Way too early bowl predictions for the 2023 college football season
By John Buhler
Here is a forecast into what college football teams could be playing in New Year’s Six Bowls.
For one last college football season, we will be dealing with the College Football Playoff in the four-team format with the New Year’s Six rotating in a three-year cycle as national semifinals.
Although the changes that are coming are actually being well-received, we still have one more year of a ton of bickering and pontificating when discussing who the four best teams really are. All nine seasons of the playoff, the Selection Committee has gotten it right. However, we are just not getting as many iconic matchups as we would have liked. Thus, we are going to 12 teams in 2024.
For now, here are the 12 teams that either make the playoff or be playing in a New Year’s Six Bowl.
Way too early College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six Bowl game predictions
Cotton Bowl: Alabama Crimson Tide vs. USC Trojans
Big brand vs. big brand. Who doesn’t love that? While we should expect Alabama to play USC a bit more regularly in future bowl games because of the Trojans switching leagues, we are going to get a doozy at Jerryworld, alright. Alabama may not have won the SEC, but were among the first three out. As for USC, they just couldn’t get it done in the Pac-12 Championship game once again…
Although it may not be the Sugar Bowl for Alabama or the Rose Bowl for USC, meeting in Arlington gives both rabid fanbases opportunities to go to a different metroplex than usually expected for a meaningful holiday season bowl game. The good news is I think this meeting will give the winner incredible momentum heading into 2024 to potentially garner a first-round bye.
As far as the matchup is concerned, I will be majorly concerned with the Trojans’ defense for as long as Alex Grinch is USC’s defensive coordinator. Alabama is certainly beatable, and I expect for it to be a close game. However, I just think the Crimson Tide pass rush will make a play or two late in the game, possibly bringing Caleb Williams to the turf in crucial spots. I mean, will he even play?
I think that is the biggest question: Will Williams have opted out of his Cotton Bowl return trip?
Prediction: Alabama over USC