College Football Bowl Projections

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Eliot Leadem, Jack Niesse, and Conor Coleman

 

Dec. 17 — New Mexico Bowl, New Mexico vs. Texas-San Antonio, Albuquerque, 2 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: New Mexico- 35-21

Eliot: New Mexico- 24-10

Conor: New Mexico- 28-17

Dec. 17 — Las Vegas Bowl, Houston vs. San Diego State, Las Vegas, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Jack: Houston- 35-28

Eliot: Houston- 39-9

Conor: Houston- 38-27

Dec. 17 — Camelia Bowl, Toledo vs. Appalachian State, Montgomery, Ala., 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Appalachian State- 21-17

Eliot: Appalachian State- 13-7

Conor: Appalachian State- 28-23

Dec. 17 — Cure Bowl, Arkansas State vs. Central Florida, Orlando, 5:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

Jack: Central Florida- 28-14

Eliot: Arkansas State- 17-14

Conor: Central Florida- 21-17

Dec. 17 — New Orleans Bowl, Southern Mississippi vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, New Orleans, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Louisiana-Lafayette – 51- 48

Eliot: Louisiana-Lafayette- 24-6

Conor: Southern Mississippi- 41-38

Dec. 19 — Miami Beach Bowl, Tulsa vs. Central Michigan, Miami, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Central Michigan- 17-14

Eliot: Tulsa- 52-30

Conor: Tulsa- 28-21

Dec. 20 — Boca Raton Bowl, Memphis vs. Western Kentucky, Boca Raton, Fla., 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Memphis- 24-21

Eliot: Memphis- 42-10

Conor: Memphis- 24-13

Dec. 21 — Poinsettia Bowl, BYU vs. Wyoming, San Diego, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Wyoming- 35-17

Eliot: BYU- 38-27

Conor: BYU-  24-14

Dec. 22 — Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Idaho vs. Colorado State, Boise, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Idaho- 28- 14

Eliot: Colorado State- 35-6

Conor: Colorado State- 45-17

Dec. 23 — Bahamas Bowl, Old Dominion vs. Eastern Michigan, Nassau, Bahamas, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack:  Old Dominion- 20-17

Eliot: Eastern Michigan- 30-16

Conor: Old Dominion- 35-21

Dec. 23 — Armed Forces Bowl, Navy vs. Louisiana Tech, Fort Worth, Texas, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Navy-  27-21

Eliot: Navy- 14-13

Conor: Louisiana Tech- 34-15

Dec. 23 — Dollar General Bowl, Ohio vs. Troy, Mobile, Ala., 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack:  Troy- 17-12

Eliot: Troy- 24-5

Conor: Troy- 30-24

Dec. 24 — Hawaii Bowl, Middle Tennessee vs. Hawaii, Honolulu, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Hawaii- 35- 27

Eliot: Middle Tennessee- 33-24

Conor: Middle Tennessee- 35-21

Dec. 26 — St. Petersburg Bowl, Mississippi State vs. Miami (Ohio), St. Petersburg, Fla., 11 a.m. (ESPN)

Jack Niesse: Mississippi State- 14-7

Eliot: Mississippi State- 20-10

Conor: Mississippi State- 34-10

Dec. 26 — Quick Lane Bowl, Boston College vs. Maryland, Detroit, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Jack: Maryand- 16-14

Eliot: Boston College- 16-14

Conor: Boston College- 17-10

Dec. 26 — Independence Bowl, North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt, Shreveport, La., 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Jack: Vanderbilt-31-28

Eliot: North Carolina State- 31-28

Conor: Vanderbilt- 35-21

Dec. 27 — Heart of Dallas Bowl, North Texas vs. Army, noon (ESPN)

Jack: Army- 35-0

Eliot: Army- 20-3

Conor: Army- 22-6

Dec. 27 — Military Bowl, Wake Forest vs. Temple, Annapolis, Md., 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Temple- 35-3

Eliot: Wake Forest- 20-13

Conor: Temple- 31-17

Dec. 27 — Holiday Bowl, Minnesota vs. Washington State, San Diego, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack- Washington State- 38-35

Eliot: Minnesota- 38-27

Conor: Washington State- 42-24

Dec. 27 — Cactus Bowl, Baylor vs. Boise State, Phoenix, 10:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Baylor-21-14

Eliot: Boise State- 21-6

Conor: Boise State- 24-21

Dec. 28 — Pinstripe Bowl, Pittsburgh vs. Northwestern, Bronx, N.Y., 2 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Northwestern- 31-14

Eliot: Pittsburgh- 45-31

Conor: Pittsburgh- 49-35

Dec. 28 — Russell Athletic Bowl, Miami (Fla.) vs. West Virginia, Orlando, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: West Virginia- 21-14

Eliot: West Virginia- 19-7

Conor: West Virginia- 24-21

Dec. 28 — Foster Farms Bowl, Indiana vs. Utah, Santa Clara, Calif., 8:30 p.m. (FOX)

Jack: Indiana- 21-14

Eliot: Utah- 48-13

Conor: Utah- 37-14

Dec. 28 — Texas Bowl, Kansas State vs. Texas A&M, Houston, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack- Texas A&M- 17- 14

Eliot: Kansas State- 29-28

Conor: Texas A&M- 31-24

Dec. 29 — Birmingham Bowl, South Florida vs. South Carolina, Birmingham, Ala., 2 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: USC- 21-17

Eliot: South Florida- 33-14

Conor: South Florida- 35-24

Dec. 29 — Belk Bowl, Virginia Tech vs. Arkansas, Charlotte, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Virginia Tech- 38-7

Eliot: Virginia Tech- 14-13

Conor: Virginia Tech- 27-21

Dec. 29 — Alamo Bowl, Oklahoma State vs. Colorado, San Antonio, 9 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack- Colorado- 21-14

Eliot: Colorado- 23-17

Conor: Colorado- 31-17

Dec. 30 — Liberty Bowl, TCU vs. Georgia, Memphis, Tenn., Noon (ESPN)

Jack: Georgia- 35-7

Eliot: TCU- 35-7

Conor: TCU- 28-27

Dec. 30 — Sun Bowl, North Carolina vs. Stanford, El Paso, Texas, 2 p.m. (CBS)

Jack: North Carolina- 28-14

Eliot: North Carolina- 18-7

Conor: Stanford- 37-21

Dec. 30 — Music City Bowl, Nebraska vs. Tennessee, Nashville, 3:30 p.m.

(ESPN)

Jack: Tennessee- 17-7

Eliot: Nebraska- 24-21

Conor: Tennessee- 24-21

Dec. 30 — Arizona Bowl, South Alabama vs. Air Force, Tucson, Ariz., 5:30 p.m. (ASN)

Jack: Air Force- 35-14

Eliot: Air Force- 19-17

Conor: Air Force- 22-7

Dec. 30 — Orange Bowl, Florida State vs. Michigan, Miami Gardens, Fla., 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Michigan- 35-17

Eliot: Michigan- 39-24

Conor: Michigan- 38-20

Dec. 31 — Citrus Bowl, Louisville vs. LSU, Orlando, 11 a.m. (ABC)

Jack: Louisville- 45-17

Eliot: Louisville- 40-13

Conor: LSU- 35-21

Dec. 31 — TaxSlayer Bowl, Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky, Jacksonville, Fla., 11 a.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Georgia Tech- 17-14

Eliot: Georgia Tech- 28-26

Conor: Kentucky- 28-14

Dec. 31 — CFP Semifinal: Peach Bowl, Alabama vs. Washington, Atlanta, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Alabama- 35-21

The University of Alabama has the number one scoring defense in the country will be able to keep Jake browning and the huskies offense to only 3 touchdowns.  

Eliot: Alabama- 24-16

Alabama defense shows up big, containing the explosive Washington offense led by QB Jake Browning and WR John Ross to only one TD on the night. Jalen Hurts struggles in the first half, but connects for three touchdowns in the second half.

Conor: Alabama- 38-21

Alabama’s Jalen Hurts will show his true leadership in this game, and will drive the offense to 4 touchdowns. Alabama leads the country in defensive touchdowns, and will score another one, picking off Washington’s Jake Browning. Browning’s passing game has struggled against top opponents and Alabama’s defense will be 10x better than any defense that Washington played during the regular season.

Dec. 31 — CFP Semifinal: Fiesta Bowl, Clemson vs. Ohio State, Glendale, Ariz., 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Clemson- 24-17

Clemson’s explosive defense and quick offense will be a tough task for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes will keep it close but the tigers will push through and score with 2 minutes left to win the game.

Eliot: Ohio State- 30-23

Clemson (12-1) and Ohio State (11-1) will battle back and forth throughout the game, matching the score up until the 4th quarter. JT Barrett will frustrate the Clemson defense with the option, leading to the final TD of the game with two minutes to go.

Conor: Ohio State- 31-28

Ohio State’s defense is second in the country to only Alabama. The Buckeyes will be able to contain Deshaun Watson, but it will be a Clemson missed field goal as time expires that will keep the Tigers from winning. Ohio State’s running game will bound the Clemson defense, just as James Connor and the Pittsburgh Panthers did.

Jan. 2 — Outback Bowl, Iowa vs. Florida, Tampa, 1 p.m. (ABC)

Jack: Florida- 17-14

Eliot: Iowa- 7-3

Conor: Florida- 21-14

Jan. 2 — Cotton Bowl Classic, Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan, Arlington, Texas, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Wisconson- 14-7

Eliot: Wisconsin- 52-21

Conor: Wisconsin- 49-21

Jan. 2 — Rose Bowl Game, Penn State vs. Southern California, Pasadena, Calif., 5 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Southern California- 28-24

Eliot: Penn State- 19-10

Conor: Penn State- 38-36

Jan. 2 — Sugar Bowl, Oklahoma vs. Auburn, New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Oklahoma- 17-14

Eliot: Auburn- 28-17

Conor: Oklahoma- 31-20

Jan. 9 — National Championship Game: Semifinal winners, Tampa, Fla., 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Jack: Alabama vs. Clemson

Clemson is no match for The University of Alabama. Deshaun Watson will throw 3 interceptions (one will be ran back for a touchdown), which will help Alabama to hold them to only a field goal.. Hurts will have touchdown by the air and one on the ground.   Alabama wins 21-3.

Alabama- 21-3

Eliot: Alabama vs. Ohio State

Alabama will anticipate a loaded running game from the Buckeyes, but two quick receiving touchdowns by Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown gives Ohio State a 14-3 lead midway through the first quarter. Alabama adds on 7 of their own in the beginning of the 3rd quarter through a long series of short running gains and slants. The 4th quarter amounts to 28 total points, ending the game at a score of 28-24. A fumble in the red zone crushes the last opportunity for Alabama, crowning Ohio State as the 2016 Champions.

Ohio State- 28-24

Conor: Alabama vs. Ohio State

Ohio State will take a quick lead into the game and will be winning at halftime, but the leadership of the Alabama players will change the attitude leading into the second half. Alabama’s defense will come out and allow J.T. Barrett and the Buckeyes to only 1 touchdown in the second half. A Crimson Tide interception will end the game as the Buckeyes look to drive down the field and score a late touchdown or field goal to take the lead or tie the game. Alabama wins the College Football Playoff back to back years.

Alabama- 34-31