are going to have an impact on how the bowl games and College Football Playoff are going to be projected at this point.
CBS Sports released its latest College Football Playoff and bowl projections with all of that in mind. Other games worth noting included Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State all dominating. North Carolina toppled Miami. Then, in the Group of Five, Air Force continues to win.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Through Week 7 of the 2023 season, the Georgia Bulldogs haven’t lost a game since the 2021 SEC Championship Game. In the meantime, Georgia has won two national championships. Now, Kirby Smart is looking to keep the Bulldogs focused through the second half of an SEC schedule to try and win a third in a row.
It won’t be easy for Georgia. Star tight end Brock Bowers is going to miss some time due to surgery on his sprained ankle. Meanwhile, teams like Ole Miss, Missouri, and Tennessee are going to give the Bulldogs their best shot. Still, it’s hard not to have Georgia projected as the top College Football Playoff team.
2. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan has made the College Football Playoff the last two seasons. Now, it appears that the Wolverines are in a good position to make the Playoff for a third straight season. At the same time, nothing is guaranteed, especially in an incredibly competitive Big Ten East. Michigan still has Penn State and Ohio State to play in what will likely determine who makes the Playoff.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh remains confident behind starting quarterback JJ McCarthy. As he becomes more experienced, Harbaugh gets more excited about his potential moving forward. In fact, Harbaugh even thinks that McCarthy has a chance to become the best Michigan quarterback ever.
3. Florida State Seminoles
Florida State grabbed the nation’s attention with September wins against the likes of LSU and Clemson. Now, the unbeaten Seminoles are in a good position to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff. In particular, as long as the Seminoles keep winning and don’t trip up, then Florida State should make the Playoff.
After dominating Syracuse 41-3, Florida State looks to be in full control. Still, there are tough games on the horizon. That includes rivals Miami and Duke, along with whoever the Seminoles end up playing in the ACC Championship Game.
4. Texas Longhorns
Texas lost Red River to Oklahoma before getting a bye week. Despite that, the Longhorns are still one of the most talented teams in the country and have a realistic path to making it to the College Football Playoff. However, it won’t be an easy path to the Playoff.
First, the Longhorns can’t afford another loss in the current four-team College Football Playoff format. After that, the Longhorns will realistically need a little help and can’t afford for there to be four other unbeaten Power Five teams. It would also help to play Oklahoma again in the Big 12 Championship Game to help make up for the loss. Do those things and the Playoff is still on the table.
Fiesta Bowl: Washington vs. Air Force
The Washington Huskies got one of the marquee wins in all of college football in Week 7 when they took down the Oregon Ducks. That game got a lot of people’s attention and could have acted as a Heisman moment for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. It also, importantly, gave Washington an inside track to play for the Pac-12 Championship Game.
Here, the Huskies are projected to play Air Force in the Fiesta Bowl. Under this scenario, the Falcons would be the Group of Five representative in the New Year’s Six. That makes sense, given that Air Force is unbeaten and has been dominant in play to this point in the season.
Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. Ohio State
An Orange Bowl between North Carolina and Ohio State could be one of the most exciting bowl games all season long. Both of these teams are built on the backs of explosive offenses. In particular, North Carolina is led by Drake Maye, who figures to be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL Draft. Behind him, the Tar Heels have been extremely tough to this point in the season.
For the Buckeyes’ part, Ohio State is led by first-year starter Kyle McCord. He’s gone through some growing pains but Ohio State still has tons of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Where the Buckeyes end up, at this point, will largely have to do with how the Buckeyes perform against Michigan and Penn State.
Peach Bowl: Alabama vs. Penn State
Alabama got off to a slow start this season but has since been able to consistently win games in SEC play. Because of that, the Crimson Tide are in a good position to make another New Year’s Six Bowl. In this projection, that would be the Peach Bowl. However, winning the SEC Championship could put Alabama in the College Football Playoff race.
As of now, Penn State is the projected opponent for Alabama in the Peach Bowl. The Nittany Lions are unbeaten to this point in the season and look like they’re headed for a New Year’s Six appearance. However, winning the Big Ten could also put Penn State into the Playoff as well.
Cotton Bowl: Oregon vs. Oklahoma
Oregon just suffered a frustrating loss to Washington. However, that doesn’t mean that the season is over. As of now, the Ducks are still projected to go to a New Year’s Six game and if Oregon can find a way to make it back to the Pac-12 Championship Game, then there is a chance that they’ll get another shot at the Huskies this season. That could shake things up.
At the same time, Oklahoma won its marquee matchup over Texas this season. Despite that, the Sooners are only projected to go to a New Year’s Six game instead of the College Football Playoff. Still, there is plenty of season left and Oklahoma does control its own destiny moving forward this season.
Remaining bowl game projections
SATURDAY, Dec. 16
Bahamas Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Eastern Michigan
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: Tulane vs. Marshall
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: Wyoming vs. UCLA
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: UCF vs. Arizona
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. Texas State
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
THURSDAY, Dec. 21
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl: South Alabama vs. South Carolina
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
8 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
FRIDAY, Dec. 22
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Georgia State vs. Ohio
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
6:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SATURDAY, Dec. 23
Birmingham Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Kentucky
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon, ABC and the ESPN App
Camellia Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Mississippi State
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: BYU vs. Army
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
3:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Bowling Green vs. San Diego 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. Utah
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
7:30 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl: Colorado 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: Boise State vs. Miami (OH)
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: Baylor vs. Maryland
Chase Field (Phoenix)
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27
Military Bowl: James Madison vs. Memphis
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: Oklahoma 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. Kansas
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5:45 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
Valero Alamo Bowl: West Virginia vs. USC
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9:15 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
FRIDAY, Dec. 29
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Louisville vs. Tennessee
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
Noon, ESPN and the ESPN App
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Miami vs. Washington State
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Kansas State vs. Auburn
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
3:30 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
SATURDAY, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Minnesota vs. Missouri
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2 p.m., ABC and the ESPN App
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Fresno State vs. Northern Illinois
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m.
MONDAY, Jan. 1
ReliaQuest Bowl: Clemson 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
This is a good outlook on where the College Football Playoff and Bowl projections currently stand. However, there is still plenty of time for that to change this season. That includes several massive games in Week 8. The most notable of those games will be Penn State at Ohio State, in what could be one of the most important Big Ten games all season long.