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Is there an unbeatable team in college football this season?
Signs are pointing to no right now. Alabama struggled mightily against Texas A&M. Sure, Bryce Young wasn’t playing, but the Crimson Tide should have been winning by 3 touchdowns at least even without the former Heisman Trophy winner.
But a W is a W.
As of now, we project 11 SEC teams to reach 6 wins and achieve bowl eligibility. South Carolina jumped back into contention with its win over Kentucky and now has a great chance to end the year with 6 wins.
Tennessee reaffirmed itself as a Tier 1A team, still just below Georgia and Alabama. The Vols have as strong a chance as they’ve had in the past 15 years to exorcise some demons and steal a win over Alabama in Knoxville next week.
Kentucky has fallen from its high horse. The Wildcats are without Will Levis, but that was far from the only reason they lost Saturday. Kentucky tried to make Kaiya Sheron do too much and, though he bruised his way to 126 rushing yards, Chris Rodriguez couldn’t do enough to split the difference. Kentucky’s secondary did the offense no favors, either.
Florida did what it needed to stay on track. The Gators likely would have made a bowl either way, but beating Mizzou pretty much punched their ticket with winnable games against Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Florida State remaining. All the Gators need is 2.
Arkansas, on the other hand, suddenly has some concerns after an electric start to the season. The Razorbacks need to beat 3 of these teams: Mizzou, BYU, Auburn, Liberty and LSU.
The SEC bowl lineup is similar to that of last season’s. The Las Vegas Bowl will replace the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in its rotation between B1G and SEC. If the ReliaQuest Bowl sounds unfamiliar, it’s because it changed its branding from the Outback Bowl.
As usual, the Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl have an SEC tie-in because they are not hosting this season’s College Football Playoff. Those distinctions go to the Peach Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.
Here it is in all its glory: SEC Bowl predictions following Week 5 action.
SEC college football bowl projections following Week 6
Peach Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Georgia vs. Clemson
Fiesta Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Alabama vs. Ohio State
Sugar: Tennessee vs. Oklahoma State
Orange: Ole Miss vs. Wake Forest
Citrus: Mississippi State vs. Minnesota
ReliaQuest: Kentucky vs. Purdue
Music City: Texas A&M vs. Maryland
Gator: LSU vs. Florida State
Liberty: Florida vs. Texas Tech
Las Vegas: Arkansas vs. Washington State
Birmingham: South Carolina vs. Duke
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
