Postseason picks for every game...
Brad Crawford
College Football Playoff picks significantly changed in the latest bowl projections heading into Week 6 after three top-10 teams went down. None werebigger than Georgia's setback at Alabama despite a scintillating second-half comeback. Facing one of the nation's toughest schedules the rest of the way, the Bulldogs are still pegged as a playoff team this week, but the road back to the league title game is considerably more difficult.
Group of Five playoff hopefuls UNLV and James Madison both posted blowout victories to stay unbeaten and remain in the chase alongside one-loss Boise State, who ran over previously-unblemished Washington State behind a Herculean rushing effort from Ashton Jeanty.
In a playoff elimination game of sorts, Notre Dame's victory over Louisville keeps the Fighting Irish within striking distance of the top 10 as a quality at-large option if they can keep it up.
Get football and recruiting scoop on your favorite college team for $1 for first month.
The latest bowl projections from 247Sports after Week 5 in college football:
New OrleansBowl
Projection:Liberty vs.Georgia Southern
Even if the Flames finish unbeaten, there are a few Group of Five teams in better position to reach the playoff with more competitive schedules. Liberty's not going to have enough wins over quality teams to warrant inclusion unless there's a chaos moving forward elsewhere within the G-5.
FriscoBowl
Projection:SMU vs. Texas State
Camellia Bowl
Projection: Sam Houston vs. Western Michigan
Los Angeles Bowl
Projection: California vs. Boise State
Ashton Jeanty should be on everyone's Heisman shortlist at this time. After recording another 200-yard explosion in Saturday's win over Washington State, the Broncos' best player is the overwhelming favorite to win the Doak Walker. If Boise State wins out, by the way, the Broncos have a chance to reach the playoff considering the setback came by a field goal at Oregon.
CureBowl
Projection:South Alabama vs. WKU
Boca Raton Bowl
Projection:Memphis vs. Louisiana
Gasparilla Bowl
Projection: Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia
The Hokies have three losses already, but showed signs of major life during Friday's loss at Miami. Virginia Tech thought it had upset the unbeaten Hurricanes with a successful Hail Mary before the touchdown was waived off at the horn. There's a series of 50-50 games coming up that are must-wins if Brent Pry's group intends on playing in the postseason.
Potato Bowl
Projection:Coastal Carolina vs. Bowling Green
Myrtle BeachBowl
Projection: Toledo vs.TCU
Guaranteed RateBowl
Projection:Rutgers vs. Kansas State
The Big 12 race is wide open and the Wildcats certainly are on the league's better teams, but how's it going to shake out when Kansas State already has a conference loss? They need more explosive plays offensively like the offense showed against Oklahoma State, but the setback at BYU could leave a lingering stain if the Cougars keep it up.
DetroitBowl
Projection:Wisconsin vs. Buffalo
Hawaii Bowl
Projection:Tulane vs. Fresno State
Armed Forces Bowl
Projection: Texas Tech vs. Army
Did anyone have Army and Navy unbeaten heading into Week 6? Jeff Monken's team has a realistic shot at finishing unbeaten and getting to the playoff, but they're going to have to beat the Midshipmen and nationally-ranked Notre Dame to get there. This might be the best squad Monken's had at the program, which is saying something given his success.
BirminghamBowl
Projection:East Carolina vs.Syracuse
68 VenturesBowl
Projection:North Texas vs. Arkansas State
Las VegasBowl
Projection:Oklahoma vs. Washington
The Sooners snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Auburn, erasing an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Tigers and record their first SEC win of the season. Auburn is out of the league's bowl picture this week while Oklahoma's updated projection is in Las Vegas.
HolidayBowl
Projection:Pittsburgh vs. Washington State
FenwayBowl
Projection:USF vs. NC State
PinstripeBowl
Projection:Iowa vs. Boston College
This would be a battle of wills at the line of scrimmage and quite the chess match from the Hawkeyes trying to corral Thomas Castellanos. Florida State couldn't do it and Missouri struggled to beat a hard-nosed Eagles squad under rookie coach Bill O'Brien.
MilitaryBowl
Projection:Maryland vs. Navy
Arizona Bowl
Projection: Eastern Michigan vs. San Jose State
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Projection: Notre Dame vs. Colorado
Back in the bowl picture after a notable win at UCF, could the Buffaloes make a return trip to Orlando in the postseason? If Notre Dame fails to reach the playoff, the Pop-Tarts Bowl would love have the Irish, a team that historically carries a big crowd with them to theirbowl destination.
AlamoBowl
Projection: USC vs.Utah
IndependenceBowl
Projection:UCF vs. Oregon State
LibertyBowl
Projection:Arizona vs.South Carolina
Are the Gamecocks better than most expected they would be this season? It would appear that way as Shane Beamer's only loss came by three points to LSU after several disputed calls from officials. Arizona's win in its first Big 12 game at Utah is a momentum-boosters for the Wildcats, who control their destiny in getting to the league championship game if they can keep it going.
Sun Bowl
Projection: UNC vs.Oklahoma State
First Responder Bowl
Projection: Michigan Statevs.Arizona State
BahamasBowl
Projection: NIU vs. Georgia State
Music CityBowl
Projection: Nebraska vs.Kentucky
Nebraska's bowl hopes would have changed significantly had the Huskers not pulled out a tougher-than-expected victory at Purdue. For the Wildcats, humiliating previously-unbeaten Ole Miss on the road softens the sting of two previous SEC losses to South Carolina and Georgia at home. The Wildcats will be a tough out the rest of the way if their defense continues to perform at an elite level.
MayoBowl
Projection: Illinois vs. Duke
TexasBowl
Projection:UNLV vs.Texas A&M
Citrus Bowl
Projection: Missouri vs.Indiana
One of the nation's unexpected 5-0 teams, the Hoosiers should be ranked for the first time under Curt Cignetti after pulling away from Maryland in Week 5. This matchup in the Citrus Bowl is one of the upper echelon games for the SEC-Big Ten in the postseason that's just outside of the playoff.
ReliaQuest Bowl
Projection: Michigan vs.Ole Miss
GatorBowl
Projection:LSU vs. Louisville
College Football Playoff (first round)
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Texas
No. 11 Iowa State at No. 6 Tennessee
No. 10 Clemson at No. 7 Oregon
No. 9 Penn State at No. 8 Georgia
Remember that season-opening loss to Georgia in Atlanta? That feels like months ago for Dabo Swinney's team which destroyed every opponent since. Another multi-touchdown outing from Cade Klubnik shows the Tigers mean business in the ACC title race right behind Miami. ... JMU continues to hang on to our Group of Five spot after scoring 63 points against Ball State a week after lighting up UNC on the road for 70.
College Football Playoff (quarterfinals)
No. 8 Georgiavs. No. 1 Ohio State (Rose Bowl)
No. 7 Oregonvs. No. 2 Alabama (Sugar Bowl)
No. 6 Tennesseevs. No. 3 Miami (Peach Bowl)
No. 5 Texasvs. No. 4BYU (Fiesta Bowl)
Alabama is the new SEC favorite after holding off Georgia in college football's game of the season up to this point. Jalen Milroe's heroics in the first half returned late in the fourth quarter after the Crimson Tide had squandered a four-touchdown lead. BYU stays put as the projected Big 12 champion following the Cougars' win at Baylor coupled with Utah's unexpected loss to Arizona.