We are just over a week away from “Selection Day,” but first it’s Rivalry Week. Many SEC teams are locks for a bowl game throughout late December and early January. The SEC certainly brings some of the best teams to bowl season, creating some intriguing matchups. Let’s take a look at each bowl eligible team and where they’re projected to go.
Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): CFB Playoff at Cotton Bowl vs. Michigan State
CBS (Jerry Palm): CFB Playoff at Cotton Bowl vs. Michigan State
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): CFB Playoff at Cotton Bowl vs. Michigan State
Arkansas Razorbacks (6-5)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Belk Bowl vs. Duke
CBS (Jerry Palm): AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl vs. West Virginia
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas State
Auburn Tigers (6-5)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Birmingham Bowl vs. Cincinnati
CBS (Jerry Palm): Birmingham Bowl vs. Memphis
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Birmingham Bowl vs. Cincinnati
Florida Gators (10-1)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl vs. Ohio State
CBS (Jerry Palm): Sugar Bowl vs. Baylor
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Sugar Bowl vs. Baylor
Georgia Bulldogs (8-3)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): TaxSlayer.com Bowl vs. Penn State
CBS (Jerry Palm): Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl vs. Michigan
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Music City Bowl vs. Penn State
Kentucky Wildcats (5-6)
*Kentucky is playing for bowl eligibility this Saturday against Louisville.
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Raycom Media Camellia Bowl vs. Akron
CBS (Jerry Palm): Not projected
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Not projected
LSU Tigers (7-3)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): AutoZone Liberty Bowl vs. Texas Tech
CBS (Jerry Palm): Outback Bowl vs. Northwestern
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): TaxSlayer.com Bowl vs. NC State
Mississippi State Bulldogs (8-3)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl vs. West Virginia
CBS (Jerry Palm): TaxSlayer.com Bowl vs. Pittsburgh
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl vs. Ohio State
Ole Miss Rebels (8-3)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl vs. Ohio State
CBS (Jerry Palm): Music City Bowl vs. Penn State
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Belk Bowl vs. Virginia Tech
Missouri Tigers (5-6)
*Missouri is playing for bowl eligibility this Friday against Arkansas.
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Quick Lane Bowl vs. Central Michigan
CBS (Jerry Palm): Not projected
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Not projected
Tennessee Volunteers (7-4)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Outback Bowl vs. Northwestern
CBS (Jerry Palm): Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas State
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): Outback Bowl vs. Northwestern
Texas A&M Aggies (8-3)
ESPN (Mark Schlabach): Music City Bowl vs. Louisville
CBS (Jerry Palm): Belk Bowl vs. Virginia Tech
Fox Sports (Stewart Mandel): AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl vs. Texas Tech
These matchups certainly look intriguing throughout the SEC. Heading into the final week, Alabama looks to be the powerhouse as they’re the only team projected to make the College Football Playoff. However, the non-committee bowl games should turn out to be great ones, giving college football fans a great treat.
The SEC currently has two ineligible teams heading in, Vanderbilt and South Carolina. There could be two more teams falling to bowl ineligibility if Kentucky and Missouri were to lose in the final weekend.
However, if those teams were to lose, there still may be hope. The NCAA may have to include some 5-7 teams if there aren’t enough bowl eligible teams to fill the slots. The NCAA said they aren’t sure how they’ll handle the situation, but a team from the SEC could make it in with seven losses. We shall see after championship week, as final rankings and bowl games will be announced throughout the day on Sunday, Dec. 6.