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College Football Bowl Projections 2018: Texas rises into New Year’s Six

By John Mitchell

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 17: David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones is stopped at the line of scrimmage by Gary Johnson #33 of the Texas Longhorns and Anthony Wheeler #45 in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 17: David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones is stopped at the line of scrimmage by Gary Johnson #33 of the Texas Longhorns and Anthony Wheeler #45 in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /

December 15

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

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

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

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

R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: UAB vs. Troy
9 pm ET, ESPN – New Orleans, Louisiana

December 18

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

December 19

DXL Frisco Bowl: SMU vs. Northern Illinois
8 pm ET, ESPN – Frisco, Texas

December 20

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

The skinny

Boise State has turned the corner and I’m now projecting the Broncos to take home the Mountain West championship after all. Bryan Harsin’s team gets the fortuitous draw of playing Utah State at home next week for a spot in the Mountain West Championship game against Fresno State. The New Year’s Six chances for the Mountain West are most likely gone, but the conference has earned some respect this season, and in the very least has been every bit as good as the AAC from top-to-bottom.

The Sun Belt announced this week that it would be sending its champion to the New Orleans Bowl. For now, I think that champion will be Troy, although that might get decided on the field next week as the Trojans go on the road to take on Appalachian State. I expect the C-USA to ultimately follow suit and send its champion to New Orleans, although traditionally the C-USA gives its champion its pick of bowl games from their tie-ins.

SMU had a shot to seize control of the AAC West division, but the Mustangs came up short at home against Memphis. Now, SMU must go on the road and knock off Tulsa to get bowl eligibile. SMU has shown improvement from September until now in Sonny Dykes’ first season on the sideline, and a bowl berth would be tangible evidence of that progress if they can handle business next week.

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