Bowl Projections: Predicting Where the SEC Teams Are Headed

With the college football regular season wrapping up in just a few days, it's about that time to turn our attention to the bowl season. This time of the year is fantastic, as you're going to have some of the best games taking place. There will no longer be powerhouses playing cupcakes. This is when the games get real good.

While everybody has their favorite conference, people pay the most attention to the SEC. Whether you love them or hate them, you can't deny that they play some great football. 

Here are the projections for what bowl every SEC team is going to go to.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt will make their second bowl game in four years and third since 1982. The Commodores haven't received much love this season, but they nearly beat Georgia, Arkansas and Florida. 

This team has an underrated defense that is second in the SEC with 17 interceptions.

Since they will be the No. 7 SEC school, I have them reaching the Music City Bowl, and they will likely play Virginia.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have been one of the most inconsistent teams all season, but they somehow qualified for a bowl game. This will be the second time under Dan Mullen they qualified and the first time Mississippi State reached a bowl game back-to-back seasons since 1999 and 2000.

I have them reaching the Liberty Bowl and playing Southern Miss. 

That game could get interesting.

Chick-Fil-a Bowl: Auburn

This bowl game is nothing compared to where the Tigers ended up last season, but for a young team, it's a start. It could have been a lot worse for Gene Chizik and company.

This team hasn't won back-to-back games since Weeks 4 and 5, but a bowl victory would really give this team something to build on for next season.

I put them in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and have them playing the Clemson Tigers.

Capital One Bowl: Arkansas

This will be the first time the Razorbacks have made three-straight bowl games since 2001-03. Although, this team is very impressive, having the second-highest scoring average in the SEC with 37 points.

I have them playing in the Capitol One Bowl and playing Michigan State.

If that happens, Arkansas would have played the top three teams this season in yards allowed (LSU and Alabama are the other two).

Gator Bowl: Florida

The Gators extend their bowl streak to 21 years, but this season was absolutely horrible by their standards, finishing with a 6-6 record and 3-5 in the conference, as well as nearly losing to Furman. Gators fans knew it was going to be a rebuilding year, but nobody expected it to be this bad.

Good news is that the Gators will reach the Gator Bowl, which will pretty much be a home game for them. I have them playing Penn State, which would draw a lot of attention. 

Outback Bowl: Georgia

The Dawgs had everyone dreaming upset when they took a 10-0 lead in the first half vs. LSU in the SEC Championship game.  However, Tyrann Mathieu and the Tigers took care of business after that, holding UGA scoreless in the second half in the 42-10 route.  The loss snapped the Dawgs' 10-game winning streak.

Georgia has a real solid team and probably the top quarterback in the conference in Aaron Murray. The defense isn't too shabby either, as they came into today tied with the LSU Tigers with 32 sacks on the year.

I put them in the Outback Bowl and have them playing Nebraska.

AT&T Cotton Bowl: South Carolina

South Carolina had a very interesting year, as they dumped their starting quarterback and lost their Heisman hopeful running back to injury. Yet they got better as the season went on.

South Carolina has the No. 3 defense in the conference, behind only LSU and Alabama. This will also be the sixth time in seven years that the Gamecocks qualify for a bowl under head coach Steve Spurrier.

I have them reaching the Cotton Bowl and playing Kansas State.

National Championship: Alabama

Although Alabama lost a game this season, they lost to the top team by a field goal in overtime. They are the second best team in the country whether fans want to admit it or not. They have a top defense and one of the top running games in the country. 

The Crimson Tide will make the national championship game for the second time in three years.

National Championship: LSU

We all know where the LSU Tigers are going, because they have by far the most impressive resume of any other team out there. They overcame adversity and beat ranked team after ranked team. Oh, by the way, they happen to finish undefeated as well.

I don't think there are any arguments for where LSU should end up. Les Miles has yet to miss a bowl game with the Tigers, and this will be their second national championship berth in four seasons.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]