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College Football Bowl Projections 2018: Playoff Shakeup in Week 8

By John Mitchell

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Isaac Zico #7 of the Purdue Boilermakers makes a touchdown catch in the end zone as Kendall Sheffield #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes defends at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - OCTOBER 20: Isaac Zico #7 of the Purdue Boilermakers makes a touchdown catch in the end zone as Kendall Sheffield #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes defends at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

December 15

New Mexico Bowl: Marshall vs. Nevada
2 pm ET, ESPN – Albuquerque, New Mexico

AutoNation Cure Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Arkansas State
2:30 pm ET, CBSSN – Orlando, Florida

Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl: Fresno State vs. USC
3:30 pm ET, ABC – Las Vegas, Nevada

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan
5:30 pm ET, ESPN – Montgomery, Alabama

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana Tech vs. Louisiana-Lafayette
9 pm ET, ESPN – New Orleans, Louisiana

December 18

Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl: Florida Atlantic vs. Toledo
7 pm ET, ESPN – Boca Raton, Florida

December 19

DXL Frisco Bowl: SMU vs. Western Michigan
8 pm ET, ESPN – Frisco, Texas 

December 20

Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl: Memphis vs. FIU 
8 pm ET, ESPN – Tampa, Florida

The skinny

I’m now projecting Fresno State as the Mountain West champion after San Diego State’s near-miss late Saturday night to winless San Jose State. That will settle itself on the field in Fresno on Nov. 17 when San Diego State comes to town. The winner of that game will still have to play in a tough Mountain West title game against Utah State or Boise State in order to earn the Las Vegas Bowl bid; the Bulldogs still have an outside shot at making a push to the New Year’s Six if they win out and UCF stumbles.

Lane Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic is trending downward following a 31-7 loss on the road to Marshall that knocked them to 3-4 overall, putting their bowl eligibility in jeopardy. The Owls have suffered a pretty significant sophomore slump under Kiffin, following up last season’s 11 wins and a Conference-USA title with this season’s struggles. Florida Atlantic hosts Louisiana Tech at home on Friday night in a game that is a must-win if they want to retain bowl eligibility.

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