college football-bowl projections-predictions-brett mcmurphy-week 0

College Football Bowl Projections: Brett McMurphy’s Predictions & Projected Spreads for Week 0

College football bowl projections before Week 0? Really?

Yes, I realize they’re as meaningless as every College Football Playoff ranking release show (except the final one). But college football fans love, love, LOVE their bowl projections and, if anything, I am a man of the people.

It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally the people don’t agree with all of my Action Network bowl projections. That’s OK. My longtime fan knows how to spot the correct projections and ignore the inaccurate picks I include so other bowl projectionists get burned when they copy my projections. You know who you are!

In last year’s preseason projections, I correctly predicted 59 of the 82 teams that went to a bowl, including 10 teams in the correct bowl and two of the four playoff teams. I understand 12% accuracy (10 out of 82 teams in the correct bowl) isn’t that impressive, but remember, picking names out of a hat is only 11% accurate.

A quick reminder: the 12-team playoff debuts this year, as chosen by the College Football Playoff selection committee.

The five highest-ranked conference champions — regardless of ranking — receive an automatic bid to the playoff with the final spots going to the remaining seven highest-ranked teams.

The four highest-ranked conference champions receive byes into the quarterfinals and will be seeded Nos. 1-4 regardless of their selection committee ranking (even if they’re “ranked” No. 3, 5, 12 and 24).

My bowl projections include the projected point spread of each matchup from Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson’s betting power ratings.

Also, if you want a first look at my weekly bowl projections, don’t forget to click on the link to download the Action Network app (click here). It’s free. Get my projections, news and notes — plus, there’s a ton of college football and NFL analysis available.

Football. Is. Back.
Best bets for every game
Massive player prop edges
Expert article analysis

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Projected College Football Playoff Field” center=”true”][/subheader]

1
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Oregon Ducks” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/ore.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Oregon*

Big Ten
2
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Alabama Crimson Tide” logo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2021/12/Alabama-alternate-logo-100-100.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Alabama*

SEC
3
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Miami Hurricanes” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/mfl.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Miami*

ACC
4
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Utah Utes” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/uth.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Utah*

Big 12
5
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Ohio State Buckeyes” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/osu.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Ohio State

Big Ten
6
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Georgia Bulldogs” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/uga.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Georgia

SEC
7
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Ole Miss Rebels” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/mis.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Ole Miss

SEC
8
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”LSU Tigers” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/lsu.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

LSU

SEC
9
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Penn State Nittany Lions” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/psu.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Penn State

Big Ten
10
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Virginia Tech Hokies” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/vt.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Virginia Tech

ACC
11
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Iowa Hawkeyes” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/iowd.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Iowa

Big Ten
12
[teamlogo linktoteampage=”false” fullname=”Texas State Bobcats” logo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/txst.png” width=”36″ height=”36″][/teamlogo]

Texas State

Sun Belt

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”College Football Playoff First Round” center=”true”][/subheader]


[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”College Football Playoff Quarterfinals” center=”true”][/subheader]


[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”College Football Playoff Semifinals” center=”true”][/subheader]

[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”CFP National Championship Prediction” center=”true”][/subheader]

[specialgamecard logo=”https://images.actionnetwork.com/blog/2024/08/2025-cfp-national-championship-game-logo-datemark.png” gamename=”National Championship” date=”Jan. 20″ location=”Atlanta, GA” firstdisplayname=”Oregon” firstlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/ore.png” seconddisplayname=”Georgia” secondlogo=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/ncaaf/100/uga.png” secondodds=”-4″ logowidth=”250″ logoheight=”150″ gamefontsize=”1.3rem” firstfontsize=”1.5rem” secondfontsize=”1.5rem”][/specialgamecard]


[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Projections for All Other Bowl Games” center=”true”][/subheader]


*Conference champion with a first-round bye.

[procard imageurl=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/579047_procard.png” cta=”The betting tools used by the pros” firstupsell=”Best bets & signals for every game” secondupsell=”Projections from proven pros” thirdupsell=”Profitable betting system picks” buttontext=”TRY FOR FREE” buttonurl=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/pricing?intcmp=ArticleProCard&intcid=603106567″][/procard]


Posted

in

by

Tags: