For one major reason, the most recent bowl predictions are crazy as ever.
The different types of bowls have not yet been changed to account for the differences in the teams that will be qualified.
It will be very hard for Conference USA teams to fill their spots. The Mountain West quickly runs out of teams unless either Boise State or UNLV makes the College Football Playoff, and there will be way too many Big Ten and Big 12 teams open.
So we are still sure that ESPN will find a way to include West Virginia, Cincinnati, Rutgers, and Indiana, which are all Power Four teams.
Let us just say that we know these are, in fact, BOWL PROJECTIONS that will change and adapt in many ways over the next few weeks.
Bowl Projections: Week 5 2024
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Saturday, December 14
12:00, ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
Bowl Affiliations: MEAC, SWAC
Last Season: Florida A&M 30, Howard 26
Bowl Projection: Florida A&M vs NC Central
Camellia Bowl
Saturday, December 14
9:00, ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery Alabama
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: Northern Illinois 21, Arkansas State 19
Bowl Projection: Bowling Green vs South Alabama
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Tuesday, December 17
9:00, ESPN
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: UTSA 35, Marshall 17
Bowl Projection: Tulane vs Texas State
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl
Wednesday, December 18
5:30, ESPN
FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: USF 45, Syracuse 0
Bowl Projection: Indiana* vs Cincinnati*
LA Bowl
Wednesday, December 18
9:00, ESPN
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Bowl Affiliations: MW, Former Pac-12
Last Season: UCLA 35, Boise State 22
Bowl Projection: UNLV vs Washington State
R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Thursday, December 19
7:00, ESPN2
Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, Sun Belt
Last Season: Jacksonville State 34, Louisiana 31 OT
Bowl Projection: Liberty vs James Madison
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Friday, December 20
12:00, ESPN
Exploria Stadium, Orlando, FL
Bowl Affiliations: Gof5, Gof5
Last Season: Appalachian State 13, Miami University 9
Bowl Projection: USF vs Rutgers*
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Friday, December 20
3:30, ESPN
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Georgia Tech 30, UCF 17
Bowl Projection: West Virginia* vs Florida State
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Monday, December 23
11:00 am, ESPN
Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: Ohio 41, Georgia Southern 21
Bowl Projection: Appalachian State vs Miami University
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Monday, December 23
2:30, ESPN
Albertsons Stadium, Boise, ID
Bowl Affiliations: MAC, MW, Sun Belt
Last Season: Georgia State 45, Utah State 22
Bowl Projection: Marshall vs Fresno State
Hawaii Bowl
Tuesday, December 24
8:00, ESPN
Clarence TC Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MW
Last Season: Coastal Carolina 24, San Jose State 14
Bowl Projection: WKU vs Oregon State
Detroit Bowl
Thursday, December 26
2:00, ESPN
Ford Field, Detroit, MI
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, MAC
Last Season: Minnesota 30, Bowling Green 24
Bowl Projection: Michigan State vs Toledo
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Thursday, December 26
5:30, ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
Bowl Affiliations: Big Ten, Big 12
Last Season: Kansas 49, UNLV 36
Bowl Projection: Nebraska vs Iowa State
68 Ventures Bowl
Thursday, December 26
9:00, ESPN
Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Bowl Affiliations: CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt
Last Season: South Alabama 59, Eastern Michigan 10
Bowl Projection: Northern Illinois vs Coastal Carolina
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Friday, December 27
Time TBA, ESPN
Amon G Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, CUSA, Big 12
Last Season: Air Force 31, James Madison 21
Bowl Projection: Army vs Texas Tech
76 Birmingham Bowl
Friday, December 27
Time TBA, ESPN
Protective Stadium, Birmingham, AL
Bowl Affiliations: AAC, ACC, CUSA, SEC
Last Season: Duke 17, Troy 10
Bowl Projection: Virginia Tech vs Arkansas State
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Friday, December 27
7:00, ESPN
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis, TN
Bowl Affiliations: Big 12, SEC
Last Season: Memphis 36, Iowa State 26
Bowl Projection: BYU vs Arkansas
DIRECTV Holiday Bowl
Friday, December 27
8:00, FOX
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA
Bowl Affiliations: ACC, Former Pac-12
Last Season: USC 42, Louisville 28
Bowl Projection: Georgia Tech vs Oregon
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Friday, December 27
10:30, ESPN
Reliant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Bowl Affiliations: SEC Former Pac-12
Last Season: Northwestern 14, Utah 7
Bowl Projection: Arizona State vs Kentucky