2016 Bowl Projections: Virginia Tech and TCU Lead The Way After Six Weeks

After six weeks of play, here are updated projections for the 27th Russell Athletic Bowl from around the college football media.

Mark Schlabach (ESPN): Florida State vs. TCU

Brett McMurphy (ESPN): Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia

Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com): Miami vs. TCU

Bill Bender (Sporting News): Virginia Tech vs. TCU

CollegeFootballNews.com: Virginia Tech vs. Oklahoma State

Jason Kirk (SB Nation): Miami vs. West Virginia

Brant Parsons (Orlando Sentinel): Virginia Tech vs. TCU

Following Week 6, Virginia Tech and TCU stand out with four projections each, two of which pit the two against each other. The matchup would be a first, despite both programs dating back to the 1890s.

With the Hokies’ commanding 34-3 win against North Carolina over the weekend, they now sit atop the ACC Coastal Division with just one ranked opponent remaining on their schedule (No. 16 Miami).

West Virginia and Oklahoma State are the other two teams projected to face the Hokies this week. After meeting every season for 32 years, the Mountaineers and Hokies haven’t played each other since 2005. The Mountaineers hold a 28-22-1 edge in the all-time series. The Cowboys and Hokies have only met twice prior, a home-and-home series in 1971-72, with the home team winning both years.

Aside from Virginia Tech, TCU’s projected matchups are against Florida State and Miami. Florida State held off Miami over the weekend after blocking the Hurricanes’ potential game-tying PAT with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

The Horned Frogs and the Seminoles haven’t met on the field since 1965 when they beat Florida State 7-3 to take a 2-1 lead in the all-time series. TCU and Miami have met nine times previously, with the Hurricanes winning six, including the most recent game in 1992.

For a third week in a row, Miami and West Virginia was among the projected matchups Miami holds a 16-3 edge in the series against the Mountaineers, including a six-game winning streak during their days as conference rivals in the old Big East.