Bowl projections: Michigan's projections tumble after USC loss

Last week’s batch of Michigan Wolverines football bowl projections was exciting, given that it came with a College Football Playoff projection for the first time this season. It is now clear that the projection got out over its skis a bit.

If the Wolverines are to get back to the College Football Playoff, they probably need to win out the rest of the way. With a game against Washington first up on Saturday, the focus is entirely on just getting back in the win column and resetting expectations from there.

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

On3’s Brett McMurphy: Music City Bowl vs. LSU (Dec. 30)

Our colleague’s projection sends Michigan to Nashville to take on the LSU Tigers. The two schools have never met before on the gridiron, and it would be a fascinating matchup given Bryce Underwood’s flip from LSU to U-M last recruiting cycle.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Las Vegas Bowl vs. Utah (Dec. 30)

One-half of ESPN’s bowl contingent has Michigan heading to Las Vegas. The Wolverines are 1-3 all-time against Utah with their lone win coming during the 2002 season, a 10-7 victory in Ann Arbor. Utah beat Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2008 (25-23) and 2014 (26-10) and grabbed a 24-17 victory in Salt Lake City in 2015, the first game of the Jim Harbaugh era.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Music City Bowl vs. Mississippi State (Dec. 30)

Apparently, the message here is that Nashville is in play for the Wolverines. Michigan is 0-1 all-time against the Bulldogs, a 52-14 loss in the 2010 Gator Bowl.

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

CBS Sports’ projection would have Michigan heading back to Tampa for the second year in a row. The Vols have a 1-0 series lead against Michigan all-time, blowing out the Wolverines 45-17 on Jan. 1, 2001, in Orlando.

Athlon Sports: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Michigan’s Athlon projection sends them to Orlando for another meeting of blue bloods. 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.

Bryan Fischer, Sports Illustrated: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

One week after stepping up to the plate to put Michigan in the College Football Playoff discussion, Fischer is another to place the Wolverines in Orlando for their bowl game.

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

We close out this week with another Citrus Bowl projection and another pick for Michigan to take on Tennessee.