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ESPN’s FPI paints bleak outlook for bowl chances of several SEC teams
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Bowl season could be a disappointing one for SEC fans this year.
Alabama and Georgia are both undefeated and stealing the headlines with both teams ranked in the top five of the AP Poll. However, a number of SEC teams continue to struggle and disappoint.
Arkansas, Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt each have three or fewer wins at this point in the season and will face an uphill battle to become bowl eligible. Ole Miss already has a self-imposed bowl ban for this season, but how many of these teams will reach bowl eligibility?
ESPN’s Football Power Index has updated the projected final records of each team, and it does not paint a pretty picture for these SEC teams.
The two teams most unlikely to reach a bowl are Missouri and Arkansas. FPI has both teams projected at a 4-8 record and staying home for the postseason.
The Razorbacks are coming off a 32-point loss to Auburn and still have games against LSU and Mississippi State on the schedule. Missouri is coming off a win over Idaho, but the Tigers schedule is not a great one moving forward. Matchups with Florida, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt are still to come.
Another team that is projected to fall short of bowl eligibility is Vanderbilt who has a projected final record of 5-7. There is still hope for the Commodores, but their 3-0 start seems like ages ago. Vanderbilt has lost four straight with each loss coming by double digits.
South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee are the SEC games remaining for the Commodores, along with a non-conference game against Western Kentucky. Assuming a win over WKU, the Commodores would need two SEC victories the rest of the way to become eligible.
Two surprise teams in the SEC that are projected to barely pass the line for bowl eligibility are Florida and Tennessee. FPI projects Florida’s final record at 6-5 and Tennessee’s at 6-6.
Florida has a decent schedule the rest of the way. The Gators do take on No. 3 Georgia this weekend, but they finish the season with Missouri, South Carolina, UAB, and Florida State. At this point, it would be a disappointment for the Gators to not make a bowl.
Tennessee is a surprise team here, but it remains difficult to imagine the Volunteers as a bowl-eligible squad. They currently sit at a 3-4 record with games against Kentucky, Southern Miss, Missouri, LSU, and Vanderbilt. Anything is possible, but the Vols will need to improve in a number of areas to make it happen.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
