Tennessee football Week 13 bowl projections: Vols could make Citrus

4. Vrbo Citrus Bowl

Camping World Stadium; Orlando, Fla.

Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. ET; ABC

Yes, there is a real chance Tennessee football makes the Citrus Bowl. It’s unlikely, but it’s extremely possible. Multiple things have to happen, though, and that’s why we have this as the least likely scenario.

First, the Vols have to beat the Vanderbilt Commodores. That’s the most likely thing to happen. Still extremely likely and necessary is the Texas A&M Aggies losing to the LSU Tigers. UT needs to be ahead of A&M in SEC record. They are already ahead of the Missouri Tigers and Kentucky Wildcats, and they will be ahead of the Mississippi State Bulldogs if they beat Vandy.

So assuming those two things happen, UT will be No. 6 in the SEC. Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The top five all have to make New Year’s Six bowl games. How will that happen? Well, if lots of upsets occur, then the Alabama Crimson Tide, LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs could all reach the College Football Playoff.

At that point, the Florida Gators would go to the Sugar Bowl and the Auburn Tigers to either the Orange or Cotton Bowl. Auburn would have four losses, so they’d have to back in for this to work, but it’s possible. And there’s another potential scenario: What if Auburn beats Alabama?

Then, you could still have Georgia win out, LSU beat A&M and lose to UGA in the SEC Title game, putting both in the playoff, and assuming Florida beats the Florida State Seminoles, you could then have Florida in the Orange Bowl, Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and Auburn in the Cotton Bowl. It’s possible.

And if it does happen, then the Vols will get the call as the top SEC team outside of a New Year’s Six bowl game. Okay, it’s extremely unlikely. But don’t count out this possible scenario just yet. We’ll know more next week if it can happen.