Bowl Games 2010: Ranking and Predicting SEC Bowl Games

The SEC has been considered the best conference in the college football world. This year, the pedestal has been shaken by the good play of the Big Ten and Pac-10.

The bowl season is a good way to shake things up, and the SEC has a big chance to prove itself. They have 10 bowl teams. That is right: 10 out of 12 teams made a bowl. (Sorry Vandy and Mississippi—better luck next year.)

Here is how I see the bowls ranking in terms of entertainment value, as well as how they will finish.

10. BBVA Compass Bowl: Kentucky Vs. Pittsburgh

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LEXINGTON, KY - NOVEMBER 13: Randall Cobb #18 of the Kentucky Wildcats runs with the ball during the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Commonwealth Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 38-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Get

This is the "blah" SEC matchup of the year. A 6-6 Kentucky team without its starting quarterback versus a 7-5 Pitt team without a coach.

Pitt will probably win because of the fact that Kentucky will turn to an inexperienced quarterback to lead its strength, which was its passing game.

Pittsburgh wins, 17-7.

9. Music City Bowl: Tennessee Vs. North Carolina

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COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 30: Head coach Derek Dooley of the Tennessee Volunteers watches on against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 30, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Im

This would be an awesome bowl matchup if both teams were up to snuff. However, Tennessee backed into a bowl game, with five of its six wins coming against really bad teams.

North Carolina lost many superstars this season but still managed to stay competitive. North Carolina will win this one, 24-14.

8. Liberty Bowl: Georgia Vs. UCF

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 27: The Georgia Bulldogs enter the field to face the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

So now we have the Conference USA champs going against the third place team in the East. This is a tough one to compare, because UCF literally has seen no teams as good as Georgia. None.

They lost three games...and those games came against North Carolina State, Southern Mississippi and Kansas State.

Georgia caught fire towards the end of the year. I expect big things out of the Dawgs in 2011, and I see them viewing this as a starting point.

24-14, Georgia wins.

7. Gator Bowl: Mississippi State Vs. Michigan

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Running back Vick Ballard #28 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs rushes upfield against the Alabama Crimson Tide November 13, 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Possibly the toughest game to call (besides Alabama versus Michigan State), this game features one team that is pretty well-rounded (Mississippi State) and one team with a tremendous offense and no defense (Michigan).

Comparing stats and figures and big games between the two teams, I would have to say the edge goes to Mississippi State just for having a more well-rounded game. They have a nice defense and a good running game. That is a recipe for a win.

Plus, Denard Robinson tends to disappear in big games, and they lost all games where they had to play a solid team, save for one game against UConn.

Mississippi State wins, 21-17.

6. Outback Bowl: Florida Vs. Penn State

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TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Florida Gators head coach Urban Meyer talks with players during a timeout during a game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Gett

The battle of two very bad offenses. This game is alluring for one reason, and that is the fact that seeing these two historic programs battle each other (no matter how down they may be) is a very cool thing.

However, Florida's ninth-ranked defense will out-duel Penn State's 43rd-ranked defense in a low-scoring affair.

Florida wins, 14-3.

5. Cotton Bowl: LSU Vs. Texas A&M

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Deangelo Peterson #19 of the Louisiana State University Tigers pulls in this reception against Johnny Brown #20 of the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox

LSU...what a funky team you guys are. You have looked very average at times, yet win. The beauty of the tremendous coaching of Les "Mad Hatter" Miles is that he always finds some way to win.

However, Texas A&M is a very solid all-around football team. They get the win.

Texas A&M wins 24-17.

4. Chick-fil-A Bowl: South Carolina Vs. Florida State

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 4: Running back Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs with the ball during the 2010 SEC Championship against the Auburn Tigers at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty I

This is a pretty cool game: the ACC runners-up versus the SEC runners-up. South Carolina (on paper) looks to be the superior of Florida State, but based on recent bowl history (cough cough, UConn, cough cough) this could be close.

Steve Spurrier has the tendency to be laid-back for bowl games...not this year, according to reports. The allure of beating "Free Shoes University" (as he called them), getting a 10 win season at South Carolina and capping off a magic season with a bowl trophy will be too much for him to pass up.

Plus, Florida State won't be able to stop BOTH Alshon Jeffery and Marcus Lattimore...especially if starting quarterback Christian Ponder can't go.

South Carolina wins big, 38-21.

3. Capital One Bowl: Alabama Vs. Michigan State

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 06: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play during the game against the Louisiana State University Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Tigers defeated the Crimso

I really like the matchup here.

I hate to say this, but Michigan State actually matches up pretty well with Alabama. They have a solid rushing defense, so it will be up to Greg McElroy and Julio Jones to beat them.

I hate to do this, as I am an SEC homer, and I have really come to respect the fans at Alabama, but something tells me Michigan State steals one from the SEC.

Sorry guys—I mean no disrespect.

Michigan State wins, 28-27.

2. Sugar Bowl: Arkansas Vs. Ohio State

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COLUMBIA, SC - NOVEMBER 06: Ryan Mallett #15 of the Arkansas Razorbacks against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 6, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

This matchup intrigues me. Ohio State has a much publicized issue with SEC teams, dating back to the back-to-back losses to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Outback Bowl.

Arkansas has Ryan Mallett, one of the best pure passing quarterbacks to come out of the SEC since Peyton Manning.

I can't see Mallett losing.

35-28, Arkansas.

1. BCS National Championship: Auburn Vs. Oregon

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ATLANTA - DECEMBER 04: Quarterback Cam Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers is carried on the field after the 2010 SEC Championship against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Dome on December 4, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Tigers beat the Gamecocks 56-

Of course, this is the big daddy. It honestly looks like a great matchup on paper. Oregon has had a tremendous season, and I love the white "storm trooper meets neon socks" combo uniform they are wearing.

I just don't see anyone beating Auburn this season.

Auburn wins in a shootout, 38-28.

SEC Dominance?

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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: Cam Newton, quarterback of the Auburn University Tigers, speaks after being awarded the 2010 Heisman Memorial Trophy Award on December 11, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

I have the SEC going 6-4 in bowl games this season.

Wins go to Auburn, Arkansas, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi State and Georgia.

Losses go to Kentucky, Tennessee, LSU and Alabama.

Dominance? Hardly...but it will be interesting to see how this actually turns out. It will still be hard to argue after an SEC national championship and Heisman Trophy.