Jack Follman’s Week 7 Pac-12 Bowl Projections

Posted on October 11, 2021


  By Jack Follman, SuperWest Sports

Pac-12We’re starting to get into midseason and what the Pac-12 bowl picture could actually look like is starting to come into focus.

It sure isn’t what we thought it would be going into the season.

Each week from here on out, we’ll check in and predict how the season will go from here and where Pac-12 teams will land.

Los Angeles BowlStanford vs. Fresno State

4:30 p.m. PT, ABC, December 18th, 2021, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

The Cardinal continue to be the inconsistent mystery they are each season now. They look strong one week and then disinterested and incapable another.

I think they make it to bowl eligibility and take the Conference’s last spot down the coast for the chance for the Pac-12 to get beat by the Mountain West one more time in 2021.

Sun BowlUtah vs. Virginia

9:30 a.m. PT, CBS, December 31, 2021, Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX

The Utes have bounced back in Pac-12 play thus far and we all loved what we saw from Cameron Rising against USC. It gives them a great chance to at least win the South.

I don’t think the Utes have it in them across the board to win the division this year and getting to a mid-level bowl game is where they end up.

Holiday BowlOregon State vs. North Carolina State

5:00 p.m. PT, FOX, December 28, 2021, Petco Park, San Diego, CA

The Beavers make huge progress under Jonathan Smith while still not winning the Pac-12 or the Pac-12 North.

Getting to this level of bowl is a great chance for Smith and the Beavers to show off what they have become as a program, and get another win on the season against a Power 5 opponent.

Las Vegas BowlUCLA vs. Indiana

7:30 p.m. PT, ESPN, December 30, 2021, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV

The Bruins have been a lot like the Cardinal this year, inconsistent and unpredictable, following the lead of their quarterback, Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Their win over LSU has significantly cooled after seeing how the Tigers have panned out. The Bruins don’t win the South and land in the upgraded Vegas Bowl against a Big 10 opponent.

Alamo BowlOregon vs. Texas

6:15 p.m., PT, ESPN, December 29, 2021, Alamodome, San Antonio, TX

Oregon Ducks Logo Pac-12The Ducks are the only Pac-12 team that still has Playoff hopes, but I expect that to go away when they drop another game or two in-conference.

The pieces Oregon used to win at Ohio State are still there, I just don’t know if they’re elite enough—and their coaching and scheming is elite enough—to beat an Arizona State team that seems to have a little more fire and firepower right now.

Their overall record keeps them out of an at-large bid for a New Year’s Six bowl.

Rose BowlArizona State vs. Ohio State

2:00 p.m. PT, ESPN, January 1, 2022, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

The Sun Devils win the Conference (truly) for the first time since 1996? Which is crazy. And what better bowl pairing than a rematch of the 1997 Rose Bowl?

No team looks stronger right now with a better option at QB, which is what I think separates them from other top teams like the Oregon schools and UCLA.

This is a huge breakthrough for Herm Edwards and staff for a season that started with controversy that should still linger.




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