Michigan football: Bowl projections heading into showdown with Ohio State
Michigan football’s postseason picture will not come into focus until the result of its game against Ohio State on Saturday. A win all but assures the Wolverines a spot in the College Football Playoff, pending a Big Ten Championship. A loss to the Buckeyes still leaves them a shot to slide in, but they would need some help.
Georgia, Ohio State/Michigan, TCU and USC are the likeliest bunch of teams to make the CFP ahead of Tuesday’s reveal of the updated rankings. A one-loss Ohio State probably has a better chance at getting into the playoff then a one-loss Michigan, but there are still plenty of games to sort out. TCU still has to survive Iowa State and the Big-12 title game, while USC hosts Notre Dame this weekend, plus the Pac-12 Championship. Clemson is still lingering, but it seems it would need more help than anyone.
ESPN’s Football Power Index has Michigan finishing with an 11.5-0.8 record on the season. The Wolverines rank third among teams in the FPI rankings behind Georgia and Ohio State. Michigan is more likely to make the playoff than it is not, coming in at 72.2%. Georgia (97.6%) and Ohio State (93.6%) are the only teams ahead of the Wolverines. Next up are TCU (54.1%), Clemson (33.4%), Alabama (15.3%) and USC (14.9%).
As of now, there are three potential bowl destinations for Michigan. Should it make the playoff, the Wolverines will head to either Atlanta for the Peach Bowl or Glendale, Ariz., for the Fiesta Bowl. Both CFP semifinals are set for Dec. 31. Advancing through either of those would put them in Inglewood, Calif., at SoFi Stadium on Jan. 9 for the national title game.
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Getting left out of the playoff would mean the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 2.
Here is a look from around college football media and the projections on where Michigan might be in the bowl picture and its projected opponent.
Michigan football’s bowl projections: Week 12
Sports Illustrated: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
USA Today: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Rose Bowl vs. Washington (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
CBS Sports: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
The Athletic: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
Athlon Sports: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
Action Network: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
Sporting News: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
College Football News: Rose Bowl vs. Oregon (Jan. 2, 5 p.m.)
What’s next for U-M?
Michigan’s biggest case to date will be made on Saturday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio, when the Wolverines take on the Buckeyes. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
