Bowl projections take shape for South Carolina, Clemson ahead of rivalry game
South Carolina football clinched bowl eligibility with a 21-17 win over Auburn this weekend, joining in-state rival Clemson Tigers once again on 2021 bowl prediction lists.
After falling out of many projections following their Week 11 loss at Missouri, the Gamecocks are there to stay with a 6-5 record heading into this week’s Palmetto Bowl vs. Clemson. The Tigers enter Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night as a double-digit favorite this week with an 8-3 record.
The Gamecocks are predicted to stay in the South for their bowl games, with projections ranging from Birmingham to Memphis or Charlotte. Several Clemson projections place the Tigers in the Gator Bowl, while others predict they could go as far as San Diego for the Holiday Bowl.
South Carolina’s last bowl appearance came after the 2018 season, when the Gamecocks suffered a 28-0 shutout loss to Virginia in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. South Carolina ended that season with a 7-6 record in Will Muschamp’s third season.
This season will be the first since 2015 that Clemson hasn’t made it into the College Football Playoff, breaking its six-year CFP streak. The Tigers fell to Ohio State 49-28 in last season’s Sugar Bowl semifinal. Clemson has clinched a bowl berth every season since 2005.
Final decisions and bowl invitations won’t be made until Sunday, Dec. 5.
Here’s a list of South Carolina and Clemson’s bowl projections through Week 12 of the college football season.
South Carolina football bowl projections
▪ Brad Crawford, 247Sports: Duke’s Mayo Bowl — South Carolina vs. North Carolina, 11:30 a.m. Dec. 30, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
▪ Jerry Palm, CBS Sports bowl expert: Birmingham Bowl — South Carolina vs. Western Michigan, noon Dec. 28, Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Ala.
▪ Mark Schlabach, ESPN: Duke’s Mayo Bowl — South Carolina vs. North Carolina, 11:30 a.m. Dec. 30, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
▪ Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Liberty Bowl — South Carolina vs. Iowa State, 6:45 p.m. Dec. 28, Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn.
▪ Steven Lassan, Athlon Sports: Birmingham Bowl — South Carolina vs. Houston, noon Dec. 28, Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Ala.
▪ Joe Broback, Pro Football Network: Liberty Bowl — South Carolina vs. West Virginia, 6:45 p.m. Dec. 28, Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn.
Clemson football bowl projections
▪ Brad Crawford, 247Sports: Gator Bowl — Clemson vs. Arkansas, 11 a.m. Dec. 31, TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
▪ Jerry Palm, CBS Sports bowl expert: Cheez-It Bowl — Clemson vs. Kansas State, 5:45 p.m. Dec. 29, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
▪ Mark Schlabach, ESPN: Gator Bowl — Clemson vs. Mississippi State, 11 a.m. Dec. 31, TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
▪ Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Holiday Bowl — Clemson vs. Washington State, 8 p.m. Dec. 28, Petco Park, San Diego, Calif.
▪ Steven Lassan, Athlon Sports: Gator Bowl — Clemson vs. Auburn, 11 a.m. Dec. 31, TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
▪ Joe Broback, Pro Football Network: Holiday Bowl — Clemson vs. Baylor, 8 p.m. Dec. 28, Petco Park, San Diego, Calif.
