Revisiting 2016's Predictions

As promised, a look back at the predictions I made for the 2016 season. 

2016 Season in Review

As a college football fan, this is always the toughest part of the year. There are 229 days between the CFP Championship Game and the beginning of the 2017 season (counting the "Week 0" slate). If there's any silver lining, however, at least this is the time for the blogs to have some fun!

The 2016 ACC Bowl Selection Process

Another season over, another round of grumblings or elation about postseason destinations.  Let's break down how the ACC teams got selected for their bowls.

Just for fun: Alternate NY6 Bowls

Let's play a game of "what if", and let's look at what this year's New Year's Six bowls might have looked like if we were in a different year of the playoff rotation.  I am assuming that the top ranked teams not already selected would be the "at large" teams.

Using Divisional Records

Let's take a quick look at how the conference championships might look different if divisional records were given preference over conference record.

Week 13 Reactions & Championship Look-Ahead

Are we here already?!? I thought we were just about to get the season started! No matter, let's take a look and reflect on the rivalries - and look ahead to the championships ahead.

Week 13 wrap up

That's another regular season mostly in the books, and all of the championship games are set.

And UVA still sucks.

Week 13 Black Friday update

With almost a full slate of games on Friday (plus one on Thursday), we've made some significant progress already this week.

CFP Bowl projections - Thanksgiving week

As usual, these projections are based strictly off of the rankings as provided each week.  The premise is that the committee chooses the highest ranked team available to fill any spots that are vacated by a team moving up into the semi-finals.  I'm not projecting based on remaining games.

Semi-finals (Peach and Fiesta Bowls)

#1 Alabama vs. #4 Clemson
#2 Ohio State vs. #3 Michigan

Rose Bowl (Pac-12 vs. B1G)
#5 Washington vs. #6 Wisconsin

Sugar Bowl (SEC vs. Big 12)
#8 Oklahoma vs. #13 Auburn

Orange Bowl (ACC vs. highest ranked SEC/B1G)
#11 Louisville vs. #7 Penn State

Cotton Bowl (at-large vs. Group of 5)
#9 Colorado vs. #21 Western Michigan

None of the teams have changed from last week, only the rankings for most of the teams after the top four.  We have the top 9 represented, and 11 of the top 13.  There are 4 B1G teams, 2 SEC teams, 2 ACC teams, 1 Big 12 team, 2 Pac-12 teams, and 1 Group of 5 team.

What to watch: Rivalry Week

Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving)

7:30 PM
Game:  LSU at Texas A&M
Network:  ESPN
What's at stake:  Boredom from the NFL game.  Other than that, some bowl game positioning.

Friday, November 25 (Black Friday)

Noon
Game:  NC State at UNC
Network:  ESPN
What's at stake:  If NC State wins, they are bowl eligible and Virginia Tech clinches the Coastal division.  If UNC wins, the UVA-VT game on Saturday will determine the Coastal.

3:30 PM
Game:  Nebraska at Iowa
Network:  ABC
What's at stake:  If Nebraska loses, Wisconsin clinches the B1G West.  If Nebraska wins, then we're looking at the Wisconsin game on Saturday.

Game:  Washington at Washington State
Network:  FOX
What's at stake:  Winner clinches the Pac-12 North.

Game:  TCU at Texas
Network:  FS1
What's at stake:  The winner is bowl eligible.  TCU does have another game after this, so they would have another chance if they lose this week.

Saturday, November 26

Noon
Game:  Michigan at Ohio State
Network:  ABC
What's at stake:  Potentially, a Playoff spot.  Michigan will clinch the B1G East with a win.  If Michigan loses, then it's up to the Penn State game to determine the B1G East champ.

Game:  UVA at Virginia Tech
Network:  ESPN2
What's at stake:  The Hokies are going for the 13th straight year of possessing the Commonwealth Cup.  If UNC doesn't lose on Friday, then VT needs to win to clinch the Coastal division.

Game:  Rutgers at Maryland
Network:  ESPNEWS
What's at stake:  Maryland needs to win to go bowling.  Rutgers is already out.

3 PM
Game:  Boston College at Wake Forest
Network:  RSN/ACC Network Extra/ESPN3
What's at stake:  BC needs a win to go bowling.  Wake Forest is already eligible.

3:30 PM
Game:  Michigan State at Penn State
Network:  ESPN
What's at stake:  If Ohio State wins the early game, then this game determines the B1G East.  Penn State clinches the division with a win, but Ohio State will clinch if Penn State loses.

Game:  Minnesota at Wisconsin
Network:  BTN
What's at stake:  If Nebraska loses on Friday, then this game doesn't matter because Wisconsin would already have clinched the division.  Otherwise, Wisconsin clinches the B1G West with a win, but gives it to Nebraska with a loss.

Game:  Mississippi State at Ole Miss
Network:  SEC Network
What's at stake:  Ole Miss needs a win to go bowling, but Mississippi State is already out.

7:30 PM
Game:  Utah at Colorado
Network:  FOX
What's at stake:  If Colorado wins, they clinch the Pac-12 South.  If they lose, USC will clinch.

Game:  Tennessee at Vanderbilt
Network:  SEC Network
What's at stake:  Vandy needs a win to go bowling.  Tennessee is already bowl eligible.