The ACC looks to have another successful year in bowl bids, but that may be more difficult than in years past. The conference has a few good teams who will play in significant bowl games, including Clemson who is close to clinching a berth in the College Football Playoff.
However, other teams have either fallen out of eligibility or are right on the fringe of making their way into postseason play. Let’s take a look at which game each eligible team is projected to go to as well as who they may be matched up against.
Clemson Tigers (11-0)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): CFB Playoff at Capital One Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma
CBS (Jerry Palm): CFB Playoff at Capital One Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel)- CFB Playoff at Capital One Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma
Duke Blue Devils (6-5)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Belk Bowl vs. Arkansas
CBS (Jerry Palm): Independence Bowl vs. Washington
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Independence Bowl vs. California
Florida State Seminoles (9-2)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. Houston
CBS (Jerry Palm)- Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. Notre Dame
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame
Louisville Cardinals (6-5)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Music City Bowl vs. Texas A&M
CBS (Jerry Palm): Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. UCLA
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. Washington State
Miami Hurricanes (7-4)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Hyundai Sun Bowl vs. Utah
CBS (Jerry Palm): Military Bowl vs. Navy
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Military Bowl vs. Navy
North Carolina Tar Heels (10-1)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Russell Athletic Bowl vs. TCU
CBS (Jerry Palm): Russell Athletic Bowl vs. TCU
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Russell Athletic Bowl vs. TCU
NC State Wolfpack (7-4)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Military Bowl vs. Navy
CBS (Jerry Palm): Pinstripe Bowl vs. Cincinnati
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): TaxSlayer.com Bowl vs. LSU
Pittsburgh Panthers (8-3)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Pinstripe Bowl vs. Minnesota
CBS (Jerry Palm): TaxSlayer.com Bowl vs. Mississippi State
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Pinstripe Bowl vs. Arizona
Virginia Tech Hokies (5-6)
*Virginia is playing for bowl eligibility this weekend vs. Virginia Tech.
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Independence Bowl vs. Arizona State
CBS (Jerry Palm): Belk Bowl vs. Texas A&M
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Belk Bowl vs. Ole Miss
The ACC definitely is weak in that they only have seven definite bowl eligible teams. However, those potential matchups could mean great games lie ahead. These projections are certainly subject to drastic change after rivalry week, but we can definitely get a good idea as we are just over a week until “Selection Day.”
There is a possibility that Virginia or Virginia Tech could reach a bowl game with seven losses, as there may not be enough six-win teams to fill the slots. The NCAA has said they’re currently unsure as to how they would select seven loss teams.
