SBNation predicts where every SEC team will go bowling in 2016
It’s still the preseason for college football, but that’s not stopping SBNation’s Jason Kirk from making postseason picks. While many analysts are high on the Crimson Tide for 2016, Kirk sees another SEC West team playing for a national championship.
Kirk revealed his picks for all the bowl games, including the three College Football Playoff matchups on Tuesday. He has 12 SEC teams playing in the postseason, with LSU playing in the final game of the season:
- College Football Playoff championship game: LSU vs. Clemson
- Peach Bowl (CFP semifinal): LSU vs. TCU
- Sugar Bowl (New Year’s Six): Alabama vs. Oklahoma
- Cotton Bowl (New Year’s Six): Tennessee vs. Houston
- Outback Bowl: Florida vs. Nebraska
- Citrus Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Penn State
- TaxSlayer Bowl: Georgia vs. Miami
- Music City Bowl: South Carolina vs. Iowa
- Liberty Bowl: Missouri vs. Texas Tech
- Belk Bowl: Auburn vs. Virginia Tech
- Birmingham Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Cincinnati
- Texas Bowl: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State
- Independence Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Northwestern
Kirk humorously explains his LSU pick with the following:
LSU returns a whole t o n, could play 12 bowl teams in 13 games, upgraded at defensive coordinator, and gets Bama and Ole Miss at home. But the quarterback, they shout. Brandon Harris was middlin’ in the SEC as a true sophomore, has a horde of weapons, and doesn’t exactly need to throw for 5,000 yards here. To bet on a Zombie Les Miles team is to cannonball into a volcano, so I am wearing moisture-wicking garments.
While many Alabama fans will object to the LSU pick, most of the predictions above fall in line with preseason commentary surrounding the SEC. Tennessee is thought by many to be the SEC East favorite and could certainly be in line for an at-large New Year’s Six bid if the Volunteers win their division. The Sugar Bowl will never say no to Alabama if the Crimson Tide is available after the final four is filled out. And that Mark Richt vs. Georgia matchup would certainly be big ratings get for the TaxSlayer Bowl.
ESPN analyst Phil Steele similarly picked LSU to make the playoff, but Kirk does not agree with Steele’s prediction that two SEC teams will make it in the final four:
Lastly, I think the Pac-12 will devour itself, Notre Dame’s schedule has a bump too many, and it’ll be a long time before a conference gets two teams in.
What do you think? Will Les Miles go from almost being fired to coaching for a national championship? Will either of the snubbed SEC East teams make a surprise run?
I’d be a bit disappointed for Tennessee not to get the Sugar Bowl berth if they ended up losing in the SEC Championship, which is what these rankings seem to suggest. If LSU makes the CFP, then they’d seemingly have won the SECCG by beating the Vols (which would be the East winners if they were highly enough ranked to get the Cotton Bowl berth). For the Vols to get only the Cotton Bowl bid would then seem to suggest that the Vols lost to LSU and because of that dropped lower in the rankings behind Alabama. Sorry, but that has always been absurd to me. Losing in a conference championship generally should not let you slip below another team that wasn’t invited to the conference championship, unless you get totally blown out (which could happen to Tennessee, but I think that’s unlikely).
I know the Sugar Bowl no longer automatically gives a bid to the SEC champ or highest ranking SEC team, but it seems like it’s continuing its longstanding tradition of inviting the highest ranked SEC winner (unless the winner is in the CFP). If Tennessee loses to LSU in the SECCG, who then goes on to the CFP, then Tennessee should get the Sugar Bowl berth. I’d much prefer a rematch against OU than playing Houston, although that would still be a good game.
Tennessee was 9-3 last year and this guy is over here talking like the Sugar Bowl is a given
I’m talking in the context of SBNation’s prediction. Tennessee did have a better season than UGA though.
Correct. Tennessee was able to come back from the ass kicking that UGA was giving them last year without Nick Chubb in the game. I’m guessing that will be tougher this year with Nick Chubb in the game.
The only reason that he would put Alabama in the Sugar Bowl is because the Vols would have lost to Bama during the regular season yet won the East. It also assumes that Bama lost to LSU (not likely) and are a one loss SEC West team.
cclausen71. That Nick Chubb excuse is overblown. You do realize that the score was 0-0 when Chubb got hurt? Not to mention Michel had a great game. Tennessee came back and won the game hands down, it was no fluke. Dobbs had over 300 yards passing and over 110 yards rushing, and that was the biggest reason Tennessee won. If you want to get mad at someone, get mad at Davis for dropping an easy TD.
Keno98. UGA opened up a 21 point lead on Tennessee which I think most people would agree that Tennessee was getting their asses kicked. Dobbs did throw for over 300 which may not have been a fluke but it was about 150 yards more than he averaged all year. I’ll give props that the Vols did play a hell of a game in the comeback. However, if you think Tennessee wins if Chubb didn’t get hurt, you are crazy. He would have worked the Vol defense like Vols defenders work women on campus. He wouldn’t have asked permission, he would have just taken it.
Exactly what I said. UGA opened a 21 point lead WITHOUT Chubb. Tennessee adjusted their gameplan when Chubb went down, and this probably contributed to Michel having a huge game. Chubb doesn’t play defense and so the comeback would have happened whether he played or not.
Missouri and South Carolina go bowling? And snow will cancel labor day weekend games across the SEC.
Easy fella, UGA only beat Mizzou by 3 (in Athens) last year. Do you really see the Tigers getting worse? That stellar MU defense returns 8 starters and the offensive side has added depth and some really good transfers that should make quite a difference. A bowl game definitely shouldn’t be considered unattainable.
they’re both new years 6, whats the big deal?
Sugar Bowl carries a bit more gravitas for SEC teams because it’s historically been THE bowl for top SEC teams. That’s all. If we ended up playing Houston, I wouldn’t really care. Just noting that for all these predictions to shake out the way SBNation says, it would require us to essentially drop behind Bama after we lost in the SECCG while they didn’t even play in it. Nothing wrong with that, I’d just rather get the Sugar Bowl if the Vols aren’t going to make the CFP.
I think that if LSU wins the SECW and SECCG, then that means the winner of the UT/UA game will have lost to LSU once and be 1-loss, and then goes to the Sugar Bowl. UT could lose to Bama and still win the SECE, lose to LSU, and be 11-2, and go to the CB, which is what I think they’re predicting. If UT wins, then they’re 12-1 and Bama is 10-2, and the bowl selections probably get reversed. I don’t think they’re knocking you guys by putting you in the CB, I think it’s just that they’re predicting you to be a 2-loss team by then to the other two best teams in the SEC.
It appears that my comment (below) is redundant
From the predictions, they could be predicting:
13-0 LSU
11-1 Bama (loss to LSU)
11-2 Tennessee (loss to Bama and LSU)
If this is the case, then I think they’d be justified in sending Bama to the Sugar Bowl over Tenn. Winning a division is great, but doesn’t make you 2nd best in the conference (see 2011 season). Especially if a head-to-head says otherwise.
However, if the following occurs:
12-1/13-0 LSU
10-2 Bama
11-2 Tennessee
Then you better hope Tennessee didn’t lose to Bama, and even that might not be enough, given Bama’s schedule/reputation and the freshness of the SECCG loss. This would be an interesting scenario.
Well couldn’t Tennessee go 13-0 I mean let’s be honest they are the favorites to win all their games and I believe that with Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara Tennessee could definitely not only when the East but the SEC Championship I’m not trying to say all the volunteers are just absolutely Unstoppable but I believe there should be more respect we need to accept the fact that the volunteers have become a national championship Contender I’m not saying that they will go all the way but what I’m saying is don’t count Tennessee out if they do go undefeated at the end of the season
They definitely aren’t favorites to beat Bama, at least not at this point…but they might be favored by the time that game comes up on the schedule. That said, going undefeated isn’t out of the realm of possibility, but I still think it’s unlikely.
Even if bama (10-2) and UT (11-2) with the vols having beaten the tide, bama is still getting the sugar invite unfortunately. UT needs to get the whole job done if they want to see the reward they would deserve
I see LSU and Bama finishing with the same conference records with LSU winning a tie breaker but taking an L from someone else like Arkansas or Florida.
This absolutely would happen. Ex: in 2012 UGA lost to bama in SECCG by one play. Rankings punished the loss by sending UF (who already lost to UGA) to the sugar bowl (the louisville upset) because they had 1 loss to our 2,
I know it would happen. And I normally hate when it does. Hated it for UGA too. If a team makes the conference championship game and then loses, then they should not be punished by dropping below another team that did not make the conference championship game. It happens regularly. If Tennessee were to lose to Bama earlier in the season, it wouldn’t be such a travesty, but to drop below another team that we beat earlier would be stupid…and that’s happened before with other conferences.
Yup, it’s one of the worst effects of a conference champ. Game. Also goes to show the two statistics that matter most in college football, the “W” on the score card and the ,,,’s on the check.
If Tenn were to lose to Bama in the regular season, then claim the East and lose to LSU, and Bama were second in the west with no losses above Tenn’s own, then this scenario is not only feasible, but outside exactly which cfp game LSU (where they rank in the four) the selection for th other two is virtually guaranteed.
Vols, just shoot your load against the gumps.
Have you maybe not paid attention to what happens to SECCG loser in recent years? They never visit the Sugar Bowl. Florida, Missouri (twice), Georgia(twice)…the list goes on and on. The Viles aren’t going anywhere special if they can’t snap decade long losing streaks to their biggest rivals, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.
Tennessee won’t get out of September without three losses
I read comments on this website all the time and this is possibly the stupidest thing anybody’s ever said.
Is it? Why is everyone saying oh Tennessee is gonna win the sec? You might go 8-4 this year and probably be looking for a new coach. Butch Jones is the most overrated coach. But seriously though good luck to y’all this year
Nobody knows what Tennessee will do throughout the season or any team for that matter it wouldn’t surprise me if Tennessee was 8-4 and had to look to make a change but to make a comment that Tennessee will have 3 losses in September would be implying that they will lose to either Appalachian State or Ohio and that my friend is an absurd comment.
VT Oklahoma and Florida I hope you guys beat Ohio and Appalachian state
I can’t wait for that Oklahoma game this year in the rare 3 game series. Enlighten me on the details of that game again?
We don’t play Oklahoma this year. That’s the reason you have no credibility: you have no idea what you’re talking about.
You just insinuated that with the level of talent we have collected, we will either lose to the Ohio Bobcats or the App State Mountaineers by saying we won’t escape September without 3 losses. You have basically just invalidated any further opinion you have on this website. That, or you just said we lose to both of those teams and Virginia Tech, and beat the Gators. Your choice.
InstiGator: 1) to cause by incitement; foment. 2) A gator who instigates.
This would be more accurate (in my humble opinion) if you said October instead of Sep. Vols have UF (hadn’t beat since when?), between the hedges, at Kyle Field and Big Bad Bama. That four game stretch before their bye week will determine their season easily. I think they win out after that but with that stretch they could easily be 11-1 or 8-4.
^The end.
This here. UT is a team that could have a massive swing between records by the end of October.
Never fear, they’ll win out against Mizz, KY and Vandy to close out the season and we’ll have to endure the hype talk for 2017.
Wow you just made my point for me that you have no idea what you’re talking about we don’t even play Oklahoma put the keyboard down.
So who is that third loss in Sept, besides Va Tech and Fla? App st. or Ohio? Stick to the gators and their news.
I thought 6-6 and a Birmingham or Independence Bowl bid would be a big step in Muschamp’s first year. If this guy is saying the Music City Bowl he’s thinking 7-5 or even 8-4 for us.
The Tennessee fans are already talking about the SEC championship game. SMH. They sound a lot like Auburn did last year.
Of course we are talking about the SECCG, because we are discussing these bowl predictions, which assume that Tennessee gets to the SECCG. So yeah, we are talking about the Vols making it to the SECCG, because we are discussing it in the context of these predictions…
Dude, you are putting way too much effort into these predictions. Relax. Tennessee will be the same Tennessee we know and love. Their season will be over in September, again.
Well, that’s literally impossible because we will have played 1 SEC game. I could see us dropping UF but still winning the East. It’d be interesting to talk to others on here if you weren’t just blatantly talking trash instead of providing constructive conversation.
Liberty Bowl! Whoo-hoo! By the way, I predict that Brandon Harris is way too much like Jordan Jefferson to win a national championship, IMHO.
I don’t know about that. I think JJ was a run first kinda QB, where as Harris doesn’t run half as much. He also doesn’t show his frustrations as much as JJ did. If he works on his short yardage passing skills he will be better than JJ. We don’t need him to be Tim Tebow, just be more accurate.
Anyone who don’t except that UT is about to win about 3 Natty’s in a row needs to get more in touch with reality!!
Is this the same UT program that hasn’t beaten either of their two biggest rivals in a full decade?
Dooley Noted is as bad a fan of the program as Dooley was a coach of the program.
I doubt this person you are talking to is actually a TN fan, and if they are, my apologies.
You my friend are a Florida PeckerHead ! Enjoy your overrated coach !
Tcu to the playoffs? Seriously? They lost their only good players, they won’t be ranked by the end of the season. And clemmy won’t be in the top ten. The two New Years six bowls are good. The outback bowl though? Crap. Florida won’t finish near that high and Nebraska is a joke, has been for years. Ole pi$$ is not that good and Uga should be higher. Usc and mizzou won’t even get a bowl, much less that high of a bowl. Iowa would be lucky to finish that high and Texas tech would be unlucky to finish that low. Auburn, tamu, and Oklahoma state should all be way higher. Arky should be a bit higher, and vandy and Kentucky will get bowls to replace usc and mizzou. These ranking are complete crap.
Lol at the Tn fans. Imagine if Ole Miss fans were saying things like this. You guys have one good year and you’re back to being obnoxious as ever. The hype is fun, but let’s see how the season goes. You of all fan bases should know not to buy the hype. I certainly know that as an Ole Miss fan (2009). So let’s chill with the SECCG talks. You still have to beat Florida and UGA which you haven’t done consistently in a while. Let’s not forget you play Bama from the west so there’s 3 potential loses already.
Tennessee is massively overrated every year (very similar to Notre Dame) and they always find a way to disappoint their fans and prove the “experts” wrong. With their schedule as it is I can see them going anywhere from 8-4 down to 6-6 depending on how the Virginia Tech and Missouri games go, neither of which will be easy games contrary to popular belief. Their toughest stretch is a four game stretch against Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Alabama. I don’t see them beating Georgia and A&M on the road or Bama at home. Florida will be a tough game as well and one that is winnable but I don’t see that happening either. Even if they do get through that gauntlet they will have some petitioning to do with the committee since they have 8 home games to only 4 road games…
Tennessee fans didn’t start this hype, the analyst did! If you would bother to read the article and not just reply to comments you may notice the author of the article is implying Tennessee should win the SEC east, and play in the SECCG. It’s a way to early hypothetical assessment of SEC teams and the bowl games THE ANALUST believes will occur!!! Read don’t just troll comments.
TN was picked to finish second in the East last year, which is where we finished. We also ended the season ranked higher than we were in the preseason. Can you explain to me how that is underachieving? We haven’t been picked to win the East in the last 10 years. This whole “TN is overhyped every year” narrative is complete garbage, perpetuated by fans and site contributors that clearly have no clue what the hell they’re talking about. Also, it is not at all uncommon for Power 5 teams to only play 4 true road games. That will not be a factor in the committee’s decision. The VT game is at Bristol Motor Speedway, we call those “neutral sites” in the college football world. Lastly, you’re more delusional than Vols fans if you believe Mizzou has any chance of winning in Neyland this year. Get a clue man.
And who finished first ahead of them in the EAST? And how many in a row have they lost to that team? Try beating Florida first, then worry about whether they get a sugar bowl bid or cotton bowl bid. They have to dethorne the Champs before they can move to the next level. I like everyone sleeping on Florida who will have a stout defense and much better QB play versus the last 6 games a year ago. Tennessee has to prove it on the field not the preverbial bull hockey coming from stupid writers and anylists who only base their projections on the fact that Tennessee won their last 6 games and Florida lost their last 3( with a WR playing QB). Florida has beaten Tennessee 11 years in a row and will not lay down and play dead against them. They will be better then the last 2 years and not need a 4th quarter comeback for the 3rd year in a row. Tennessee will fold under the pressure like they always do. See you Hound dogs in Knoxville( and bring your tissue boxes).
only team I would worry about in the east, as long as we stay healthy would be Georgia.. Florida will be flattened this year.. stay at home and don’t waste ur money on a ticket gators.. go home and watch lifetime movies.. u’ll get more emotion…
and again, analyst pick, obviously they didn’t mention gators in the top six did they? they’ve been to every campus and seen how pathetic gators look this season.. sorry
O ya, one more comment and I’m done with this thread.. since u feel like talking bowls..didn’t u get stomped by michigan, while we completely blew out northwestern.. hmm wonder why analyst think Tennessee is shoe in for SECC? tough decision..