Bowl Projections: ‘Noles and ‘Eers the Favorites Halfway Through Season

After seven 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. Oklahoma State
Brett McMurphy (ESPN): Florida State vs. Oklahoma
Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com): Florida State vs. West Virginia
Bill Bender (Sporting News): Florida State vs. Kansas State
College Football News: Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia
Jason Kirk (SB Nation): Florida State vs. West Virginia
Brant Parsons (Orlando Sentinel): Miami vs. TCU

Florida State and West Virginia are the heavy favorites in this week’s bowl projections with both teams appearing in media estimations for the fourth week in a row and five of the last six. Both Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com) and Jason Kirk (SB Nation) projected the two to play each other this week. The Seminoles hold a 3-0 edge over the Mountaineers all-time with all three previous meetings coming in the Gator Bowl.

Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Kansas State are also projected to face Florida State in several media projections. The Seminoles are 4-1 all-time against the Cowboys, winning the past four meetings after dropping their initial matchup in the 1958 Bluegrass Bowl. The Seminoles have had opposite results against the Sooners, however, dropping six straight meetings after winning the first ever matchup in the 1964 Gator Bowl. Kansas State and Florida State would be playing for the first time since 1977. The ‘Noles currently lead a 3-0 series over the Wildcats.

According to College Football News, Virginia Tech and West Virginia would reignite a rivalry that dates back to 1912. The Mountaineers lead the series 28-22-1, but the Hokies won the last meeting back in 2005, 34-17.

Miami and TCU are projected to meet according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Brant Parsons. Miami controls the series over TCU with 6-3 record, but the teams haven’t met since the 1992 season.