Final bowl projections: Iowa to ...

In a few hours, this online post automatically fizzles into oblivion (or as Mike Tyson would say Bolivian). We'll know for sure who's going where to face whom. We'll know who got screwed and who's about to get tattooed.

The real pairings for the inaugural four-team College Football Playoff are released at 11:30 a.m. CT, and the remaining New Year's Six bowls are announced around 1:30 p.m. The other 32 bowls will disclose their selections at their leisure.

Iowa (7-5) has three likely destinations: San Francisco (Foster Farms Bowl), Nashville (Music City Bowl), Jacksonville (Taxslayer). Stanford of the Pac-12 is pretty much set in stone as the Big Ten's opponent in San Francisco. The Music City and Taxslayer bowls share selections with the Big Ten and ACC. Each bowl picks three teams from those conferences over the next six seasons. So if Music City gets the Big Ten, the Taxslayer picks an ACC team (or Notre Dame). The SEC would provide Iowa's potential opponent for either bowl. Potential SEC opponents for either bowl include Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina.

If Iowa were to rise up a notch to the Holiday Bowl, the Pac-12 supplies a strong opponent (USC, UCLA, Arizona State). If the Hawkeyes fall to the Heart of Dallas Bowl, it could face former quarterback Cody Sokol and Louisiana Tech. The Quick Lane Bowl (Detroit) features an ACC opponent. If that's the scenario, hopefully the bowl avoids an Iowa-Pittsburgh rematch.

My best estimate: Iowa goes to either the Music City Bowl or the Taxslayer Bowl. If one bowl wins the Notre Dame lottery, Iowa heads to the other. I think Auburn plays Notre Dame in one; Iowa plays Tennessee in the other. But like projecting the NFL draft, one odd move and the whole structure changes.

Also, the Big Ten has one extra team and one few bowl slot. The Armed Forces Bowl has an opening, and the Big Ten will supply teams there in 2015, 2017 and 2019. It looks like an easy match for Illinois.

So here's a final look at bowl projections:

NEW YEAR'S SIX

Sugar

- 1. Alabama vs. 4. Florida State (playoff)

Rose

- 2. Oregon vs. 3. Ohio State (playoff)

Orange

- Georgia Tech vs. Michigan State

Cotton

- Baylor vs. Ole Miss

Fiesta

- Arizona vs. Boise State

Peach

- Mississippi State vs. TCU

BIG TEN BOWLS

Outback

- Wisconsin vs. Georgia

Holiday

- Minnesota vs. USC

Foster Farms

- Nebraska vs. Stanford

Music City

- Iowa vs. Tennessee

Pinstripe

- Penn State vs. Boston College

Quick Lane

- Maryland vs. North Carolina

Heart of Dallas

- Rutgers vs. Louisiana Tech

Armed Forces - Houston vs. Illinois (Big 12/Army replacement)

POWER 5 BOWLS

Citrus

- Missouri vs. Clemson

Taxslayer

- Auburn vs. Notre Dame

Belk

- South Carolina vs. North Carolina State

Texas

- Texas A&M vs. Texas

Liberty

- LSU vs. Oklahoma

Birmingham

- Florida vs. Memphis

Independence

- Arkansas vs. Pittsburgh

Alamo

- Kansas State vs. UCLA

Russell

- West Virginia vs. Louisville

Cactus

- Washington vs. Oklahoma State

Sun

- Arizona State vs. Duke

Las Vegas

- Utah vs. Colorado State

Bitcoin

- Miami vs. Central Florida

Military

- Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati

OTHERS

Miami Beach

- BYU vs. East Carolina

Poinsettia

- San Diego State vs. Navy

Hawaii

- Fresno State vs. Rice

Potato

- Nevada vs. Western Michigan

New Mexico

- Air Force vs. UTEP

New Orleans

- Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Utah State

GoDaddy

- Arkansas State vs. Toledo

Camellia

- South Alabama vs. Bowling Green

Boca Raton

- Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan

Bahamas

- Marshall vs. Northern Illinois

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com