Ranking the SEC's nine bowl games. LSU vs. OU No. 1. But who is No. 2?
Of all the conferences, the SEC has one of the longest waits—Dec. 7 to Dec. 27—from the end of the regular season until the start of their bowl games. Nine SEC teams will be in post-season play.
So while we have some time, let’s rank those nine games based on the best story lines each will provide and the sheer entertainment value for us. Because, after all, it’s all about us.
Feel free to disagree and make your own order. Here we go:
1—Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 1 LSU (13-0) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1), Dec. 28:
The winner moves on to the national championship game in New Orleans on Jan. 13. There will be two dynamic quarterbacks in LSU’s Joe Burrow, who is all but a lock to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, and Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. This is Hurt’s fourth trip to the CFP (3 with Alabama, 1 with Oklahoma). Both teams will score in the 40s. LSU is trying to win its first national championship since 2007.
2—Citrus Bowl: No. 13 Alabama (10-2) vs. No. 14 Michigan (10-2), Jan. 1:
Nick Saban vs. Jim Harbaugh? The No. 1 all-time winner of games (Michigan 971) vs. the No. 4 all-time winner (910)?
Sign me up.
Both coaches had disappointing seasons after losing to their biggest rival. For Alabama and Saban this game with not mark the end of the 2019 season, but the beginning of the 2020 season. It will be interesting to see how motivated the Crimson Tide players will be and how many of the juniors and seniors actually play in the game.
3—Sugar Bowl: No. 5 Georgia (11-2) vs. No. 7 Baylor (11-2), Jan. 1: Georgia laid a gigantic egg in the Sugar Bowl last season as Texas really wanted to be there and the Bulldogs really didn’t. So Georgia has something to prove after getting trounced by LSU in the SEC championship game.
Baylor’s only two losses were both to No. 4 Oklahoma, one by three points and the other in overtime. Fans will want to see if Georgia and quarterback Jake Fromm be allowed to open up the offense.
I expect Georgia to play better than it did a year ago but we’ll see.
4—Outback Bowl: No. 18 Minnesota (10-2) vs. No.12 Auburn (9-3), Jan. 1:
Auburn will be excited to be in Tampa as they are coming off a 48-45 win over Alabama and will have a chance to win 10 games, which would be a strong legacy for this team. Minnesota is coming off its first 10-win season since 1905. The Gophers haven’t won 11 games since 1904, when they went 13-0.
5—Belk Bowl: Kentucky (7-5) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4), Dec. 31:
There are two reasons I want to see this game. It will be the final game for Kentucky wide receiver Lynn Bowden, Jr., who is going to give up his last year of eligibility to turn pro. Bowden played quarterback in Kentucky’s final seven games, winning five and getting the Wildcats into their fourth straight bowl game. Kentucky also has a chance to win eight games, something I didn’t think was possible given their losses from a 10-3 team in 2019. This will be the last Belk Bowl as the company will no longer be the title sponsor.
6—Gator Bowl: Indiana (8-4) vs. Tennessee (7-5), Jan. 2:
When Tennessee started 1-4 there seemed little chance that the Volunteers would make it to a bowl. But they regrouped, got better quarterback play from Jarrett Guarantano, and won six of their last seven games, the only loss coming to Alabama. So Tennessee has a five-game winning streak as they face a very underrated Indiana team. A win here would be a good momentum builder for Tennessee.
7—Orange Bowl:No. 9 Florida (10-2) vs. No. 24 Virginia (9-4), Dec. 30: The Gators had a really good season with its only losses coming to No. 1 LSU (on the road) and No. 5 Georgia (in Jacksonville). Getting to 11 wins would show improvement in the second year under coach Dan Mullen. I don’t think this game will be close which is why I have it rated so low. Virginia won the ACC Coastal division and then got boat-raced by Clemson 62-17 in the SEC championship game.
8—Texas Bowl: No. 25 Oklahoma State (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (7-5), Dec. 27:
Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said this week that Texas A&M might be the best 7-5 team in the history of NCAA football. Well, let’s look at that.
The Aggies’ five losses were to: No. 1 LSU (50-7), No. 3 Clemson (24-10), No. 5 Georgia (19-13), No. 12 Auburn (28-20), and No. 13 Alabama (47-28.). Those are final rankings. Three of those losses came against teams ranked No. 1 when the game was played.
Oklahoma State has one of the best running backs in the game as Chuba Hubbard leads the nation rushing with 1,937 yards and 21 touchdowns. But the Cowboys will be without quarterback Spencer Sanders (thumb surgery) who was lost for the season on Nov. 21.
9—Music City Bowl: Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Louisville (7-5), Dec. 30: Trust me when I tell you that this is a big game for Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead. The second-year coach has come under fire for most of the season but things cooled down after the Bulldogs won a most unusual 21-20 game in the Egg Bowl which got them into post-season play. A loss to finish 6-7 would turn up the heat again going into the 2020 season. Louisville had a good first season under Coach Scott Satterfield, who came from Appalachian State.