SEC Bowl Projections: Entering the Back Stretch

Alabama and Texas A&M have punched their bowl tickets and Tennessee could join them this weekend be gaining bowl eligibility. And for at least two more weeks, every other SEC team has a possibility of getting to six wins.

So the question becomes, who goes where? Unlike the weekly power poll which is based on what a team has done, our bowl projections also factor in what we think a team will do.

As a reminder, here is the SEC bowl selection process:

Playoff

This season, the Peach and Fiesta Bowls are the semi-final hosts with Raymond James Stadium in Tampa hosting the Championship Game.

Chris Novak	Alabama
Alex Dusza	Alabama
Cam Newton	Alabama
Joe Clarkin	Alabama
Julian Council	Alabama
Will Marshall	Texas A&M
Niesha Middlebrooks	Alabama
Jonathan Waldrop	Alabama
Tom Stephenson	Alabama

---

Sugar Bowl

After any teams chosen for the College Football Playoff, the next highest ranked team in the playoff standings goes to the Sugar Bowl.

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Chris Novak	Texas A&M
Alex Dusza	Texas A&M
Cam Newton	Texas A&M
Joe Clarkin	Texas A&M
Julian Council	Tennessee
Will Marshall	Alabama
Niesha Middlebrooks	Texas A&M
Jonathan Waldrop	Texas A&M
Tom Stephenson	Texas A&M

Orange Bowl

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

An SEC team can go to the Orange Bowl as the next highest ranked SEC or Big Ten team after the Playoff, Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl have their picks of SEC and Big Ten teams. For example, Ohio State wins the Big Ten and goes to the Playoff, Michigan finishes 11-1 but loses to Ohio State and goes to the Rose Bowl, then likely no other Big Ten team would finish ahead of the next ranked SEC team after the Playoff and Sugar Bowl get their picks and an SEC team would be headed to Miami.

Chris Novak	Tennessee
Alex Dusza	Ole Miss
Cam Newton	Tennessee
Joe Clarkin	Tennessee
Julian Council	Texas A&M
Will Marshall	Tennessee
Niesha Middlebrooks	Tennessee
Jonathan Waldrop	Ole Miss
Tom Stephenson	Ole Miss

---

Citrus Bowl

Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

After the Playoff and access bowls get their picks, the Citrus Bowl can select the next best available team.

Chris Novak	Ole Miss
Alex Dusza	Tennessee
Cam Newton	Ole Miss
Joe Clarkin	Ole Miss
Julian Council	Ole Miss
Will Marshall	Ole Miss
Niesha Middlebrooks	Ole Miss
Jonathan Waldrop	Tennessee
Tom Stephenson	Tennessee

---

Pool of Six

Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

After the Citrus Bowl, the next group of six games is assigned by the SEC office in consultation with the schools and bowls.

	Belk	Liberty	Music City	Outback	TaxSlayer (Gator)	Texas
Chris Novak	Georgia	Arkansas	LSU	Auburn	Florida	Missouri
Alex Dusza	Georgia	LSU	Kentucky	Arkansas	Florida	Auburn
Cam Newton	UGA	Auburn	Mizzou	Arkansas	Florida	LSU
Joe Clarkin	Georgia	Auburn	Arkansas	LSU	Florida	Missouri
Julian Council	Arkansas	LSU	Missouri	Georgia	Florida	Auburn
Will Marshall	Georgia	Arkansas	Mizzou	LSU	Florida	Mississippi State
Niesha Middlebrooks	Georgia	Arkansas	LSU	Auburn	Florida	Missouri
Jonathan Waldrop	Missouri	Arkansas	Florida	Auburn	Georgia	LSU
Tom Stephenson	Georgia	LSU	Missouri	Florida	Auburn	Arkansas

---

Birmingham and Independence Bowls

Following the group of six games, the Birmingham then Independence Bowl get their picks. Any other bowl eligible teams can get a bowl berth from another conference that does not fill their slots, but none of our projectors thought that would be needed.

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

	Birmingham	Independence
Chris Novak	Mississippi State
Alex Dusza	Mississippi State
Cam Newton	Mississippi State
Joe Clarkin	Mississippi State
Julian Council	Kentucky
Will Marshall	Auburn
Niesha Middlebrooks	Mississippi State	South Carolina
Jonathan Waldrop	Mississippi State
Tom Stephenson