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The SEC is involved in 10 bowl games, all of them pretty exciting matchups. (Florida-Michigan? Georgia-Penn State? LSU-Texas Tech?)
There are so many good choices, we decided to poll our staff to determine the best. Of course, this is all on paper. We saw how that TCU-Ole Miss game turned out last Jan. 1.
WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING SEC BOWL GAME?
Tom Brew (@tombrewsports): Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma State, Sugar Bowl
I’m really looking forward to Ole Miss and Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what Chad Kelly has done all season and with the lack of defense on Okie State, this could be a very high-scoring game. Plus, Ole Miss has to be reminded every day about last year’s disaster in the bowl game against TCU and I’m sure they’d like to right that wrong this year.
Christopher Smith (@csmithSDS): Alabama vs. Michigan State, Cotton Bowl
The Spartans are 6-1 against top 5 teams in the last three years. Never mind that the line is 9.5 points in favor of Alabama. Michigan State eliminated Ezekiel Elliott, and is as capable as any team of slowing Derrick Henry. The Spartans’ weak link on defense is its secondary. Can Jake Coker and Calvin Ridley be enough a part of the game plan to take advantage? Connor Cook will be the best quarterback on the field in the Cotton Bowl. Alabama’s secondary gives up occasional big plays, and that’s the only way to exploit an otherwise-impenetrable defense. If Michigan State can keep this one low-scoring, an upset is in play.
Chris Wright (@FilmRoomEditor): Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma State, Sugar Bowl
Leonard Fournette’s quest for 2,000 yards offers intrigue, considering LSU is going against Texas Tech and the nation’s fourth-worst rushing defense. Who wouldn’t want to see him go for 300 yards? Dak Prescott vs. Jacoby Brissett will be interesting as well.
But I’m most excited about the Ole Miss-Oklahoma State Sugar Bowl shootout.
The very unofficial over/unders there could be silly: 1,000 total yards, 100 points. Neither would surprise me. Bowl games are perfect opportunities to have some fun anyway, add a few trick plays. Laquon Treadwell might throw for a TD and catch 3.
OSU QB Mason Rudolph grew up in SEC country, in Rock Hill, S.C., but was largely ignored by the homestate Gamecocks. Look for him to try to put on a show. And with Treadwell and Chad Kelly likely hooking up for the last time, he might need to.
Talal Elmasry (@TalalElmasrySDS): Ole Miss vs. Oklahoma State, Sugar Bowl
The Rebels have had a knack for being involved in instant classics this season. One could easily argue that the two most exciting games involving an SEC team this season was Ole Miss’ 43-37 win over Alabama, and Ole Miss’ 53-52 loss to Arkansas in OT. Meanwhile, Chad Kelly has been on fire. In the last three games, Chad Kelly is 64-for-98 passing (65.3 completion percentage) for 884 yards, 7 TDs and no INTs while rushing 34 times for 265 yards and 6 TDs.
In the Sugar Bowl, it’ll be the SEC’s top passing offense (333.7 yards per game) against the Big 12’s second-best passing offense (357.3). It certainly sets up as an exciting matchup on paper. I think the Outback Bowl matchup between Tennessee and Northwestern could also be special, but I’ve got to go with the Sugar Bowl.
John Brasier (john_brasiersds): Tennessee vs. Northwestern, Outback Bowl
Tennessee and Northwestern in the Outback Bowl should be the most exciting bowl game involving an SEC team. The Volunteers (8-4) enter the game riding a five-game winning streak. With Jalen Hurd and Joshua Dobbs, the Vols should challenge a Northwestern defense holding foes to 16.4 points per game. The Vols will have to stop Northwestern RB Justin Jackson, who rushed for 1,344 yards. It won’t be a shootout, but their should be some scoring and a tight contest.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
