Bowl projections: Five of eight projectors have Jacksonville State headed to the New Orleans Bowl

New Orleans is calling, Gamecock Nation.

Diehard Sports Network projects Jacksonville State to play Louisiana Tech in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 23 in New Orleans. Five of eight national projectors now have the Gamecocks in the New Orleans Bowl — CBS Sports' Brad Crawford, ESPN's Kyle Bonagura, ESPN's Mark Schlabach, College Football News' Pete Fiutak and Diehard. The New Orleans Bowl carries a CUSA vs. Sun Belt tie-in, and the projector consensus is clear: Jacksonville State is the CUSA representative. The Gamecocks are 7-2 overall and 5-0 in CUSA with a six-game winning streak and three games remaining.

The bowl destination is only part of the story. Jacksonville State and Liberty are both 5-0 in conference play and separated from the rest of the field — the next-closest team is Middle Tennessee at 3-2. The two teams do not play each other in the regular season, and a CUSA Championship meeting is the likely outcome barring a collapse by either team.

Jacksonville State hammered Sam Houston 47-14 on Homecoming Saturday.

Where the bowl projections have Jacksonville State

Projector | Bowl | Date | TV | Matchup

Brett McMurphy (On3) | Myrtle Beach | Dec. 21 | ESPN | Jax State vs. Appalachian State

Brad Crawford (CBS Sports) | New Orleans | Dec. 23 | ESPN | Jax State vs. James Madison

Bryan Fischer (SI.com) | Frisco Bowl | Dec. 23 | ESPN | Jax State vs. Air Force

Steven Lassan (Athlon Sports) | Cure | Dec. 22 | ESPN | Jax State vs. Western Michigan

Kyle Bonagura (ESPN) | New Orleans | Dec. 23 | ESPN | Jax State vs. Appalachian State

Mark Schlabach (ESPN) | New Orleans | Dec. 23 | ESPN | Jax State vs. Louisiana Tech

Pete Fiutak (CFN) | New Orleans | Dec. 23 | ESPN | Jax State vs. James Madison

Tim Stephens (Diehard) | New Orleans | Dec. 23 | ESPN | Jax State vs. Louisiana Tech

The variation among the five New Orleans Bowl projectors is on the Sun Belt side. CBS Sports' Brad Crawford and College Football News' Pete Fiutak both have James Madison as the opponent. ESPN's Kyle Bonagura has Appalachian State. ESPN's Mark Schlabach and Diehard both have Louisiana Tech. The three projectors who do not have the New Orleans Bowl are split across three different destinations — On3's Brett McMurphy has the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 21 against Appalachian State, SI.com's Bryan Fischer has the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23 against Air Force and Athlon Sports' Steven Lassan has the Cure Bowl in Orlando on Dec. 22 against Western Michigan.

Where they stand

Jacksonville State is 5-0 in CUSA, tied with Liberty (5-0) atop the conference standings. The two programs have separated themselves from the field — the next-closest team is Middle Tennessee at 3-2. The Gamecocks have won six straight and are on a collision course with Liberty for the conference title.

Remaining schedule

Jacksonville State is already bowl-eligible. The remaining schedule is about conference positioning and the CUSA Championship.

• Nov. 14 — at WKU (3-6, 2-3 CUSA)
• Nov. 21 — Missouri State (3-6, 2-3 CUSA)
• Nov. 28 — at Delaware (4-5, 2-3 CUSA)

All three remaining opponents are below .500 overall and below .500 in conference play. WKU on the road Nov. 14 is the toughest test — the Hilltoppers are fighting for bowl eligibility and play at home. Missouri State at home Nov. 21 and Delaware on the road to close the season Nov. 28 are both manageable. Jacksonville State is 5-0 at home and 2-2 on the road this season. A clean sweep would set up a CUSA Championship game against Liberty with the conference title on the line.