Pac-12 Bowl Projections: Oct. 22

Our midseason breakdown continues with a look at where each Pac-12 team might be headed for bowl season.

Cotton Bowl (College Football Playoff) - Stanford

Stanford is playing as well as anyone else in the country right now and the Cardinal should still control their own destiny for the playoff. Winning out is a must, and they would have to defeat Notre Dame and Utah (most likely) in the final two weeks of the season, but anything is possible if they keep rolling.

Rose Bowl - Utah

If the Utes are able to get by a scary trap game this weekend at USC (one the Trojans are actually favored in), Utah should be undefeated heading into the Pac-12 Championship Game against Stanford. Win that, and the Utes are the conference's representative in the College Football Playoff. But a loss would still send them to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl, and that's not a bad consolation prize.

Alamo Bowl - USC

It looks as if the Pac-12's second tier is shaping up to be some combination of USC, Oregon, Arizona State, and California. The Alamo has first choice after the access bowls finish, and I think they go with the always attractive Trojans.

Holiday Bowl - UCLA

The Bruins seem like a solid selection for the Holiday as long as they have no more than a one-game difference in league record behind the teams in front of them. With the other regional option already being taken, the committee would love to have the Bruins.

Foster Farms Bowl - California

Oregon is a possible choice, but expect the Foster Farms to go the local route (as they did last year with Stanford) and take the Golden Bears if they are still available.

Sun Bowl - Oregon

Starting here, the bowls pick in order of conference finish. But even if Arizona State finishes ahead of Oregon, I would expect the Sun to invoke its no repeat clause and snag the Ducks.

Las Vegas Bowl - Arizona State

With an easier schedule down the stretch and home field advantage for the Territorial Cup, the Sun Devils should finish ahead of Arizona in the South. That leaves an easy choice for the Las Vegas committee, who saw a good amount of maroon and gold at the same game in 2011.

Cactus Bowl - Arizona

The Wildcats are only win away from bowl eligibility, but a brutal schedule awaits them to finish the regular season. They get a hot Washington State team at home this weekend before playing three of their final four on the road. Anything less than two victories in those last five should send Rich Rodriguez's team is sent to Phoenix for the Cactus.

Hawaii Bowl - Washington State

That does it for the conference's tie-ins, but I expect the Cougars to be bowl eligible as well. They should get a bid to an at-large game, and I think the Hawaii is most likely. Their committee has worked out trades in the past to grab Pac-12 teams on the outside looking in, and a Washington State-BYU matchup would be a lot spicier then say, BYU-Tulsa.