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Last week, I had our first look at bowl projections. Missed it? Get caught up.
Miami Hurricanes Football: 2016 Bowl Projection post-Regular Season #Canes #TheU https://t.co/6fukDBEm2z pic.twitter.com/tvj9ShuyTq
— StateOfTheU.com (@TheStateOfTheU) November 27, 2016
Now, where do things stand on Championship Saturday? Let’s take a look
Canes likely to stay in Florida for Bowl Season
As this week progressed — after my initial piece on Bowl Projections — nearly every projection for Miami’s destination has been either the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando, or the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville. Here’s the entire projection rundown
Projections for Russell Athletic Bowl
- SBNation
- CBS Sports
- ESPN (3 votes: both senior CFB writers AND ACC blog pick)
- Fox Sports
- College Football News
Projections for TaxSlayer Bowl
- Sports Illustrated
- Bleacher Report
Projections for Belk Bowl
- Sporting News
9 of 10 projections for Miami’s Bowl Game have the Canes staying in Florida. The lone outlier? Sporting News’ pick for Miami to go to the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, NC. That is possible, as the Belk Bowl is a tier 1 bowl, but the least likely landing spot going by the projections.
Reports have Miami likely to stay in Florida for Bowl Season, too
If projections and predictions aren’t your thing, there have been reports that Miami will likely stay in-state for Bowl Season. Which reports? These reports:
FSU to Orange Bowl and Miami to Russell? It all comes down to ACC title game Saturday. https://t.co/ADgyW6Yyc0 pic.twitter.com/knKVwZHqeB
— Miami Herald Sports (@HeraldSports) November 30, 2016
Miami AD Blake James said Monday he thinks the Canes are staying in-state for their bowl. Most projections say same. https://t.co/MuhXond3P4
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) November 29, 2016
So, Orlando and Jacksonville trending up for Miami, it seems.
ACC releases selection process graphic
I talked about this previously in my initial Bowl Projection piece, but the ACC released a graphic version of the selection flow-chart for everybody to see. And it goes a little something like this:
11 bowl-eligible #ACCFootball teams will find out their destinations Dec 4. Learn about the bowl selection process: https://t.co/ipxTmmC1WB pic.twitter.com/CRMG4Cb7rP
— ACC Football (@theACCfootball) December 1, 2016
Based on the above chart, ACC bowl selection goes as follows:
- CFB Playoff (if selected. This means Clemson or bust this year)
- New Year’s 6 / Cotton Bowl. ACC Champ to Orange Bowl if not CFB. Chance for another ACC team to Orange Bowl if Clemson to CFB (Florida State or Louisville)
- Citrus Bowl (but ONLY IF opponent in Orange Bowl is from Big 10)
- Russell Athletic Bowl (highest non-NY6 bowl selection choice)
- Tier 1 Bowls (Belk, Pinstripe, Sun, TaxSlayer -- all equal selection status)
- Tier 2 Bowls (Military, Independence, Quick Lane, St. Petersburg, Birmingham — up to 5 selections based on remaining bowl eligible ACC teams)
So, for Miami, the key is going to be the Russell Athletic Bowl (#4 selection slot) or Tier 1 (which includes TaxSlayer).
Final Outlook
As I think you’ve come to realize, Miami seems likely to go to Orlando for the Russell Athletic Bowl or Jacksonville for the TaxSlayer Bowl to close out the 2016 season. There have been several matchups bandied about, such as Miami-West Virginia in the Russel or Miami-Florida/Georgia/Tennessee in the TaxSlayer.
Which do I prefer? I don’t. I’m good with either bowl, or any of the rumored/projected opponents. But, beating Florida in Jacksonville on New Year’s Eve does have a nice ring to it....
Miami, and the other ACC teams, will have their bowl placement announced beginning at Noon on Sunday.
We’ll have a piece on that placement, and plenty of analysis and opinion about the bowl game, and the opponent, in the coming days and weeks.