College football bowl predictions for Week 12: Playoff, New Year's picks

Projecting college football's most prestigious bowl games ahead of Week 12 action

As we move deeper into the month of November with some conference title games already having been clinched and other leagues fighting for first place, and the selection committee releasing its third official rankings, bowl predictions suddenly mean a lot more than they did in weeks past.

• SEC Championship Game is set as East champ Georgia will meet West champion Alabama in a matchup with playoff implications
• Almost 60 schools are already eligible to play in a bowl game this postseason
• College Football Playoff race is open with several 10-0 teams looking to qualify for the final four-team semifinal before next year's expansion
• Michigan, Ohio State both undefeated going down to the wire
• Oregon, Washington in a battle for Pac-12 supremacy
• Texas trying to hang on in the Big 12 championship race

Where does that leave things when it comes to the most important bowl games of the postseason? Let's take a crack at projecting the key matchups.

Fiesta Bowl

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Prediction: Washington vs. Tulane

Our projection remains that Washington will play for the Pac-12 championship as an undefeated team, but will fall to Oregon in the rematch, especially with how closely it has played some of its games recently. Alabama is our runner-up in the SEC title bout, falling to two losses and missing out on the playoff, but with a defense that matches up well against the Huskies' productive aerial attack.

Peach Bowl

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Prediction: Penn State vs. Tulane

Tulane remains our favorite to carry the Group of Five's banner into the New Year's Six bowl schedule as presumptive AAC champions with a 12-1 mark, the close loss to Ole Miss being the only blemish. The committee has respected Penn State much of the season and, while it will discount the performance of the offense, it will also look with favor on the team's superb defense, and its losses, to two of America's best teams.

Cotton Bowl

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Prediction: Texas vs. Ole Miss

Although we project Texas will win the Big 12 championship and finish with one loss, that win will likely not be enough to crack the top four with three undefeated conference champions and a fourth with one loss that will have defeated a superior opponent in its league title game. Ole Miss should finish the season with two losses and qualify for a New Year's bowl from the SEC.

Orange Bowl

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Prediction: Ohio State vs. Louisville

We predict that Ohio State will lose to Michigan in the regular season finale, so will not be able to play for the Big Ten championship, and with other teams in better position to make the final four, should leave the one-loss Buckeyes out of the semifinal. But their defense should match up well against a skilled Louisville attack that we project will fall to Florida State in the ACC Championship Game.

Rose Bowl Semifinal

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Prediction: Michigan vs. Florida State

The Seminoles are our favorite to win the ACC title undefeated, and what a turnaround it would be for Mike Norvell, who has steadily helped revive this program since taking over. Florida State's offense would face a real test against a Michigan defense that is among college football's very best and should be the engine to once again take down Ohio State and win the Big Ten crown.

Sugar Bowl Semifinal

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Prediction: Georgia vs. Oregon

Georgia is our pick to run the table and win the SEC Championship Game once again, while we expect Oregon to make its return to the College Football Playoff by defeating Washington in the Pac-12 title game. That should set up a great clash between the Bulldogs' expert defense and the Ducks' multi-varied offense, led by Heisman contender quarterback Bo Nix, who last met UGA in a 49-3 drubbing last year.

National Championship

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Prediction: Georgia vs. Michigan

Michigan's ability to rush the passer and control tempo by running the ball will be enough to hold off the Seminoles and finally advance to the national championship game. But it will run into a team of destiny, as Georgia, the most complete team in the nation right now, becomes the first school to win three straight natties since Minnesota in the 1930s.

National champion: Georgia

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