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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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December 27

Walk-On’s Independence Bowl: Duke vs. Southern Miss
1:30 pm ET, ESPN – Shreveport, Louisiana 

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State vs. Boston College
5:15 pm ET, ESPN – New York, New York

Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl: TCU vs. Missouri
9 pm ET, ESPN – Houston, Texas 

December 28

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Virginia vs. South Carolina
1:30 pm ET, ESPN – Nashville, Tennessee

Camping World Bowl: Miami (FL) vs. West Virginia
5:15 pm ET, ESPN – Orlando, Florida 

Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl: San Diego State vs. Appalachian State
5:30 pm ET, CBSSN – Tuscon, Arizona

Valero Alamo Bowl: Washington State vs. Texas Tech
9 pm ET, ESPN – San Antonio, Texas

The skinny

How intriguing would a bowl matchup between Washington State and Texas Tech be? Mike Leach against his former school and his former quarterback in Kliff Kingsbury? The Cougars obviously have higher aspirations than the Alamo Bowl after their win over Oregon on Saturday night has the scent of Pasadena roses beginning to fill the air in Pullman. Kingsbury has done excellent work in Lubbock this season while coaching for his job, and has the Red Raiders one win away from a guaranteed bowl trip, while still being very much a factor in the Big 12 Championship race.

San Diego State and Appalachian State would be an intriguing matchup between two of the best from the Group-of-Five.

Bronco Mendenhall has done outstanding work in Charlottesville this year, with Virginia following up their upset win over Miami with a nice road win over Duke. Not many expected the Cavaliers to get back to a bowl game for the second year in a row, and now they’re in a position to potentially challenge for the Coastal Division crown. Their date with rival Virginia Tech on the day after Thanksgiving could be for the divisional championship.

A bowl game is starting to look a little dicey for Gary Patterson’s TCU after four losses in their last five games. The Horned Frogs get Kansas and Kansas State in consecutive weeks coming up that should get them back on track and on the right path toward eligibility. If they win both of those, they will still need to win one of their final three – on the road against West Virginia or Baylor or at home against Oklahoma State – in order to get to six wins.

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