SEC East bowl possibilities Week 12
With two weeks left in the regular season, the SEC East bowl picture is taking shape.
Sorry Kentucky fans. It appears the once 5-1 Wildcats will be staying home after Christmas.
RELATED: Week 12 SEC Bowl Projections
On Friday, we’ll look at the SEC West bowl possibilities. Here’s the East projections …
MIZZOU TIGERS (8-2, 5-1)
If Mizzou wins its last two regular-season games and the SEC this season, the Tigers will play in a New Year’s Six bowl, most likely the Cotton. Ranked No. 20 this week in the College Football Playoff rankings, Mizzou is too far away from the top four for winning out to matter.
Most likely
- Outback
- Citrus
- Texas
Fringe
- Cotton
GEORGIA BULLDOGS (8-2, 6-2)
A New Year’s Six berth is on the horizon for the 10th-ranked Bulldogs even if Georgia misses out on a trip to Atlanta. Should the Bulldogs fall to Georgia Tech in the rivalry season finale, they’ll fall to Orlando for the Citrus.
Most likely
- Peach
- Citrus
- Outback
Fringe
- Music City
FLORIDA GATORS (5-4, 4-4)
It looks like the Gators will finish 6-5 under lameduck coach Will Muschamp, good enough for a trip to Jacksonville … maybe. They could be competing with South Carolina, Tennessee and Mizzou for that spot, three teams that have comparable — in the Tigers’ case, better — resumes.
Most likely
- TaxSlayer
- Belk
- Birmingham
KENTUCKY WILDCATS (5-6, 2-6)
What happened to Kentucky? Losers of five straight games, if the Wildcats do beat Louisville next week, the pickings are slim for bowl season. Shreveport or Birmingham will be the only destinations for a team stumbling into the postseason.
Most likely
- Birmingham
- Independence
TENNESSEE VOLS (5-5, 2-4)
There’s been rumors of the Outback Bowl being interested in Tennessee if the Vols can win their next two games and enter the postseason riding a four-game streak. Tennessee travels well and Tampa in January’s a pleasant destination for a program that hasn’t been ‘dancing’ since 2010.
Most likely
- Music City
- Liberty
- TaxSlayer
Fringe
- Outback
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS (5-5, 3-5)
Most assumed the Gamecocks would finish 5-7 after an unlikely overtime loss to Tennessee derailed South Carolina’s record to below .500. But Steve Spurrier’s team didn’t quit, won a road game at Florida for the second time ever and now is in great position to win seven games prior to bowl selection.
Most likely
- Music City
- Belk
Fringe
- TaxSlayer