Bowl Projections: Huskers, Gators & Volunteers Slight Favorites At Season’s Midpoint

After seven weeks of play, here are updated projections for the 71st Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl from around the college football media.

Mark Schlabach (ESPN): Nebraska vs. Florida
Brett McMurphy (ESPN): Iowa vs. Tennessee
Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com): Virginia Tech vs. Ole Miss
Bill Bender (Sporting News): Nebraska vs. Florida
College Football News: Florida State vs. Tennessee
Jason Kirk (SB Nation): Nebraska vs. LSU
Brant Parsons (Orlando Sentinel): North Carolina vs. Arkansas

Following Week 7, Nebraska and Florida are the common projections from college football media. The two schools have met just twice previously with the Cornhuskers winning both times, most recently their 62-24 national championship win in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl.

Jason Kirk (SB Nation) has LSU representing the SEC against Nebraska in his projection this week. The Tigers would be looking for their first win against the Cornhuskers, trailing 5-0-1 in the overall series.

Tennessee joins Florida as the only SEC teams to be projected by more than one media member this week. Brett McMurphy (ESPN) has the Volunteers facing off with Iowa while CollegeFootballNews.com has the Florida State Seminoles meeting the Vols. Tennessee holds a 2-1 advantage over the Hawkeyes and split both meetings with the Seminoles.

Jerry Palm (CBSSports.com) projects Virginia Tech and Ole Miss playing in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl this postseason. The two programs haven’t met on the field since 1968 when the Rebels defeated the Hokies 34-17 to even the series between the two schools at one game apiece.

North Carolina is projected to take on Arkansas by Brant Parsons (Orlando Sentinel). The Tar Heels currently lead the series 2-0 against the Razorbacks, with both games coming in Florida bowls. Their most recent meeting came in 1995 at the Carquest Bowl (now Russell Athletic Bowl) with the Tar Heels leaving with a 20-10 victory.