FRONT-RUNNERS FOR HOLIDAY BOWL
The teams for the 43rd annual SDCCU Holiday Bowl, which will be played at Petco Park for the first time, will be selected Dec. 5. Here’s a look at how things are shaping up in the Atlantic Coast Conference and Pac-12 as bowl officials consider which two teams to invite to this year’s game:
SDCCU Holiday Bowl: Tuesday, Dec. 28, 5 p.m. (Ch. 5/ 69), Petco Park
Expected payout: $3.2 million per team
Conferences: ACC vs. Pac-12
Projected matchup: North Carolina State vs. UCLA
Pecking order: After the New Year’s Six slots are filled, the Holiday Bowl gets one of three picks (with the Gator and Cheez-It bowls) among ACC teams and the fourth pick (after the Rose, Alamo and Las Vegas bowls) among Pac-12 teams.
While Notre Dame competes as an independent, the Fighting Irish are associated with the ACC for bowl purposes.
Comments: Clemson (8-3) had been tracking toward the Holiday Bowl much of the season, but the Tigers may have played themselves out of the game with last week’s win over Wake Forest.
Clemson would be a good candidate for the Cheez-It Bowl now because of its proximity to the game in Orlando, Fla. A South Carolina (6-5) victory over Clemson on Saturday night could put the Tigers back in the Holiday Bowl’s sights, however.
No. 6 Notre Dame (10-1), No. 17 Pitt (9-2), No. 18 Wake Forest (9-2) and No. 20 North Carolina State (8-3) are the other teams on the ACC side of the equation.
The Fighting Irish, who close the regular season Saturday against struggling Stanford, have played themselves into position for an NY6 berth. A spot in the four-team playoff could be in the cards as well, depending on how the next two weeks shake out. An ACC team could play its way up as well.
The Gator and Cheez-It bowls will be looking for teams along with the Holiday Bowl, which right now seems most in line for Pitt or N.C. State. The Wolfpack look more positioned for the Holiday given their rank and record, and the fact they have gone to the Gator the past two years.
UCLA (7-4) remained relevant with a win last week over rival USC and can stay square in the picture with a victory over Cal (4-6).
A question could come in whether the Las Vegas Bowl is interested in the Bruins rather than Arizona State (7-4). The Alamo Bowl also will be looking for a team, but is expect to get the loser of the Pac-12 championship game.
No. 11 Oregon (9-2) needs a victory over Oregon State (7-4) to set up a rematch with No. 19 Utah (8-3) for the Pac-12 title, where the winner will get the NY6 berth.
Today’s impact games (CFP rankings):
Colorado (4-7, 3-5) at No. 19 Utah (8-3, 7-1), 1 p.m. (Ch. 5/ 69)
North Carolina (6-5, 3-4) at No. 20 North Carolina State (8-3, 5-2), 4 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday’s impact games (CFP rankings):
No. 18 Wake Forest (9-2, 6-1) at Boston College (6-5, 2-5), 9 a.m. (ESPN2)
Oregon State (7-4, 5-3) at No. 11 Oregon (9-2, 6-2), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Arizona (1-10, 1-7) at Arizona State (7-4, 5-3), 1 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
No. 17 Pitt (9-2) at Syracuse (6-1), 4:30 p.m. (ACC Network)
No. 6 Notre Dame (10-1) at Stanford (3-8), 5 p.m. (Ch. 5/ 69)
No. 23 Clemson (8-3) at South Carolina (6-5), 4:30 p.m. (SEC)
Cal (4-6, 3-4) at UCLA (7-4, 5-3), 7:30 p.m. (FS1)