SEC Bowls....will they be able to fill their slots?....

Oct 23, 2019, 10:10 AM

Will earth's mightiest conference be able to fill their bowl slots this year?
I'm assuming the standard of 6 wins is still somewhere out there....although in recent years 5-7 teams have wandered into bowls.

As a refresher, the SEC has the following bowl tie-ins:

- Playoff
- Sugar Bowl (top non-playoff team)
- Citrus Bowl (# 2 non-playoff team)

Next tier: (SEC assigns these)

- Outback Bowl
- Tax Slayer (Gator) Bowl
- Music City Bowl
- Texas Bowl
- Belk Bowl
- Liberty Bowl

Secondary tier:

- Birmingham Bowl
- Independence Bowl

- Potentially, that's 11 teams....even 12 if 2 were to make the playoff!

- But as we'll see below, there's a shortage of teams that are looking like bowl teams....and ESPN may have to channel some energy towards appealing that going 5-7 in the SEC is bowl worthy.

Teams that will definitely be bowl eligible:

Bama, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Georgia

Ineligible due to Postseason ban:

Missouri

Likely to be bowl eligible:

Texas A&M (4-3)- Remaining Games: Miss. State, UTSA (whooo?), SCAR, at UGA, at LSU

- I assume they'll get two of these. But they need to get them sooner rather than later.

On the fence with a lot of work to do:

Miss State (3-4)- Remaining Games: at Texas A&M, at Arkansas, Alabama, Abiliene Chrstian, Ole Miss

- Slight chance of making a bowl....can they beat both Arkansas and Ole Miss?

Ole Miss (3-5)- Remaining Games: at Auburn, New Mexico St., LSU, at MIss. State

- Gonna venture a "no" here...5-7 seems like best case scenario

Arkansas (2-5)- Remaining Games: Bama, Miss. St., at LSU, Western Kentucky, MIssouri

- Not officially eliminated yet, but might as well be

South Carolina (3-4)- Remaining Games: at Tennessee, Vanderbilt, App. State, at Texas A&M, Clemson

- At first glance, you would think they could squeeze out 3 wins here. But the two road games will provide difficulties. And then you have that App. State game....which is not a done deal by any stretch. The home win over Vandy is probably automatic....and I would think UT's QB issues will do them in. But beyond that?

Tennessee (2-5)- Remaining Games: SCAR, UAB, at Kentucky, at Missouri, Vanderbilt

- The closing schedule is friendly....but getting to 6 wins is a tall order for this group. I doubt they can win at Mizzou. The SCAR game could basically eliminate them. Even the QB-less Kentucky road game is dicey.

Kentucky (3-4)- Remaining Games: Missouri, Tennessee, at Vanderbilt, Tenn-Martin, Louisville

- Kentucky has big wins over Toledo and Eastern Michigan this year. And Arkansas. Throw in a win over Vandy and UT-Martin, and they are almost there. With 4 home games out of the last 5, I suppose they could win 3 of these. The Tenn-Kentucky game may be "elimination game" territory.

Vanderbilt (2-5)- Remaining Games: at SCAR, at Florida, Kentucky, ETSU, at Tennessee

- Not happening here.

So, in summary, this might be the equivalent of the "ACC Coastal Wheel of Destiny"....I'm sure a couple of these "on the fence" teams will find a way. But there is a real scenario where less than half the conference has a .500 or above record. The Birmingham and Independence Bowls are considered "second-tier" by the SEC....so they'll give those away first....but I doubt they are excited about giving away any bowls in the next tier up. And among the bowls in that tier....which ones will be pleased about not getting a SEC team, since they mean more?

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SEC Bowls....will they be able to fill their slots?....

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