Bowl projections: South Alabama still unanimous on all eight bowl boards after Marshall loss

The Marshall loss stung, Jaguar Nation, but it didn't knock you off a single bowl board.

Diehard Sports Network projects South Alabama to play Miami (Ohio) in the Salute to Veterans Bowl on Dec. 15 in Montgomery — 160 miles from Mobile and one of two games kicking off the bowl season. All eight projectors have the Jaguars in a bowl for the second consecutive week, even after the 20-13 loss at Marshall dropped South Alabama to 4-3. Eight projectors, six different bowls — the destination is anyone's guess, but the consensus is clear: the Jaguars are going bowling.

South Alabama hosts Louisiana Tech (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) on Saturday (2 p.m. CT, ESPN+) in what amounts to a first-place showdown in the Sun Belt West. Louisiana Tech is a 5.5-point road favorite.

Where the bowl projections have South Alabama

Projector | Bowl | Date | TV | Matchup

Brett McMurphy (On3) | First Responder | Jan. 2 | ABC | South Alabama vs. Jacksonville State

Brad Crawford (CBS Sports) | Myrtle Beach | Dec. 21 | ESPN | South Alabama vs. Liberty

Bryan Fischer (SI.com) | San Juan | Dec. 16 | ESPN | South Alabama vs. Boston College

Steven Lassan (Athlon Sports) | Salute to Veterans | Dec. 15 | ESPN | South Alabama vs. Middle Tennessee

Kyle Bonagura (ESPN) | Puerto Rico | Dec. 22 | ESPN | South Alabama vs. UMass

Mark Schlabach (ESPN) | Myrtle Beach | Dec. 21 | ESPN | South Alabama vs. Liberty

Pete Fiutak (CFN) | Cure | Dec. 22 | ESPN | South Alabama vs. James Madison

Tim Stephens (Diehard) | Salute to Veterans | Dec. 15 | ESPN | South Alabama vs. Miami (Ohio)

The projectors scatter across six different bowls. CBS Sports' Brad Crawford and ESPN's Mark Schlabach agree on the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Liberty. Diehard and Athlon Sports' Steven Lassan both project the Salute to Veterans Bowl in Montgomery — Diehard has Miami (Ohio) as the opponent, Lassan has Middle Tennessee. SI.com's Bryan Fischer projects the TransPerfect San Juan Bowl against Boston College on Dec. 16, which would give South Alabama a Power 4 opponent in the Sun Belt's most lucrative new bowl deal. On3's Brett McMurphy has the First Responder Bowl in Dallas against Jacksonville State — an all-Alabama matchup on Jan. 2. ESPN's Kyle Bonagura projects Puerto Rico. College Football News' Pete Fiutak has the Cure Bowl in Orlando against James Madison.

Where they stand

South Alabama is 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt after the 20-13 loss at Marshall on Oct. 20. Louisiana Tech leads the Sun Belt West at 3-0 in conference play. The Jaguars entered the Marshall game tied atop the West at 2-0 and left a game back with five to play.

Remaining schedule

South Alabama needs two wins from five remaining games to reach bowl eligibility.

• Oct. 31 — Louisiana Tech (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt)
• Nov. 7 — at Louisiana (5-3, Sun Belt)
• Nov. 14 — Troy (3-4, 1-2 Sun Belt)
• Nov. 21 — at Southern Miss (Sun Belt)
• Nov. 27 — App State (5-2, 2-1 Sun Belt)

Saturday's home game against Louisiana Tech is the biggest remaining game on the schedule. Louisiana Tech is 3-0 in the Sun Belt West and the division leader — a South Alabama win evens the race, a loss drops the Jaguars two games behind with three conference games left. Troy at home and Southern Miss on the road are the most winnable remaining games. The App State finale on Thanksgiving weekend could carry division or bowl implications for both teams.