Bowl projections for Michigan: SEC opponents lead the way in latest predictions

The Michigan Wolverines were off last week after a win at Nebraska, which lifted their season record to 3-1. U-M has a long way to go to get into the College Football Playoff conversation, but it can help its cause by handling business in October.

Michigan plays a home game against Wisconsin this weekend before traveling to USC on Oct. 11. It closes out October with a home game against Washington and a road trip to East Lansing for a rival game with Michigan State.

The USC game could be what puts U-M in the CFP conversation, but it needs to keep winning and likely finish the year with 2 losses or fewer to make it happen. The national pundits, at least as of now, are not expecting that to happen. As a result, the bowl projections this week look a lot similar to how they have the first month of the season.

Here is a roundup of what the college football media thinks of Michigan’s postseason destination.

On3’s Brett McMurphy: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Our colleague’s projection has a contest with Arch Manning and Texas taking place in Orlando. The Wolverines and Longhorns last met in Week 2 of last season in Ann Arbor, a 31-12 Texas victory. U-M and the Longhorns are currently set to meet again in 2027 as part of the home-and-home series that kicked off last year.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas A&M (Dec. 31)

U-M holds a 2-1 all-time advantage in the series with wins in 1970 and 1979, respectively. A&M won the most recent matchup, a 22-20 victory in the 1995 Alamo Bowl. The Wolverines were last in Orlando for the 2020 Citrus Bowl, a 35-16 loss to Alabama.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

ESPN’s other bowl projection expert has what McMurphy has with a showdown against the Longhorns.

CBS Sports: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

CBS Sports has another trip to Tampa on deck, this time against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols have a 1-0 series lead against Michigan all-time, blowing out the Wolverines 45-17 on Jan. 1, 2001 in Orlando.

College Football News: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 31)

College Football News has Michigan heading to Orlando to take on Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. The programs have met once, a 35-3 Wolverines victory in the 1990 Gator Bowl.

Sports Illustrated: Vegas Bowl vs. Arizona State (Dec. 31)

Bryan Fischer closes out our bowl projections roundup this week with a showdown with Arizona State out of the Big 12 in Las Vegas. Michigan has played the Sun Devils only once, a 22-15 loss in the 1986 Rose Bowl in Pasadena.