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College Football Bowl Projections 2019, Week 12: LSU up, Alabama down

By John Mitchell

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers runs with the ball during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 09: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers runs with the ball during the second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

December 23

Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. Marshall
2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN – Tampa, Fla.

December 24

Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii vs. BYU
8 p.m. ET, ESPN – Honolulu, Hawaii

December 26

Independence Bowl: Florida State vs. Western Kentucky*
4 p.m. ET, ESPN – Shreveport, La.

Quick Lane Bowl: Michigan State vs. North Carolina
8 p.m. ET, ESPN – Detroit, Mich.

December 27

Military Bowl: Navy vs. Louisville
12 p.m. ET, ESPN – Annapolis, Md.

Pinstripe Bowl: Illinois vs. Pitt
3:20 p.m. ET, ESPN – Bronx, N.Y.

Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Fresno State*
6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN – Houston, Texas

Cheez-It Bowl: UCLA vs. TCU
10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN – Phoenix, Ariz.

Holiday Bowl: Michigan vs. Washington
Time TBA – San Diego, Calif.

The Skinny

On October 12th, Illinois was 2-4 having lost four straight games, including defeats at home to Eastern Michigan and Nebraska. Now, the Illini have won four straight games, including an upset of Wisconsin and a come-from-behind win over Michigan State.

Lovie Smith has led the Illini to bowl eligibility after looking dead in the water a few weeks ago. Illinois overcame a 28-3 deficit, outscoring the Spartans 34-6 from that point on to pull a surprising win in East Lansing. It’ll be the first bowl game for Illinois since 2014.

After firing head coach Willie Taggart last week following a dispiriting loss to Miami, Florida State rallied around interim coach Odell Haggins to defeat Boston College 38-31 on the road, which likely clinches a bowl game for the Seminoles as long as they can beat Alabama State next weekend.

The Seminoles’ coaching search will continue to dominate the headlines for weeks to come, but whoever takes over in Tallahassee will be taking over a program in better shape than some might think.

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