The SEC has won three consecutive national championships, and its long-term television hook-ups with CBS and ESPN are the envy of every conference in college football. So how much better could it get?
You should find out when the bowl bids are announced this December.
As successful as the conference has been recently, it hasn't been filling its bowl quota. That could change this season.
In fact, 10 of the SEC's 12 teams could qualify for bowls. And such a scenario wouldn't require a miraculous November. It would simply required favored teams prevailing.
The conference has tie-ins with nine bowls. It gets a 10th bid if a second conference team qualifies for a BCS bowl. Unless either No. 1-ranked Florida or No. 2-ranked Alabama collapses down the stretch, a second BCS bid is virtually assured.
If Alabama and Florida win out, they would play for the SEC championship in Atlanta. The winner of that game would qualify for the national championship game Jan. 7 in Pasadena, and the loser would go to the Sugar Bowl.
In a less-favorable scenario for the conference, suppose LSU upsets Alabama in a couple of weeks and wins the West. If Alabama won the rest of the games, it would be 11-1 and still worthy of a BCS bid.
Putting two teams in BCS bowls has become routine for the SEC. Where it's gaining ground is on the bottom end.
Vanderbilt (2-6) and Mississippi State (3-5) are the only conference teams which have little chance of a bowl bid.
The Commodores would have to win out against a schedule that includes Georgia Tech and Florida. Although Mississippi State has improved under first-year coach Dan Mullen, it probably scheduled itself out of the bowl picture with non-conference games against nationally ranked Georgia Tech and Houston the first two weeks of October. It would have to win three of its last four games against Kentucky, Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss to be bowl-eligible.
Four SEC teams - Alabama, Florida, LSU and South Carolina - already have won the necessary six games to qualify for a bowl. Two other teams are a victory shy of being bowl-eligible, and four others have a good shot at bowls.
Auburn (5-2): So what if the Tigers are on a three game-losing streak and have to play Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama. All they need for a bowl bid is a victory over Furman on Nov. 7
Ole Miss (5-2): It could lose its last four games against FBS teams and qualify for a bowl with a victory over Northern Arizona.
Kentucky (4-3): The Wildcats don't have it quite as easy as the Tigers and Rebels, but a bowl bid is still favorable. Beating Eastern Kentucky and either Vanderbilt or Mississippi State, who have a combined record of 5-11, would be sufficient.
Georgia (4-3): As badly as the Bulldogs have played at times, they're still a good bet to make a bowl. Beating Tennessee Tech and either Auburn or Kentucky would give it the necessary six victories.
Arkansas (3-4): Don't be misled by the record. The Razorbacks still have non-conference games remaining against Eastern Michigan and Troy, and they get Mississippi State at home.
Tennessee (3-4): The Vols don't have to beat nationally ranked South Carolina and Ole Miss. They just have to beat Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Memphis. And history is on their side.
The Vols have won 24 consecutive games against Kentucky, 25 of their last 26 against Vanderbilt and 20 of 21 against Memphis.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 28
rich182x writes:
8-4, absolutely possible. What happened to everyone calling for Cromptons head? Have ye no faith thine Quarterback?
10cvolnga writes:
Interesting to see the various bowl scenarios, however, please proofread your work before hitting the send button. Oversight by your readers is acceptable as they are not getting paid to write. You are! How is Auburn on a 3 game losing streak with a 5-2 record? I believe the Tigers are 5-3.
vut56#231073 writes:
How much better could it get? Be Notre Dame. Now, let's admit their bowl revenue have slacked off, but look at the long term. They have been to their share and will again. No splitsville. Plus, they have a back door formula into the BCS, more favorable than others.
They have their own TV deal. They, and their fans, do not have to worry about PPV when they play Navy; just tune in to NBC.
Big Charlie wants to rip officiating? No problem; who is going to suspend him?
This is not to hint UT or anybody should bolt the closed door cartel called the SEC; think Vanderbilt or Kentucky "wants their own deal"? However, when political leaders get antsy over this thing called the BCS, and its tie in with the major bowls...at the expense of many winning programs, conferences should tred carefully with their buttoned up (otherwise, free) speech and threatened employment suspension. Big brother might take notice.
Come to think about it, perhaps we should establish conferences in national politics.
"Thou shalt not speak ill of thine elected officials."
Just a thought.
CrankE writes:
So you're saying Kentucky will be in the Liberty Bowl. Good for you.
Biggie writes:
Man I hate having to back into a bowl. But it beats last year.
InertGas writes:
Any bowl sounds good. After the UCLA game I thought a winning season was out of the question. We need the extra practice time that bowl games afford. Good things are on the horizon. GO VOLS !!!!
stratocaster54 writes:
"The Vols have won 24 consecutive games against Kentucky, 25 of their last 26 against Vanderbilt and 20 of 21 against Memphis."
Sounds like we are ripe for an upset! I don't believe it though! I think Vandy will still be left with "But we're smarter!" at the end of the season.
THIS weekend is absolutely critical to UT. I would consider 7-5, or better, a success and 6-6 a disappointment and would rather just stay home instead of going to a bowl that accepts teams at 500.
USC is the linchpin for the remainder of the season. It'll carrier the momentum or break it. It's an east game and therefore more important than Ole Miss too.
My hope is that Kiffin, unlike Fulmer, will be ready and fired up when facing that S O B "the OLD Ball Coach!"
stratocaster54 writes:
For what its wroth, here are ESPN pundits' latest bowl projections http://espn.go.com/college-football/b...
Col_Cathcart writes:
Assuming that Georgia loses 1 of Florida, Auburn, and Kentucky, an 8-4 season would give us 2nd in the east.
The debate over our ability to win out is a different matter. Our current position in the East is misleading since we have 4 games left to play including 2 of the teams ahead of us. In addition, we hold the tiebreak over Ga.
BleedOrangeForever writes:
Espn's projections have us playing Va. Tech in Chick-Fil-A Bowl. I would love to play them, there are alot of Va. Tech bandwagon fans near where I live, who by the way, couldn't name the starting Qb on the team before Mike Vick.
ChattMac writes:
Jeezz..I hate it and I mean hate it that it's supposed to rain Saturday. Hard throwing Crompton will be difficult on our receivers. Man, we need this win, but it always seems bad weather hurts the better team. Yeah, USC has a better record, but I know we're better than them. I don't see us running the ball down their throat all day. Hopefully we will be the ones getting the interceptions and recovering fumbles.
Regulator writes:
IF the Vols win out, you can bank on them at one of the three: Capital One, Outback, or Chick-Fil-A. LSU figures to be the "#3 seed" of the SEC, but would most likely opt for the Cotton Bowl. At 8-4, UT would be 2nd in the east with wins over Georgia, South Carolina, and Ole Miss. I'd rather see them in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the #2 ACC team, as opposed to some Big 10 retread/has been/never will be.
Johnboythefiremarshal writes:
JUST WIN BABY AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY
txvolsfan writes:
Randy you should just concentrate on UK and not be making your stupid post all the time.
SIMSVOL writes:
hiresanders - 6&6 and a trip to the Liberty Bowl is a great goal for the Wildcats this year, I agree.
owpgfam#615513 writes:
I haven't read all of the comments so if this has already been said forgive me. Reading this article it immediately came to mind that this is EXACTLY the reason the Vols got hosed on the officiating against Ala. The SEC needed UA to win to be remain one of the 2 SEC BCS favorites.
mdvol writes:
The Vols will get a bowl but it won't be out of the state of Tennessee. It's been disappointing to see empty seats at every home game this year. No way a bowl will invite us to Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa or Dallas. Memphis and Nashville will be the only takers. Now next year.....different story.
WytheVol writes:
Amen to the VT bandwagoners. I live 45 mins south of Blacksburg. But proud to say there is at least one other die hard VOL in my neighborhood...
PennVol writes:
I wonder if ACC #2 is the loser of their championship game or the 2nd best team? The 2 best teams appear to be Ga Tech and Va Tech but they're in the same division so it will probably be Ga Tech or Va Tech vs. Clemson or Boston College in the championship.
ExpatVol writes:
Oh no... please not another trip to the Georgia Dome... I was at the Clemson, Maryland, Auburn, and LSU debacles... I seriously think we are cursed in that place...
mm29680#645909 writes:
Memphis is number 2 in the nation for murders and other disgusting crimes. The national leader? Detroit. Been to Memphis a lot and Detroit twice...never want to go back without being heavily armed. Go Vols..away from Memphis.
Southland writes:
of course people were calling for Cromptons head. Good grief he was the worst D1 QB in the nation. Everyone in sports was talking about how bad he was. Now, he has turned it around and is playing great. No on saw that coming and everyone is happy for him. I know I sure am. The kid is obviously as mentally tough as you can get to withstand the criticism he got. A true success story at its best. Lets hope the good play continues. 8-4 is hoping for too much. 7-5 would be good.
CrankE writes:
With each new column, the bowl is nearly always overflowing with its allotment of, uh...Adams.
There's no need for us to worry about which bowl any SEC team will go to. Between the refs, the SEC offices, and the bowl committees, they'll make sure the outcomes of the regular season games lead to exactly the bowl invitations that they've already decided upon.
the10sevol writes:
hope not. we'll be playing for the sec championship there before too long. maybe it was fhcpf's curse.
GBO
SmokeyHound writes:
auburn is on a three game losing streak and they are 5 - 2..... my brain is hurting
stax62 writes:
I feel the Music City would not be too bad if we lose to South Carolina and Ole Miss. Otherwise, I think the Chick-Fil-A Bowl will be where the Vols end up. However the BCS will be calling soon! And why is there so much hatred about Memphis...it is still our state and it is a good city with a lot going for it (but that doesn't mean I want the Vols there for postseason though). Anyway, GO VOLS!
atlvolunteer writes:
"the commodores must win out with a schedule that includes georgia tech and florida." AND UT. come on adams give us some credit.
Regulator writes:
ACC #2 depends on who the loser of the championship game is. Georgia Tech had the inside track on their division, and it's almost a lock now that VT lost to the Heels. I'd look for the ACC rep in Atlanta to be either VT, GT, Miami, or Clemson (in that order), as all should be favored in their remaining games. GT would probably be the rep if they were to lose in the Championship game. Clemson has inside track to face them for title, but if they lose that game, they'd have 4 losses, minimum. Then, you probably pick between VT and Miami. VT destroyed Miami a couple of weeks ago. That's my two cents.
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