The Michigan Wolverines didn’t play last week, but that didn’t stop them from generally moving up in the bowl projection consensus.
They are now predicted to be in a New Year Six bowl by every one of these outlets, including a College Football Playoff appearance by one.
ESPN.com
Kyle Bonagura: CFP Semifinal: Orange Bowl (Miami, FL) vs. Georgia, Dec. 31
Mark Schlabach: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) vs. Oregon, Jan. 1
Both of these predictions are likely to make Michigan fans happy. Reaching the College Football Playoff would be a tremendous step forward for the Wolverines, but they still have to get through a gauntlet of a remaining schedule.
The Rose Bowl would be quite the consolation prize with Michigan’s long history in the storied game.
CBS Sports
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) vs. Notre Dame, Jan. 1
247Sports
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) vs. Notre Dame, Jan. 1
College Football News
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) vs. Notre Dame, Jan. 1
By far the most popular prediction is for Michigan to play Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl as two at-large selections. This would understandably be a desired matchup by the bowl committees given the two programs’ rich histories and enormous fanbases.
Action Network
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) vs. Cincinnati, Jan. 1
Brett McMurphy of the Action Network switches the projection up a bit by still predicting Michigan to play in the Fiesta Bowl, but against Cincinnati. The Bearcats would be the top Group of Five representative who gets an automatic berth in the NY6 bowls. One of the most intriguing storylines of this college football season is if the Playoff committee will respect Cincinnati enough to put them in the top four if they win out.
Bleacher Report
Peach Bowl (Atlanta, GA) vs. Wake Forest, Dec. 30
The biggest outlier in these predictions is Jake Rill of Bleacher Report’s, which pits Michigan against Wake Forest in the Peach Bowl. While the Peach Bowl also features two at-large teams against each other, most writers have Michigan going out west to Arizona rather than down south to Atlanta.