Notes:
-Appalachian State in the Cure Bowl? It's more likely than you think. Although I've had the presumptive Sun Belt champ in the Mobile Alabama Bowl since the year began, I'm now taking the opportunity to create a more entertaining matchup.
Last year, it was close to the end of the season before the Sun Belt announced its champion would be headed to the New Orleans Bowl. I expect the same sort of thing this year: they'll do whatever is needed to create exciting bowl games for their teams.
-On the other hand, in this case, the Liberty Flames are pushed out of the only bowl game where they have a tie-in this year, and into the New Mexico Bowl on the other side of the country.
Overall, I'm not worried about that. I'm sure they have the budget to cover travel. And it's not a case of choosing them and leaving out a different bowl-eligible team, as there are none that I'm leaving out. In fact, this week's bowl projections required a 5-7 team, and Louisville has that covered.
-I'm aware that the Boca Raton Bowl projection of Florida Atlantic and Central Florida is a rematch of a Week 2 game won by UCF, 48-14. It'd even be played in the same stadium, yes.
After starting the season off 0-2 and 2-0, respectively, FAU and UCF now find themselves with the same records—which is expected to hold up until this bowl would take place. This reversal in fortunes makes a rematch an intriguing prospect.
-Despite both teams suffering their respective first losses of the year, I have Wake Forest and Georgia in the Orange Bowl.
The Orange Bowl just isn't going to get a good ACC team, unless Clemson falters only just enough to miss the playoff but still win the conference. Since I still have the Tigers in the 2 seed for the CFP, Wake Forest is the next-best option as the only other team in the ACC expected to reach 10 wins before bowl season.
Meanwhile, I have Georgia getting in by winning the SEC East; my current expectation is that the winner of that division would get a New Years Six bid unless something crazy happens.
-Now projected at second for the conference, Iowa State slips by Texas for a Sugar Bowl bid. They aren't quite there in the ratings yet, but I suspect a win over the Longhorns would push the Cyclones ahead in most measurements.
-And yes, Michigan and Florida once again, this time in the Citrus Bowl.
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