DeVante Parker, Kyle Bolin Louisville vs. Notre Dame Photo by Adam Creech 11-22-2014

Bowl Projections: Week 14

Mark BlankenbakerNovember 25, 2014

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Bowl Projections

Jerry Palm CBS: Music City Bowl (12/30) vs. Texas A&M

Jason Kirk SB Nation: Russell Athletic Bowl (12/29/14) vs. Kansas State

Stewart Mandel Fox Sports: Music City Bowl (12/30) vs. LSU

Mark Schlabach ESPN: Sun Bowl (12/27) vs. Utah

Brett McMurphy ESPN: Gator Bowl (1/2) vs. LSU

Phil Steele: Pinstripe Bowl (12/27) vs. Penn State

(NOTE: Louisville vs. Kentucky Basketball is December 27th.)

The Gator Bowl (Tax Slayer) , Music City Bowl, Belk Bowl, Sun Bowl, and Pinstripe Bowl will be pooled together and selections will be made after the College Football Playoff, Orange Bowl, Capital One Bowl (when ACC does not have team in Orange Bowl) and Russell Athletic Bowl. Selections are expected to be based on geography, opponents, avoiding regular season rematches, etc.

The ACC will have guaranteed tie-ins with the Belk Bowl (vs SEC), Sun Bowl (vs PAC 12), and Pinstripe Bowl (vs Big 10). The ACC and Big Ten will split the Gator (vs SEC) and Music City (vs SEC) bowls with each conference receiving three appearances apiece during the 6-year cycle.

Because of the flexibility in scheduling I do not believe that Louisville end up in the Sun Bowl or Pinstripe Bowl in 2014 due to the distance and the conflict in interest relative to basketball. Instead I expect concessions to be made to place the Cards either in the Belk, Music City, or Gator depending on how the end of the season fares for the Cards. If Louisville beats Kentucky on Saturday & Georgia Tech loses to Georgia, with a lackluster effort by Clemson the Cards COULD work their way into the Orange Bowl. All of this is dependent on FSU winning out and getting into the College Football Playoff.

Also Notre Dame can take any ACC Bowl slot as well provided they have just one loss fewer than any team slotted for that bowl.