Preseason College Football Playoff and NY6 Bowl projections for 2022

Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 31): Ohio State vs Georgia

This is going to be a classic. Georgia is still loaded and while the defense won’t be as good as last season, it’s not going to drop off that much. This is Kirby Smart we are talking about after all, plus the Dawgs have oodles of NFL talent just waiting in the wings.

Ohio State could have the best offense in college football and it will be fun to see what C.J. Stroud and his group of wideouts can do against UGA.

Alabama gets the edge over Georgia in the preseason due to Bryce Young, Will Anderson, and just all the returning talent. Yet, it seems clear to most that Georgia and Bama will be among the top three teams in college football this season, along with Ohio State, so this seems like a no-brainer.

Peach Bowl (Dec. 31) Alabama vs Clemson

In our spring bowl projection, we had Oklahoma advancing to the College Football Playoff, but I’ve adjusted and decided to do with Clemson.

The Tigers are going to have a fantastic defense in 2022, as well as a powerful running game, which they used to win 10 games in 2021. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei struggled last season but the former five-star QB should improve this season and if not, Clemson has five-star freshman Cade Klubnik waiting in the wings.

The schedule isn’t daunting outside of a trip to Notre Dame. Even if the Tigers lost that game in a narrow fashion, they will have chances to impress against NC State and Wake Forest, as well as Miami.

Clemson could have two chances to beat Miami, who I said is going to win 10 games, and after beating the Canes twice, and having multiple wins over top-25 teams, the Tigers will do just enough to get a playoff berth.

Their reward will be facing Alabama.