Tennessee football: Ranking potential bowls by likelihood
Tier 1: Strong possibility
2. Gator Bowl (Dec. 31; TIAA Bank Field; Jacksonville, Fla.)
The last time Tennessee football played in a bowl game, it was in the Gator Bowl in 2019. They were 7-5 then as well. This is a very likely place for the Vols to end up given their resume and where they stand in the SEC.
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If you factor in top 25 rankings and draws and likelihoods, three teams would reach New Years Six games, and then Arkansas, Texas A&M and Kentucky would fill the Texas, Outback and Citrus Bowls respectively. Then it comes down to the Vols and Mississippi State Bulldogs for a bowl like the Gator Bowl, but UT would have to settle based on the next one.
1. Music City (Dec. 30; Nissan Stadium; Nashville, Tenn.)
Yes, this is by far the most likely for the Vols. After the three New Years Six bowls and then the Texas, Outback and Citrus Bowls, this has the best payout. Both the Music City Bowl and Gator Bowl are over $5 million, but the Music City Bowl payout is better by over $300,000.
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As a result, while the Gator Bowl could come down to Tennessee football and MSU, if the Music City Bowl comes down to that, it’s pretty obvious that a place in Nashville will take the Vols. Even if the New Years Six only has two teams in, the Vols are getting a bid over Arkansas, Texas or Kentucky. That makes this easily their most likely landing spot.