ACC Champ will go to Peach (Atlanta) or Fiesta Bowl (Glendale). I think it will be Peach, and I'm personally guessing Pitt wins. I'm also guessing Notre Dame will be in Peach against ACC Champ.
Tier 1 ACC bowls - Cheez-It (Orlando), Gator (Jacksonville), Holiday (San Diego): Clemson, NC State, and Pitt/Wake loser will end up here. I'm projecting Clemson to Gator--Gator Bowl will really want them and NC State was there last year. They won't want Pitt or Wake. I've gone back and forth between putting Pitt/Wake loser in Orlando or San Diego. For now, I'll assume Cheez-It Bowl will want NC State for more tickets sales, though they have shown an openness to other programs (they took BC, after all!). So, I'll project NC State to Cheez-It and Pitt/Wake loser to Holiday Bowl.
Tier 2 ACC bowls - Duke's Mayo Bowl (Charlotte), Sun Bowl (El Paso), Pinstripe Bowl (New York): I do think Duke's Mayo picks UNC. They haven't been there since 2013. I also think Sun Bowl chooses Miami, they like strong name brands to sell local tickets. Who does Pinstripe choose? That's an interesting question. A lot of people are projecting UVA, but finishing the season 0-4 and losing your rivalry game doesn't exactly generate excitement. I can see Louisville here, and I can also see BC here. BC was last there in 2017. BC & Syracuse are the only ACC teams that have been to this bowl more than once. It is still possible that they select BC, but I'm not so sure. All three teams are 6-6. All three lost their last game. Imagine if BC had won one of their last two games? I think we'd be in New York. I'll slot it UVA here, but it wouldn't surprise me if Louisville goes here either. I suppose Virginia Tech is also a possibility here, though normally going through a coaching change drops your standing among the bowls.
Tier 3 ACC bowls - Military Bowl (Annapolis), Fenway Bowl (Boston). I have Virginia Tech here. Much like Duke's Mayo Bowl loves Carolina teams, Military Bowl loves Virginia teams--or at least easy road trips for fans. If Va Tech is taken above, then slot in UVA here. I do think BC is probably going to the Fenway Bowl. The Boston Herald seemed to imply that was likely:
www.bostonherald.com
Tier 4 ACC bowls - Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa), Birmingham Bowl, First Responders Bowl (Dallas): Based on above selections, Louisville would be only team left. I would project them to Birmingham Bowl, only a 5 hour drive. If UVA or Virginia Tech falls to here, Birmingham could still be possibility, but Gasparilla might get the nod if the school prefers a Tampa trip to Birmingham.
Tier 1 ACC bowls - Cheez-It (Orlando), Gator (Jacksonville), Holiday (San Diego): Clemson, NC State, and Pitt/Wake loser will end up here. I'm projecting Clemson to Gator--Gator Bowl will really want them and NC State was there last year. They won't want Pitt or Wake. I've gone back and forth between putting Pitt/Wake loser in Orlando or San Diego. For now, I'll assume Cheez-It Bowl will want NC State for more tickets sales, though they have shown an openness to other programs (they took BC, after all!). So, I'll project NC State to Cheez-It and Pitt/Wake loser to Holiday Bowl.
Tier 2 ACC bowls - Duke's Mayo Bowl (Charlotte), Sun Bowl (El Paso), Pinstripe Bowl (New York): I do think Duke's Mayo picks UNC. They haven't been there since 2013. I also think Sun Bowl chooses Miami, they like strong name brands to sell local tickets. Who does Pinstripe choose? That's an interesting question. A lot of people are projecting UVA, but finishing the season 0-4 and losing your rivalry game doesn't exactly generate excitement. I can see Louisville here, and I can also see BC here. BC was last there in 2017. BC & Syracuse are the only ACC teams that have been to this bowl more than once. It is still possible that they select BC, but I'm not so sure. All three teams are 6-6. All three lost their last game. Imagine if BC had won one of their last two games? I think we'd be in New York. I'll slot it UVA here, but it wouldn't surprise me if Louisville goes here either. I suppose Virginia Tech is also a possibility here, though normally going through a coaching change drops your standing among the bowls.
Tier 3 ACC bowls - Military Bowl (Annapolis), Fenway Bowl (Boston). I have Virginia Tech here. Much like Duke's Mayo Bowl loves Carolina teams, Military Bowl loves Virginia teams--or at least easy road trips for fans. If Va Tech is taken above, then slot in UVA here. I do think BC is probably going to the Fenway Bowl. The Boston Herald seemed to imply that was likely:
Jeff Hafley committed to BC, prepping for a bowl game
The proliferation of bowl games provides December football appetizers to the FBS playoffs in January. But the real reason teams make bowl eligibility a priority are the institutional benefits that …
www.bostonherald.com
Tier 4 ACC bowls - Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa), Birmingham Bowl, First Responders Bowl (Dallas): Based on above selections, Louisville would be only team left. I would project them to Birmingham Bowl, only a 5 hour drive. If UVA or Virginia Tech falls to here, Birmingham could still be possibility, but Gasparilla might get the nod if the school prefers a Tampa trip to Birmingham.
