College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (2024)

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:

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (2)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (3)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (4)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (5)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (6)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (7)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (8)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (9)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (10)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (11)

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

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (12)

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)

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (13)

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)

College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (14)

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.

247Sports Logo
College football bowl projections in Week 6: Playoff changes as Alabama makes move (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Last Updated:

Views: 6052

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Amb. Frankie Simonis

Birthday: 1998-02-19

Address: 64841 Delmar Isle, North Wiley, OR 74073

Phone: +17844167847676

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: LARPing, Kitesurfing, Sewing, Digital arts, Sand art, Gardening, Dance

Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.