Bowl Projections: Undefeated SMU Rolls Into New Year’s Six

What's our latest forecast for all 40 bowl matchups of the 2019 college football season?

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

There are plenty of programs with a better shot at the Playoff than SMU after Week 8, but no undefeated team has been more fun than the Mustangs in their 7–0 stretch to kick off 2019. Head coach Sonny Dykes is making it feel like 1982 again in the Metroplex, dialing up plays for the nation’s No. 5 offense at 44.3 points per game. Former Texas quarterback Shane Buechele is having a career year. SMU has scored 40-plus in six straight games, including a 41–38 thriller at TCU. After Boise State lost to BYU on Saturday, the door is now open for SMU to assume a spot in a New Year’s Six Bowl. Perhaps they’ll stay nearby and appear in the Cotton Bowl.

So who do we expect to fill out the rest of the New Year’s Six spots? Check out Sports Illustrated’s full slate of Bowl Projections below.

Dec. 20

Bahamas Bowl, Nassau (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. MAC
Marshall vs. Ohio

Frisco Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
American vs. Sun Belt
Memphis vs. Appalachian State

Dec. 21

Celebration Bowl, Atlanta (12 p.m. ET, ABC)
MEAC vs. SWAC
Bethune-Cookman vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff

New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. MWC
Western Kentucky vs. Utah State

Cure Bowl, Orlando (2:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
American vs. Sun Belt
Temple vs. Georgia State

Boca Raton Bowl (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
MAC vs. American
Eastern Michigan vs. UCF

Camellia Bowl, Montgomery (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Western Michigan vs. Troy

Las Vegas Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Pac-12 vs. SEC or Big Ten or MWC
Arizona vs. Boise State

New Orleans Bowl (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. Sun Belt
Florida Atlantic vs. Arkansas State

Dec. 23

Gasparilla Bowl, Tampa (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Conference USA vs. ACC or American
UAB vs. Miami

Dec. 24

Hawai'i Bowl, Honolulu (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MWC or BYU vs. American
Hawaii vs. Cincinnati

Dec. 26

Independence Bowl, Shreveport (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Kentucky vs. Florida State

Quick Lane Bowl, Detroit (8 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Illinois vs. Boston College

Dec. 27

Military Bowl, Annapolis (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
American vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Navy vs. Louisville

Pinstripe Bowl, Bronx (3:20 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Nebraska vs. Duke

Texas Bowl, Houston (6:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. SEC
Kansas State vs. Missouri

Holiday Bowl, San Diego (8 p.m. ET, FS1)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Iowa vs. Washington

Cheez-It Bowl, Phoenix (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Washington State vs. TCU

Dec. 28

Camping World Bowl, Orlando (12 p.m. ET, ABC)
Big 12 vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Iowa State vs. Wake Forest

Dec. 30

First Responder Bowl, Dallas (12:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Conference USA
Texas Tech vs. Louisiana Tech

Music City Bowl, Nashville (4 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Big Ten or Notre Dame
Texas A&M vs. Virginia Tech

Redbox Bowl, Santa Clara (4 p.m. ET, FOX)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Indiana vs. USC

Dec. 31

Belk Bowl, Charlotte (12 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC
South Carolina vs. Pitt

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, El Paso (2 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Pac-12 vs. ACC or Notre Dame
Arizona State vs. North Carolina

Liberty Bowl, Memphis (3:45 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. SEC
Oklahoma State vs. Mississippi State

Arizona Bowl, Tucson (4:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)
MWC vs. Sun Belt
Air Force vs. Louisiana Monroe

Alamo Bowl, San Antonio (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
Texas vs. Utah

Jan. 1

Citrus Bowl, Orlando (1 p.m. ET, ABC)
Big Ten vs. SEC
Minnesota vs. Georgia

Outback Bowl, Tampa (1 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Big Ten vs. SEC
Michigan vs. Florida

Jan. 2

Birmingham Bowl (3 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. American
North Texas vs. Tulane

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, Jacksonville (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
SEC vs. ACC or Big Ten or Notre Dame
Auburn vs. Michigan State

Jan. 3

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. MWC
Central Michigan vs. Wyoming

Jan 4

Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth (11:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MWC vs. Big Ten
Army vs. Nevada

Jan. 6

Mobile Alabama Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
MAC vs. Sun Belt
Ball State vs. Georgia Southern

New Year's Six Bowls

Cotton Bowl Classic, Arlington (Dec. 28, noon, ESPN)
At-large vs. At-large
SMU vs. Wisconsin

Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens (Dec. 30, 8 p.m., ESPN)
ACC vs. Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame
Virginia vs. Notre Dame

Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena (Jan. 1, 5 p.m., ESPN)
Big Ten vs. Pac-12
Penn State vs. Oregon

Sugar Bowl, New Orleans (Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m., ESPN)
SEC vs. Big 12
LSU vs. Baylor

Fiesta Bowl, Glendale (Dec. 28, 4 or 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinalist vs. CFP semifinalist
Clemson vs. Oklahoma

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, Atlanta (Dec. 28, 4 or 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinalist vs. CFP semifinalist
Alabama vs. Ohio State

College Football Playoff National Championship, New Orleans (Jan. 13, 8 p.m., ESPN)
CFP semifinal winner vs. CFP semifinal winner