Week 8 College Football Bowl Projections
While Tennessee’s upset of Alabama reduced the Crimson Tide’s margin of error to make another trip to the College Football Playoff, UT’s win does create an unprecedented possibility regarding the SEC.
That is that not one, not two, but three SEC teams could make the four-team playoff. Do I think it’s highly likely? No. However, so you're saying there's a chance? Well …
Here’s how. Tennessee loses a close game at Georgia next month and finishes the season 11-1. Georgia loses to Alabama in the SEC title game, and both the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide finish at 12-1.
In the other Power Five leagues, Ohio State (13-0) wins the Big Ten, while the ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12 champions each have at least one loss. The selection committee would then have to determine if any of the Power Five champions — excluding Ohio State — have a better resume or are more deserving than the three SEC teams.
In the College Football Playoff's eight-year history, there has never been three teams from the same conference that made the playoff.
Ultimately, I don’t think it happens, but I am projecting — for now — that two SEC teams will make the four-team playoff. To do so, Tennessee finishes 11-1, with its only loss to Georgia, and the Bulldogs (13-0) win the SEC title.
Here are my complete bowl projections, including 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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Ohio State
-2![]()
Georgia
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College Football Playoff Semifinals Projections
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Ohio State
-5.5![]()
Clemson
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Georgia
-9.5![]()
Tennessee
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New Year's Six Bowl Games
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UCLA
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Michigan
-9.5![]()
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Oklahoma State
-8![]()
Tulane
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TCU
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Alabama
-9![]()
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Syracuse
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Ole Miss
-6.5![]()
Projections for All Other Bowls
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Illinois
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LSU
-4.5![]()
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Purdue
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Kentucky
-1.5![]()
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Minnesota
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Arkansas
-1![]()
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Eastern Michigan
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San Diego State
-6.5![]()
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Notre Dame
-4.5![]()
Florida
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Florida State
-6![]()
Washington
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Pittsburgh
-3.5![]()
Maryland
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Kansas State
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Utah
-1.5![]()
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Wake Forest
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Texas
-6.5![]()
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NC State
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Penn State
-8.5![]()
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Oklahoma
PK![]()
Texas A&M
PK![]()
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North Carolina
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USC
-5![]()
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Kansas
-1.5![]()
South Carolina
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Louisville
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Cincinnati
-5![]()
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Iowa
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Baylor
-8![]()
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North Texas
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Troy
-6.5![]()
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UAB
-6.5![]()
Georgia Tech
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Oregon State
-4![]()
Nebraska
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Wisconsin
-23![]()
Ball State
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San Jose State
-3.5![]()
Western Kentucky
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UCF
-1![]()
Miami
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UTEP
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SMU
-18![]()
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Air Force
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Texas Tech
-3.5![]()
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UTSA
PK![]()
South Alabama
PK![]()
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Memphis
-1![]()
Toledo
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Buffalo
PK![]()
UNLV
PK![]()
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Coastal Carolina
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West Virginia
-9.5![]()
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Michigan State
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BYU
-3![]()
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Mississippi State
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Oregon
-1.5![]()
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Georgia Southern
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Liberty
-2.5![]()
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Washington State
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Boise State
-2.5![]()
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Wyoming
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Arizona
-7![]()
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East Carolina
-6![]()
Duke
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Old Dominion
-8.5![]()
Ohio
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Miami (OH)
PK![]()
Florida Atlantic
PK![]()
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Utah State
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Appalachian State
-8![]()
* 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.
