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College Football Bowl Projections 2019, Week 6: Ohio State leaps into playoff

By John Mitchell

LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a touchdown with running back J.K. Dobbins #2 and offensive lineman Jonah Jackson #73 and tight end Jeremy Ruckert #88 and offensive lineman Thayer Munford #75 against the Nebraska Cornhuskersat Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates a touchdown with running back J.K. Dobbins #2 and offensive lineman Jonah Jackson #73 and tight end Jeremy Ruckert #88 and offensive lineman Thayer Munford #75 against the Nebraska Cornhuskersat Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

January 1

Citrus Bowl: Auburn vs. Iowa
1 p.m. ET, ABC – Orlando, Fla.

Outback Bowl: Penn State vs. Florida
1 p.m. ET, ESPN – Tampa, Fla.

January 2

Birmingham Bowl: UCF vs. Miami (FL)
3 p.m. ET, ESPN – Birmingham, Ala.

Gator Bowl: Nebraska vs. Kentucky
7 p.m. ET, ESPN – Jacksonville, Fla.

January 3

Idaho Potato Bowl: Buffalo vs. San Diego State
3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN – Boise, Idaho

January 4

Armed Forces Bowl: Fresno State vs. Army*
11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN – Fort Worth, Texas

January 6

Mobile Alabama Bowl: Louisiana vs. Western Michigan
7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN – Mobile, Ala.

The Skinny 

Auburn is currently the odd team left out of the New Year’s Six from the SEC’s quartet of elite teams, with due respect to Florida. The Tigers are every bit the contender Alabama, LSU and Georgia are, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if they jumped into the New Year’s Six, or even the playoff field.

Freshman quarterback Bo Nix is improving every week, continuing to be a glove-like fit in Gus Malzahn’s offense. The true strength of the team is on the defensive side of the ball, however; the Tigers just might have the best defense in college football.

Penn State seems like a legitimate threat to Ohio State’s autonomy in the Big Ten East. The Nittany Lions embarrassed Maryland in College Park in a game that the Terps touted as one of the biggest in school history. Penn State’s defense is ferocious, and Sean Clifford continues to improve at quarterback. Penn State’s trip to Columbus against Ohio State on Nov. 23 might decide the division.

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