College Football Bowl Projections for 2021-22
Alabama is still alive for the CFB Playoff in the 2021-22 college football bowl projections.
College football's 2021 bowl season starts on Dec. 17, but with eight weeks in the books, it’s never too early to take a peek at the potential matchups this postseason. Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Cincinnati are projected to compete in the CFB Playoff, with the New Year's Six matchups headlined by Michigan State-Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl and Ole Miss-Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
The 2021-22 bowl schedule features 42 overall games including the national championship. Additionally, the semifinals will take place on Friday, Dec. 31 this season. The Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl will host the semifinals, while the national championship will be held in the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. on Jan. 10.
A few teams just missed in our projections after Week 8, including Washington State, Syracuse, West Virginia, Rutgers, Northwestern, San Jose State, Central Michigan, Buffalo, Georgia State, South Alabama, Colorado State and Eastern Michigan.
How will the postseason matchups look by December? Below are Athlon Sports' predictions for every bowl and playoff game in 2021 after Week 8:
College Football Bowl Projections for 2021-22
Bahamas Bowl (Dec. 17)
Tie-In: Conference USA vs. MAC
Projection: FAU vs. Ball State
Cure Bowl (Dec. 17)
Tie-In: AAC/C-USA/MAC/MW/Sun Belt/Army
Projection: Appalachian State vs. Liberty
Boca Raton Bowl (Dec. 18)
Tie-In: AAC/C-USA/MAC/Sun Belt
Projection: UAB vs. Coastal Carolina
New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 18)
Tie-In: AAC/C-USA/MAC vs. Mountain West
Projection: UTEP vs. Utah State
Independence Bowl (Dec. 18)
Tie-In: BYU vs. Conference USA
Projection: BYU vs. UTSA
LendingTree Bowl (Dec. 18)
Tie-In: MAC/C-USA vs. Sun Belt
Projection: Miami (Ohio) vs. Troy
LA Bowl (Dec. 18)
Tie-In: Mountain West vs. Pac-12
Projection: San Diego State vs. USC
New Orleans Bowl (Dec. 18)
Tie-In: Conference USA vs. Sun Belt
Projection: Marshall vs. Louisiana
Myrtle Beach Bowl (Dec. 20)
Tie-In: AAC/MAC/C-USA/Sun Belt
Projection: Charlotte vs. East Carolina
Famous Idaho Bowl (Dec. 21)
Tie-In: MAC vs. Mountain West
Projection: Kent State vs. Wyoming
Frisco Bowl (Dec. 21)
Tie-In: AAC/C-USA/MAC/MW/Sun Belt
Projection: Nevada vs. Louisiana Tech
Armed Forces Bowl (Dec. 22)
Tie-In: Big 12/C-USA/AAC/Army
Projection: TCU vs. Army
Gasparilla Bowl (Dec. 23)
Tie-In: AAC/ACC/SEC
Projection: Miami vs. Memphis
Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24)
Tie-In: AAC/C-USA vs. Mountain West
Projection: SMU vs. Boise State
Camellia Bowl (Dec. 25)
Tie-In: MAC/C-USA vs. Sun Belt
Projection: Western Michigan vs. WKU
Quick Lane Bowl (Dec. 27)
Tie-In: Big Ten vs. MAC
Projection: Indiana vs. Toledo
Military Bowl (Dec. 27)
Tie-In: ACC vs. American
Projection: Virginia Tech vs. Tulsa
Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 28)
Tie-In: American/ACC/C-USA vs. SEC
Projection: Mississippi State vs. Houston
First Responder Bowl (Dec. 28)
Tie-In: AAC/Big 12/C-USA/Sun Belt/MW
Projection: Texas Tech vs. Stanford
Liberty Bowl (Dec. 28)
Tie-In: Big 12 vs. SEC
Projection: Iowa State vs. Tennessee
Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Dec. 28)
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Tie-In: Big 12 vs. Big Ten
Projection: Kansas State vs. Air Force
Holiday Bowl (Dec. 28)
Tie-In: ACC vs. Pac-12
Projection: North Carolina vs. UCLA
Fenway Bowl (Dec. 29)
Tie-In: ACC vs. American
Projection: Boston College vs. UCF
Pinstripe Bowl (Dec. 29)
Tie-In: ACC vs. Big Ten
Projection: Louisville vs. Maryland
Cheez-It Bowl (Dec. 29)
Tie-In: ACC vs. Big 12
Projection: Wake Forest vs. Texas
Alamo Bowl (Dec. 29)
Tie-In: Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Projection: Arizona State vs. Oklahoma State
Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Dec. 30)
Tie-In: ACC vs. SEC
Projection: Virginia vs. Auburn
Music City Bowl (Dec. 30)
Tie-In: Big Ten vs. SEC
Projection: Purdue vs. Arkansas
Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 30)
Tie-In: Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Projection: Oregon State vs. Minnesota
Gator Bowl (Dec. 31)
Tie-In: ACC vs. SEC
Projection: Florida vs. NC State
Sun Bowl (Dec. 31)
Tie-In: ACC vs. Pac-12
Projection: Clemson vs. Utah
Arizona Bowl (Dec. 31)
Tie-In: MAC vs. Mountain West
Projection: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Outback Bowl (Jan. 1)
Tie-In: Big Ten vs. SEC
Projection: Wisconsin vs. Kentucky
Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1)
Tie-In: Big Ten vs. SEC
Projection: Penn State vs. Texas A&M
Texas Bowl (Jan. 4)
Tie-In: Big 12 vs. SEC
Projection: Baylor vs. LSU
New Year’s Six Bowl
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 30)
Tie-In: At-Large vs. At-Large
Projection: Michigan vs. Pitt
Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 1)
Tie-In: At-Large vs. At-Large
Projection: Michigan State vs. Notre Dame
Rose Bowl (Jan. 1)
Tie-In: Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Projection: Iowa vs. Oregon
Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1)
Tie-In: Big 12 vs. SEC
Projection: Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma
CFB Playoff
Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31)
Tie-In: National Semifinal
Projection: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Orange Bowl (Dec. 31)
Tie-In: National Semifinal
Projection: Georgia vs. Cincinnati
National Championship (Jan. 10)
Location: Indianapolis, Ind.
Tie-In: Cotton Bowl Winner vs. Orange Bowl Winner
Projection: Alabama vs. Georgia
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