SEC defenses will, for the most part, have their hands full in their bowl games. We already ranked the quarterbacks who will sling it against SEC foes in the postseason, but now we’ll expand our outlook to rank each offense as a whole.

We’ll use both a basic standard (each team’s NCAA rank in total offense in the Football Bowl Subdivision according to sports-reference.com) and a more advanced look (via Football Outsiders, with its S&P rating, which factors in such statistics as productivity on passing downs against all other downs). If both categories are close we reserve the right to factor in strength of schedule and an “it factor” like Lamar Jackson to determine these rankings.

So, among the nine teams facing SEC opponents in bowls, let’s see which offenses have lit up the scoreboard and which have plodded along.

9. Michigan (vs. South Carolina, Outback Bowl)

Total offense: No. 101; Football Outsiders S&P rating: 74

The story: It’s fitting that the Wolverines opened against Florida because the gang in maize and blue might be the Gators of the north: All the high recruiting rankings any program could want, and still no quarterback production. (Shea Patterson will solve that, but not in time for the Outback Bowl.)

Michigan averages 168.6 passing yards a game, 112th of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. A deeper dig into the numbers is even worse for Wolverines fans: Of the 18 FBS teams ranked below UM, only five throw at least 25 times a game, as Michigan does. But this team is decent at running (186.3 yards a game, ranked 44th), and offensive linemen Ben Bredeson and Mason Cole were named to the All-Big Ten second team in both coaches and media voting.

8. Texas (vs. Missouri, Texas Bowl)

Total offense: No. 56; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 97

The story: The Longhorns have shuttled two quarterbacks back and forth all season because both have had injuries, but somehow Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger have combined for 266.5 passing yards a game, 36th in the nation. What’s perhaps surprising is that the Longhorns, who have recently produced standout running backs like D’Onta Freeman, Cedric Benson and Jamaal Charles, are 107th in the nation at 3.7 yards per carry. Ehlinger is the team’s leading rusher with just 364 yards. But the line has to take some blame: Texas is allowing 2.67 sacks per game, which ranks tied for 105th in FBS.

7. Northwestern (vs. Kentucky, Music City Bowl)

Total offense: No. 60; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 82

The story: Quarterback Clayton Thorson was named to the All-Big Ten third team by both league coaches and the media, and running back Justin Jackson made the second team in both polls. But S&P ranks the Wildcats 118th in efficiency on passing downs, which could help explain why they’re ranked 99th in third-down conversions at 35.5 percent (66 of 186). Jackson has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons at Northwestern but he’s a one-man show in the backfield and no NU receiver has more than 50 catches this season.

6. Wake Forest (vs. Texas A&M, Belk Bowl)

Total offense: No. 29; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 30

The story: The Demon Deacons are seventh in FBS in red zone scoring, converting 94 percent of the time inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. Wake Forest doesn’t do a lot of things spectacularly, but it ranks in the nation’s top 50 in most major categories, which all adds up to its very solid overall and S&P rankings. Tight end Cam Serigne was named first-team All-ACC in a combined media/coaches vote. Also, three linemen — second-team center Ryan Anderson and third-team selections Justin Herron (tackle) and Phil Haynes (guard) — were named All-ACC, as were quarterback John Wolford and kicker Mike Weaver, both second-teamers.

5. Clemson (vs. Alabama, Sugar Bowl)

Total offense: No. 31; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 35

Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The story: It’s no secret that the bulk of Clemson’s might this season is on defense. But look more closely and this offense has some firepower as well. Two Tigers offensive linemen made the Associated Press All-American list: Tackle Micah Hyde on the second team and guard Tyrone Crowder on the third team. Also, center Justin Falcinelli earned first-team All-ACC honors. But this team’s calling card is its depth at receiver. Quarterback Kelly Bryant has been solid but he has also had plenty of help from talented pass-catchers Hunter Renfrow, Deon Cain and Ray-Ray McCloud, each of whom has at least 46 catches and 502 receiving yards in 2017.

4. Notre Dame (vs. LSU, Citrus Bowl)

Total offense: No. 25; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 24

The story: The talent up front here might be as good as anywhere in the nation. Offensive linemen Quenton Nelson (guard) and Mike McGlinchey (tackle) were named to the first-team AP All-America squad, living up to their preseason hype. The Fighting Irish are seventh in the country in rushing at 279.1 yards a game as running back Josh Adams and quarterback Brandon Wimbush have proven capable of breaking big plays. The team’s average of 6.4 yards per carry is third in FBS, behind only Arizona and Louisville. Notre Dame doesn’t throw a ton but its average of 12.79 yards per completion is decent.

3. UCF (vs. Auburn, Peach Bowl)

Total offense: No. 5; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 2

The story: The Knights led the nation in scoring and won a few close games late in the season simply by having the ball last and putting up points when they did so. They had to, because the American Athletic Conference produced four of the top 16 scoring teams in FBS — just call the AAC the Group of 5’s answer to the Big 12. UCF was 10th in yards per completion and 21st in yards per carry. Quarterback McKenzie Milton, running back Adrian Killins and wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith lead the way for a deep offense that had six players score at least six touchdowns. Milton is second in the nation in completion percentage (69.2), yards per attempt (10.5) and rating (184.8) and even averages 5.3 yards per run.

Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

2. Louisville (vs. Miss. State, TaxSlayer Bowl)

Total offense: No. 3; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 5

The story: Of course, this offense all starts with Lamar Jackson. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and this year’s finalist, a second-team AP All-American at quarterback this year, led the ACC in both passing and rushing. Wide receiver Jaylen Smith was named first-team All-ACC along with Jackson. The Cardinals rank in the the top 10 in every S&P offensive category and, though they score about 10 fewer points a game than UCF, the higher level of competition — plus Jackson’s sheer electric presence — pushes Louisville just past the Knights on this list.

1. Oklahoma (vs. Georgia, Rose Bowl)

Total offense: No. 1; Football Outsiders S&P rating: No. 1

The story: Baker Mayfield gets all the headlines, and why wouldn’t he after winning the Heisman Trophy (as well as creating the occasional controversy). But he’s just one of three members of the Sooners offense named to the AP All-America first team. Mark Andrews, the John Mackey Award winner as the nation’s best tight end, added the AP honor to his list of accolades, and offensive tackle Orlando Brown also joined Mayfield on the AP first team. And for as much as Mayfield flings the ball around all over, Oklahoma has only committed 12 turnovers all season. Add in the fact that Oklahoma was ranked No. 1 in every single S&P offensive category, and there’s no mistake: This Sooners team is a juggernaut that Georgia will be hard-pressed to stop in the Rose Bowl.