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Tennessee football: Vols fans 2019-2020 bowl game rooting guide

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 5: The Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey runs through the end zone after a score against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 5: The Tennessee Volunteers mascot Smokey runs through the end zone after a score against the Georgia Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 5, 2013 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images /

8. Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl

Texas A&M Aggies over No. 25/NR Oklahoma State Cowboys

Friday, Dec. 27 at 6:45 p.m. ET; NRG Stadium; Houston, Texas; ESPN

In a matchup that was once a Big 12 rivalry now featuring an SEC team against a Big 12 team, Tennessee football should naturally root for the SEC team despite the fact that the Vols didn’t play them. However, there is a top 25 ranking in the balance, and the Texas A&M Aggies winning helps more than the Oklahoma State Cowboys winning does.

Right now, A&M has votes in the AP Poll and none in the Coaches Poll, while the Vols have votes in the Coaches Poll and none in the AP Poll. At 7-5 overall, just like UT, A&M has earned a higher ranking simply due to the fact that Jimbo Fisher’s team has played a much tougher schedule. But them beating Oklahoma State opens up some doors.

On top of SEC pride, there’s a chance UT stays ahead of A&M in the Coaches Poll, so they at least have one path to a top 25 ranking in one poll. Oklahoma State winning, though keeps them ahead of the Vols in both polls since they’re already in the top 25. At 8-4, though, losing would drop them to 8-5 and certainly knock them below Rocky Top in both polls.

As seven-point favorites, there is a heck of a lot of faith in Texas A&M on this one. And them winning could get both them and the Vols into the top 25, but they are close enough in the polls that it would certainly vault the Vols ahead of OSU while potentially keeping them ahead of A&M in one poll.

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