2011 Bowl Projections: Picking Bowls for the Rest of the SEC

From this point on, it's more than safe to assume that there will only be two SEC squads in the BCS this season, LSU and Alabama. The two West Division leaders are in center spotlight as we approach tonight with anticipation of who the Tigers will be facing in the title game.

However, what about the rest of the SEC? Besides Bama and the Bayou Bengals, seven other SEC squads will be representing the conference all around the nation. Where will they be heading, and will it be an easy or tough match-up?

Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida and South Carolina all are ready to prove their worth this postseason. The SEC has a lot of connections in many bowl games and getting great match-ups for every single team will be on par with recent years.

We take a look at the other seven southeastern squads and which part of the country they get to make a splash in this year. 

Vanderbilt (6-6)

The Commodores make the bowl season for the first time in a long time, beating out long-time in-state rival Tennessee to do it. Their 6-6 record is impressive for their young coach, but it's been the quarterback play all season that's really caught everyone's attention.

QB Jordan Rodgers has led them on a magical journey all the way to a bowl game. My best bet would be on the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, just a few miles down the road. The C-USA threat coming in would be a tough challenge for Vandy as it will most likely be either Southern Miss or Houston.  

Mississippi State (6-6)

The Bulldogs have led a disappointing season under Dan Mullen this year. After starting ranked in the Top 20, MSU finishes at 6-6 with a win over their rival Ole Miss. This is just good enough to grab them a seat at the bowl table once again.

Last year's impressive victory over Michigan was a stunner, and this year might produce similar results. As for a bowl game, the Bulldogs are most likely looking at the Music City Bowl in Nashville. The ACC is the competition and most likely will be sending either Virginia or North Carolina State.

Florida (6-6)

The Gators haven't had the most magical of seasons, but for first year coach Will Muschamp, it's a start. The hot-headed head coach has a chance to secure his first postseason win as leader of a team and be looking for him to do just that.

Florida won't even have to travel outside its own state to visit what is coincidentally the Gator Bowl up in Jacksonville. Their Big Ten opponent will most certainly be Ohio State in what will be a rematch of the 2006 National Championship. Ironically, former Florida head coach Urban Meyer will be taking over OSU next season, and this might be the last time the Gators can beat Ohio State for a long time. 

Auburn (7-5)

After winning the National Title but losing Cam Newton, the Tigers are all but ready for this season to be over. Putting out an impressive 7-5 record in the SEC West, Auburn will head into bowl season with their heads held high.

The Tigers should only be heading a state over to Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Bowl in an ACC matchup. Virginia Tech is their likely opponent in what is a really tough matchup considering V-Tech's grueling ACC Championship loss to Clemson earlier this weekend. 

South Carolina (10-2)

South Carolina has had one of those kind of years. First, you're doing great, but then you have to kick your starting QB off the team. Then you're doing pretty good again, and your superstar RB gets injured. Spurrier must be just ready for this whole thing to end.

However, the Gamecocks did finish with 10 wins and a pretty nice bid to hit up a nice bowl game. I'd put money on South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl just a few states south of them against the Big Ten. Their opponent is looking to be the Cornhuskers from Nebraska in what could turn out to be a great game. 

Georgia (10-3)

Georgia really had a surprise year. Basically, the season almost every Bulldog fan was calling for Richt to step down as head coach is the one he goes out and win the SEC East. About halfway through his team's 10 game winning streak is when people began to shut up and realize this squad was for real. 

Now, the 10-3 Bulldogs sit as the SEC Championship losers, falling to No. 1 LSU. Despite that game, however, Georgia should have a really great shot at making the Outback Bowl against what is looking like Michigan State. This clash of the conference championship losers should be more than interesting to watch.

Arkansas (10-2)

Arkansas also had one of the those kinds of years. It's tough to be third in a division when the top two teams are not only the top two in your division, but also in your conference and the nation to boot. With only two losses on the entire year, they still fall into third place in the SEC West. 

As far as bowl games go, however, the Razorbacks should be flying high. A return to Cowboy's Stadium seems to be in the cards for these Hogs as they will most likely face off against Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl.