2016 Bowl Projections: Hurricanes and Cowboys Reign Supreme After Five Weeks
After five weeks of play, here are updated projections for the 27th Russell Athletic Bowl from around the college football media.
Mark Schlabach (ESPN): Miami vs. Oklahoma State
Brett McMurphy(ESPN): Miami vs. West Virginia
Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com): Miami vs. TCU
Bill Bender (Sporting News): Miami vs. Oklahoma State
CollegeFootballNews.com: Florida State vs. Oklahoma State
Jason Kirk (SB Nation): North Carolina vs. West Virginia
Following five weeks of action Miami and Oklahoma State are the most common projected teams to play in this year’s Russell Athletic Bowl. Both Mark Schlabach (ESPN) and Bill Bender (Sporting News) had the two squaring off against each other which would mark the first meeting between programs since 1991. Miami won that first and only meeting 40-3 on their way to finishing the season 12-0 and taking home the national title in the Orange Bowl.
For the second week in a row Miami was projected to play West Virginia by a member of the media. Last week it was Bender, but this week ESPN’s Brett McMurphy chose the Hurricanes and Mountaineers. McMurphy switched up his picks this week after both of his projected teams from last week (Florida State & Texas) lost over the weekend.
The Mountaineers claimed a 17-16 come-from-behind victory over Kansas State this past weekend. The win keeps West Virginia unbeaten on the year and atop the Big 12 standings. SB Nation’s Jason Kirk also had the Mountaineers visiting Orlando during bowl season, meeting North Carolina. The two teams have met just twice before with each team earning a victory. West Virginia took the most recent meeting in the 2008 Belk Bowl, 31-30.
Following a tough 53-46 loss to Oklahoma after their comeback bid fell short, Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com) predicted that the Horned Frogs would face off with Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl. The teams last clashed in 1992 when Miami routed TCU, 45-10.
After losing to North Carolina on 54-yard field goal as time expired, Florida State now finds itself in only CollegeFootballNews.com’s projections this week, meeting Oklahoma State. The Seminoles hold a 4-1 record over Oklahoma State with the Cowboys last win against the ‘Noles coming in 1958.
