Bowl Projections: Orlando Still Likely Destination for FSU

Despite falling to 5-3 on Saturday with a 37-34 loss to Clemson, Florida State’s projected bowl destination didn’t change much this week. Most are still picking the Seminoles to watch their 2016 season end where it began — at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Erick Smith of USA Today, Brett McMurphy of ESPN, Jerry Palm of CBS Sports, Jason Kirk of SB Nation and Colin Becht of Sports Illustrated all have FSU headed to the Russell Athletic Bowl on Dec. 28.

Smith, Palm and Kirk all have the 22nd-ranked Seminoles squaring off against West Virginia for the third time in a bowl in 13 years. McMurphy and Becht each have FSU facing Oklahoma State in the game. FSU and Oklahoma State kicked off the 2014 season against one another in Dallas and before that, met in the 1985 Gator Bowl.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach also has the Seminoles heading to Orlando for bowl season, but not for the Russell Athletic Bowl. Schlabach projects that FSU will face Auburn in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in a rematch of the game that decided the 2013 national championship. The Citrus Bowl is slated for Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. EST.

The lone prognosticator to have the Seminoles traveling elsewhere was Bill Bender of the Sporting News. Bender has FSU heading to El Paso to take on Stanford in the Hyundai Sun Bowl.

It would be Florida State’s third trip to the Sun Bowl, but first since 1966 when it fell to Wyoming, 28-20. It would also be Florida State’s first-ever meeting with the Cardinal.

At 5-3, FSU is one win away from assuring itself a bowl appearance somewhere. The Seminoles will look to become bowl-eligible on Saturday as they visit N.C. State.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson