2022 College Football Bowl Projections
Only six days — or five more sleeps — until the college football season officially begins when Austin Peay visits Western Kentucky Saturday at noon ET.
Thirty minutes later, the big boys kick it off. Big Ten rivals Northwestern and Nebraska open league play in that legendary Big Ten hub of Dublin, Ireland. Surprised the Big Ten is playing in Europe? Don’t be. Sources told me the Big Ten is expanding overseas, adding Rome Tech, University of Central Frankfurt (the original UCF), London State and Paris A&M in the very near future.
Speaking of the future — how’s that for a segue? — I’ll predict what’s ahead with my annual bowl projections. As my long-time fan knows, each week I project all 42 bowls. And it’s absolutely free!
Last season, my final projections on Selection Sunday were remarkably 92% accurate. Unfortunately, my preseason bowl projections are closer to 9.2% accurate, so please hold off on making those travel plans just yet.
The past couple of years have been tricky, because not only do I have to project which teams will play in the bowl, but which bowls actually will be played. It’s a tough gig, but someone’s got to do it.
Onto the projections. Each matchup includes the projected point spread based on Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson’s current college football betting power ratings.
CFP National Championship Prediction
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Alabama
-1![]()
Ohio State
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College Football Playoff Semifinals Projections
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Alabama
-16.5![]()
Miami
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Ohio State
-8.5![]()
Georgia
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New Year's Six Bowl Games
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Michigan
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Utah
-3![]()
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Penn State
-6.5![]()
Houston
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Baylor
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Texas A&M
-14.5![]()
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NC State
-7![]()
Wisconsin
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Projections for All Other Bowls
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Michigan State
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Arkansas
-4.5![]()
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Notre Dame
-7.5![]()
Kentucky
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Iowa
-2![]()
Ole Miss
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Eastern Michigan
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Fresno State
-9![]()
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Clemson
-8.5![]()
LSU
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North Carolina
-5![]()
UCLA
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Florida State
-8![]()
Purdue
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Oklahoma
-4.5![]()
USC
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Pitt
-9![]()
Oklahoma State
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Virginia Tech
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Nebraska
-3![]()
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TCU
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Mississippi State
-2.5![]()
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Wake Forest
-1.5![]()
Oregon State
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Texas
-6![]()
Florida
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Virginia
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UCF
-1![]()
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Maryland
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Kansas State
-3![]()
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Toledo
-5![]()
Liberty
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South Carolina
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BYU
-17.5![]()
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Syracuse
PK![]()
Iowa State
PK![]()
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Northwestern
-6![]()
Central Michigan
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San Diego State
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UAB
-3![]()
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Auburn
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Louisville
-3![]()
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Army
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Tulane
-9![]()
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Marshall
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SMU
-5![]()
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Middle Tennessee
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Appalachian State
-12![]()
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Memphis
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Boise State
-4.5![]()
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Miami (OH)
-4.5![]()
Utah State
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Coastal Carolina
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East Carolina
-3.5![]()
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Minnesota
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Arizona State
-1![]()
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Tennessee
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Oregon
-6.5![]()
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Western Michigan
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Louisiana
-9.5![]()
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Washington
-7.5![]()
Air Force
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San Jose State
-13.5![]()
UTSA
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Boston College
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Cincinnati
-15.5![]()
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Troy
-5.5![]()
North Texas
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Florida Atlantic
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Northern Illinois
-3.5![]()
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Georgia State
-8![]()
UTEP
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* The highest-rated champion from the Group of Five conferences (American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt) will be selected to play in the Cotton Bowl if it does not qualify for College Football Playoff.
**ESPN will create a bowl this fall to replace the San Francisco Bowl if it is not played.
