It was not a good week for middle of the pack SEC teams.
The top dogs – Georgia, Tennessee, LSU and Alabama – all picked up wins to keep their résumé strong. The Tide, with Nick Saban beating former assistant Lane Kiffin, should be set for a New Year’s 6 bowl after proving they still have some juice in the tank.
LSU’s was the weakest of the 4 wins. The Tigers barely limped by a KJ Jefferson-less Arkansas squad, improving to 8-2 on the year all the same. They, like Alabama, should be shoo-ins for a New Year’s 6 bowl with the SEC West title now clinched. That early-season loss to Florida State and drudging by Tennessee are really hurting those in Baton Rouge with dreams of an SEC title over Georgia.
Week 11 was a nightmare slate for the rest of the SEC not named Florida or Vanderbilt. Texas A&M, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mizzou, South Carolina and Mississippi State all suffered losses. Florida was the only one to up its stock and now represents the best chance at 8 wins among those listed above. As for the Commodores? Well, they’re still very, very likely out of bowl contention, needing wins over Florida and Tennessee to reach 6-6 – they were just happy to get a win when they could.
Texas A&M officially played its way out of bowl contention with a loss to Auburn. The Tigers technically still have a chance but would need a miracle win over the Crimson Tide in the Iron bowl. Anything can happen, yadda yadda …
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 11 action.
SEC college football bowl projections following Week 11
Peach Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Tennessee vs. Georgia
Fiesta Bowl (Playoff semifinal): Ohio State vs. TCU
Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Kansas State
Orange: Alabama vs. Clemson
Citrus: Ole Miss vs. Penn State
ReliaQuest: Florida vs. Iowa
Music City: Kentucky vs. Illinois
Gator: Mississippi State vs. Notre Dame
Las Vegas: South Carolina vs. Oregon State
Liberty: Mizzou vs. Oklahoma
Texas: Arkansas vs. Baylor
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
