/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47078962/usa-today-8529126.0.jpg)
The opening week of the 2015 college football season is here. In this edition of our season preview, we take a look at who may be going where come bowl season. Picks are based on our conference standings post from Monday.
Bowl | Team 1 | Team 2 |
Orange (Semifinal #1) | Ohio State | Baylor |
Cotton (Semifinal #2) | TCU | Alabama |
Peach | Florida State | Notre Dame |
Fiesta | Stanford | Houston |
Rose | USC | Michigan State |
Sugar | Oklahoma | LSU |
Alamo | Oklahoma State | Oregon |
Cactus | Arizona | Fresno State |
Liberty | Arkansas | Kansas State |
TaxSlayer | Auburn | Clemson |
Citrus | Georgia | Penn State |
Outback | Missouri | Nebraska |
Belk | Florida | Miami (Florida) |
Birmingham | Temple | South Carolina |
Holiday | Wisconsin | UCLA |
Music City | Tennessee | Indiana |
Armed Forces | Mississippi State | California |
Russell Athletic | Texas | Virginia Tech |
Texas | Mississippi | West Virginia |
Military | Pittsburgh | Cincinnati |
Quick Lane | Iowa | North Carolina |
Arizona | Nevada | Southern Miss |
Foster Farms | Michigan | Arizona State |
Heart of Dallas | Louisiana Tech | Northwestern |
Independence | Georgia Tech | Old Dominion |
Pinstripe | Minnesota | NC State |
St. Petersburg | Memphis | Marshall |
Sun | Utah | Louisville |
Bahamas | Bowling Green | Rice |
Hawaii | BYU | Navy |
GoDaddy | Toledo | Appalachian State |
Poinsettia | Boise State | Texas A&M |
Boca Raton | Akron | Western Kentucky |
Famous Idaho Potato | Utah State | Ohio |
Miami Beach | UCF | Texas State |
Camellia | Northern Illinois | Arkansas State |
Cure | Georgia Southern | Rutgers |
Las Vegas | Washington | San Diego State |
New Mexico | Air Force | UTEP |
New Orleans | Middle Tennessee | Louisiana-Lafayette |
Some notes:
• Three of the four playoff teams seem pretty clear cut to me. The No. 4 seed could go to any number of different teams, but I have Baylor edging out Florida State, LSU, and USC. The Bears should run the table up until their regular season finale against TCU, and while I think the Horned Frogs win that game, going 11-1 with your only loss coming against one of the top three teams in the country should put you in the conversation. Group that with the fact the Big 12 was screwed by the selection committee last season, I think there is a good chance they get two teams in this year.
• The Seminoles should once again be right in the top five, but the ACC is going to be so bad this year that anything less than an undefeated record will likely keep Jimbo Fisher’s team out. The Trojans have the opposite problem, as they have as much talent as nearly anyone in the country but play in such a tough conference that two or even three losses is a likely possibility.
• With both USC and Stanford getting into two of the six "access" bowls, an ecstatic Alamo Bowl committee will not pass on Oregon. That leaves either UCLA or Arizona State for the Holiday, and I think the Bruins get the nod since they have the regional connection and the Sun Devils played there two years ago.
• The Foster Farms Bowl is up next, and that is who I see taking the maroon and gold. Arizona State played in this game (then called the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl) back in Todd Graham’s first season and dominated Navy in front of a solid crowd.
• With Michigan projected to be hovering around .500 all season, the Wolverines should be headed to either the Quick Lane or Foster Farms. I like the spiciness of a game against Jim Harbaugh, so the Michigan-ASU matchup seems like a good fit.