We are back for another week discussing bowl teams. Our team at Mountain West Connection will be releasing our bowl projections each week. This week’s round of projections can be seen below and will likely
change as the season progresses. Read our projections below and leave your own in the comments.
Mike
Los Angeles Bowl: San Diego State
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii
Potato Bowl: UNLV
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State
Arizona Bowl: Boise State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: New Mexico
College Football Playoff: N/A
Other Bowl (TBD): Utah State
One minor change for me this week, I swapped Boise State and Fresno State, which I consider at the bottom of the bowl teams at this point. San Diego State is the team to beat for the LA Bowl, and while Hawaii may end up qualifying for something other than the Hawaii Bowl, they still default here. I still think Utah State gets in, although time is running out for them.
Zach
Los Angeles Bowl: San Diego State
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii
Potato Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico
Arizona Bowl: UNLV
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Fresno State
College Football Playoff: N/A
Other Bowl (TBD): Utah State
The Aggies are right on the edge of qualifying for a bowl and will need to get a difficult win to do so. I think they beat Fresno State this weekend to get eligible. I have most teams that host bowls staying home.
Jeff
Los Angeles Bowl: San Diego State
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii
Potato Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico
Arizona Bowl: Fresno State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: UNLV
College Football Playoff: N/A
Other Bowl (TBD): N/A
I’m keeping bowl teams closer to home. The Aztecs are the cream of the conference, but the loss to Hawaii will prohibit them from reaching the playoffs. New Mexico will get to stay close to home, as does Boise State. Perhaps Utah State makes bowl eligibility, but I think they have a tough path. All other teams are waiting til next year. Good surprises: Hawaii and New Mexico. Nasty surprises: San Jose State.
Chase
Los Angeles Bowl: San Diego State
Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii
Potato Bowl: Boise State
New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico
Arizona Bowl: Fresno State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: UNLV
College Football Playoff: N/A
Other Bowl (TBD): N/A
Air Force was officially eliminated with their road loss to UConn, and San Jose State was officially eliminated from bowl contention with their embarrassing blowout loss to Nevada, leaving just two teams that haven’t clinched that can make bowls. I don’t see Wyoming winning their last two games, and even the Nevada game this week looks suspect given the Wolf Pack’s most recent performance. As for Utah State, they need one of their last two against Boise State and Fresno State. Both games are winnable, but I actually don’t see the Aggies being able to pull it off, and I still believe USU goes from 5-4 to 5-7 and fails to make a bowl in year 1 of Bronco Mendenhall.
