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All for Tennessee Official SEC, New Year’s Six, and College Football Playoff Bowl Projections Following Week 13 of the Season

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 26, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers receiver Josh Malone (3) celebrates after a touchdown reception during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers receiver Josh Malone (3) celebrates after a touchdown reception during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 20, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; General view of the Liberty Bowl before the game between the Memphis Tigers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; General view of the Liberty Bowl before the game between the Memphis Tigers and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Pre-New Year’s Day Bowl Projections Part II

Belk Bowl: Thursday, Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m.; Bank of America Stadium; Charlotte, N.C.

Georgia Bulldogs vs Miami Hurricanes

Even after falling to 7-5 with a loss to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, the Georgia Bulldogs are not moving from this spot. They are still a middle tier SEC team and the only one from the East, which puts them in the Belk Bowl. Kirby Smart’s loss to Georgia Tech was a killer for his optics, but a bowl win could salvage that. However, that might come at the expense of Georgia’s former coach.

We still have Mark Richt facing his former team in our bowl projections here. The veteran head coach has had a tremendous year in his first season with the Miami Hurricanes, showing signs of a great future there. However, they are just outside of that top tier in the ACC, so what better way for Richt to cap off his first season than by leading the ‘Canes to a dominating victory over his former team!

Liberty Bowl: Friday, Dec. 30 at Noon; Liberty Bowl; Memphis, Tenn.

Arkansas Razorbacks vs Baylor Bears

We consider the Texas Bowl about a step above the Liberty Bowl, and the Kentucky Wildcats have earned the better bowl at this point. As a result, we now have the Arkansas Razorbacks traveling across the Mississippi River to get to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl. This will also help them avoid a rematch with the TCU Horned Frogs. Due to their loss, they have to face a far less exciting team.

Our bowl projections have them going up against the Baylor Bears, who have completely fallen apart down the stretch. With Texas’s loss, Baylor will likely be the worst Big 12 team to make a bowl game, barely getting in. In the process, they’ll get to face a former Southwest Conference foe. And Bret Bielema’s team gets to finish off a mediocre season once again.

Music City Bowl: Friday, Dec. 30 at 3:30 p.m.; Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn.

Tennessee Volunteers vs Minnesota Golden Gophers

Talk about falling behind. The Tennessee Vols had everything laid out in front of them to reach the Sugar Bowl. And at the very worst, they’d be going to the Citrus Bowl. But a loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores moved them from a guaranteed second or third place finish in the SEC to now a sixth place finish in the conference. That sixth place finish drops them to a Pre-New Year’s Day bowl game of a low tier, which is in their home state up the road in Nashville.

In the Music City Bowl, the placements of the Big Ten put the Minnesota Golden Gophers here. This is a game that Vols fans will not be excited to play, but it’s all we can forecast in our bowl projections. Fortunately, Butch Jones’s team has a chance to make a strong finish here, and if they do that, they can finish 9-4 and in the Top 25 once again, even if the season ends on a disappointing note.

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