Bowl projections: Running the gamut from San Antonio to Santa Clara

While plenty of Cougs rejoiced in the Washington Huskies’ loss to the Stanford Cardinal last Friday, it made the postseason picture for WSU decidedly murkier. Washington’s loss, outside of levels of chaos even theoretical physicists have yet to discover, eliminated them from playoff contention.

That means, with two weeks left in the regular season, the bowl picture is less clear than its been in quite a while. With just one team slotted for an appearance in the CFP or New Years Six game (USC Trojans in the Fiesta Bowl) and a shortened list of automatic bids for the Pac-12 due to the Rose Bowl’s inclusion in the CFP, WSU is sitting lower than one might expect for a 9-2 team. But, like we said, plenty of football to play!

Lets take a look at where the Cougs stand going into their bye (finally) but first, a reminder of the tie-ins this year.

1. Alamo Bowl: Dec. 28th, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN vs. Big 12
2. Holiday Bowl: Dec. 28th, 6:00 p.m. on FS1 vs. Big Ten
3. Foster Farms Bowl: Dec. 27th, 5:30 p.m. on FOX vs. Big Ten
4. Sun Bowl: Dec. 29th, 12:00 p.m. on CBS vs. ACC/Notre Dame
5. Las Vegas Bowl: Dec. 16th, 12:30 p.m. on ABC vs. Mountain West
6. Cactus Bowl: Dec. 26th, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN vs. Big 12

SB Nation: Foster Farms Bowl

This one has remained unchanged for weeks, though I’m sure FOX would like it to be different. WSU against the Northwestern Wildcats isn’t the most appealing matchup on the planet but, then again, it’s the Chicken I Buy In Eight Pound Bags At Costco Bowl, so, /shrug.

ESPN: Alamo or Foster Farms Bowl

After agreeing last week, David Hale and Kyle Bonagura have divided again, picking the Cougs for the Foster Farms and Alamo Bowls respectively. I know I’d find WSU vs. the Oklahoma State Cowboys more interesting because OFFENSE.

CBS: Sun Bowl

If the Cougs ended up in this game against the Boston College Eagles, they’d end the season playing two of the best defenses in the country. How did that go last time they pl—

/looks at 2016

Oh.

Sports Illustrated: Alamo Bowl

Another projection with the Huskies falling to the Foster Farms Bowl bumps the Cougs to San Antonio to face the TCU Horned Frogs.

Sporting News: Texas Bowl

I still don’t see this one happening. Six teams may be on the edge of bowl eligibilty in the Pac-12 (the Oregon Ducks, UCLA Bruins, Arizona State Sun Devils, Colorado Buffaloes, Utah Utes, and Cal Golden Bears are all on five wins) but the lowest WSU could fall in the Pac-12 when it comes to bowl rankings if everything broke wrong would be sixth, putting them, at worst, in the Las Vegas Bowl. Playing the Iowa State Cyclones would be pretty fun though!