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If you are an SEC football fan, then the question you may be asking is “What SEC teams are in bowl games this year?” The question you should be asking is what SEC DI NOT make it to a Bowl game” after the regular season ended. That’s because SEC teams received bowl berths!
Here’s who didn’t make it to the post-season party… Vanderbilt. After all, there are 14 football teams in the SEC. Vandy ended their strange year under new head coach Clark Lea 2-10 overall and 0-8 in SEC play.
That means every other team in the SEC made it to a Bowl game this season and here are a few thoughts on each of the matchups from a true SEC fan… which is me. Don’t worry, I’ve added in odds courtesy of Intertops. I’m starting with the first Bowl game on the schedule and working forward.
2021 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Picks
Dec. 22 – 8 pm ET – ESPN
At first glance, you would think an SEC team could easily take care of Army. But Missouri may not have what it takes to get past a fast triple-option offense which is what the Army runs with efficiency. Army has racked up an 8-4 season while Missouri comes in 6-6 as the result of a win over Florida. Army will drive Missouri crazy with successful attempts on short yardages 3rd and 4th downs. At the same time, Missouri can run the ball as well. This game will come down to well-timed stops and missed, or made, field goals. Don’t be surprised if Army adds Missouri to the list of teams they’ve beaten this season.
Best Bet: Army -4 (-110)
2021 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl Picks
Dec. 23 – 7 pm ET – ABC
Both of these squads have spent a season trying to recover from changes in staff and players. Dan Mullen is gone from Florida and UCF is still rebuilding after Josh Heupel left for Tennessee. Florida comes in at 6-6 on the year and 2-6 in SEC play. UCF enters 8-4 on the year and 5-3 in the AAC. These teams have played twice in the past and Florida won both outings. New UCF coach Gus Malzahn, formally of Auburn, will look to have his UCF players try and outplay the Florida receivers. And, Malzahn will try to use his trademark upbeat offense to catch the Gators off guard. The problem for UCF, Florida has more depth. The problem for Florida, they’ve been known to turn the ball over at the worst time possible this season. This game is ripe for an upset.
Best Bet: Central Florida +6.5 (-105)
2021 TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl Picks
Auburn vs. Houston Preview
Dec. 28 – Noon ET – ESPN
This could easily be a straight-up pick-em game. This is not the Auburn team that scored big wins over the last several years and QB Bo Nix has a broken foot and has entered the transfer portal. That move seems to have taken the new Auburn staff by surprise as there’s not much depth at the QB position. The Tigers lost their last four games and are struggling. On the other side of the field is Houston which just played in the AAC Championship. They went 11-2 on the year with an AAC record of 8-0. Auburn has lost 3 of their last 4 Bowl games and during all of those losses, they appeared to be completely outplayed and uninspired. The question is if new Tiger head coach Bryan Harsin can inspire his team to step up for postseason play?
Best Bet: Houston +3 (-115)
2021 AutoZone Liberty Bowl Picks
Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech Preview
Dec. 28 – 6:45 pm ET – ESPN
This game could end up being a high-scoring affair that makes for a fun watch. Both teams can put up some points and then there’s added drama of Mike Leach jumping from Texas Tech to Mississippi State. There are plenty of storylines to follow. But, what matters is which team has the better defense that can shut down the other team’s high-scoring offense toward the end to win the game? Mississippi State is probably that team. They have a good secondary with lots of speed that could find a way to break up big plays by Texas Tech. The Key for Texas Tech will be to find a way to take advantage of the Bulldogs on the edges. Tech’s game plan could include lots of quick 5-7 yard pass plays combined with their running game to stretch out long drives.
Best Bet: Texas Tech +8.5 (-110)
2021 Duke’s Mayo Bowl Picks
South Carolina vs. North Carolina Preview
Dec. 30 – 11:30 am ET – ESPN
This is a game between two 6-6 teams that squeezed into the Bowl picture. The South Carolina Gamecocks are not favored against the North Carolina Tar Heels – another case of the SEC team coming in as the underdog. North Carolina comes into the game strong on defense and with a tricky offense that can post points quickly or with long drives. South Carolina is similar, but both teams can be very inconsistent – thus the twin 6-6 records. The spread is at 9 right now and that may be suspect, so keep an eye on how that number moves. Here’s why, the Tar Heels can move the ball on the ground which eats up the clock. The Game Cocks tend to move more through the passing game. South Carolina will have to maintain the ball and try and eat up the clock to keep the Tar Heels offense off the field.
Best Bet: South Carolina +9 (-110)
2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl Picks
Tennessee vs. Purdue Preview
Dec. 30 – 3 pm ET – ESPN
Are the coaching woes at Tennessee a thing of the past? Maybe! New Vols coach Josh Heupel seems to have reignited a love for running through the T at the beginning of games. He’s in his first year in Knoxville and he’s taking his squad to a bowl game… in Tennessee. Yep, the Vols are taking on Purdue in Nashville for the Music City Bowl. I’m from Nashville and can tell you that when UT plays Vandy at home, the stands are packed with orange. The Titans stadium will be awash with orange and have a hometown feeling for the Vols. As for Purdue, they probably don’t care! The Boilermakers come in at 8- 4 on the season and 6-3 in the Big Ten. Tennessee enters at 7-5 on the year while being 4-4 in SEC play. Tennessee is a quick-strike offense but they can tend to drag down. Purdue can win if they keep the Vols from getting a grove with Heupel’s quick-strike offense.
Best Bet: Purdue +4.5 (-110)
2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Picks
Texas A&M vs. Wake Forest Preview
Dec. 31 – 11 am ET – ESPN
Which Texas A&M team will show up or the Gator Bowl? Your guess is as good as any and that’s evident in the 4.5 spread for this game. A&M should be coming in as a heavy favorite but oddsmakers tightened things up because the Aggies never seem to be the same team two games in a row. Texas A&M downed Alabama this season but they also lost a few head-scratching games. Wake Forest should not be this close on the spread but they are. That’s because they are an even team with both a strong offense and defense. Nothing splashy, just a good old-fashioned grind-it-out style of play. Texas A&M Head coach Jimbo Fisher has gone 8-4 on the season and is still catching grief. Look for him to come out swinging to quiet boasters and impress recruits.
Best Bet: Texas A&M -4.5 (-110)
2021 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Picks
Alabama vs. Cincinnati Preview
Dec. 31 – 3:30 pm ET – ESPN
Plenty of people tried to count the Alabama Crimson Tide out this season. But here they are again. They may not be the super dominant team that they have been in the past but they still find ways to win. And, they have the Heisman Trophy winner taking snaps! Nick Saban seems to always find a way to get his teams fired up. Cincinnati comes in as the winner of the AAC and is undefeated. But, after ‘Bama’s one-loss season, and thrashing of the then No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs, it appears the old dominant Tide is back. Alabama will use size and speed, and Nick Saban’s gameplan, to get the win at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against the Bearcats.
Best Bet: Alabama -13.5 (-110)
2021 Capital One Orange Bowl Picks
Georgia vs. Michigan Preview
Dec. 31 – 7:30 pm ET – ESPN
Georgia went into the SEC Championship as the favorite against Alabama a few weeks ago and took a hard loss from the Tide. Now they gave Michigan in the Orange Bowl. Both teams are tough on defense and that’s what many thought would carry the day for the Bulldogs over the Tide. As it turns out, offensive play, and play-calling, are important as well. Michigan will bring a hard-hitting brand of football to Miami to take on Georgia. It will be the same type of setup they faced against ‘Bama. Even the spread is about the same. Georgia is hoping their defense can avoid letting the Wolverines get on a “Roll” like they let the Crimson Tide offense do.
Best Bet: Michigan +8 (-110)
2022 Outback Bowl Picks
Arkansas vs. Penn State Preview
Jan. 1 – Noon ET – ESPN2
Coach Sam Pittman had brought the Arkansas Razorbacks back from the edge of the cliff. They finished the season 8-4 on the year and made it to a Bowl Game for the first time in 5 years. They are going up against a Penn State team that finished 7-5 on the year and 4-5 in Big Ten play. The Nittany Lions left too many opportunities on the field this season such as their 3-point loss to Iowa. This could boil down to another 3-point game, and if it does, look for the Arkansas offense to put their strong running game into action. Plus, Arkansas has something it has not had in several seasons. That’s some extra depth so they can try to keep players fresh.
Best Bet: Arkansas +2.5 (-110)
2022 VRBO Citrus Bowl Picks
Kentucky vs. Iowa Preview
Jan. 1 – 1 pm ET – ABC
Kentucky is favored in this game but Iowa can easily pull out the win. The Wildcats never developed the offense that they were looking for. They spent an entire season trying to figure out if they were a running offense or a passing team. Both of these teams started strong before starting to slow down during the meat of their seasons. Then they both started to slide. Iowa is strong on defense and can snuff drives towards the red zone. And, they love to force turnovers. That’s their bread and butter. Kentucky will do what they have tried to do all season and that will be trying to get the running game going while working on setting up a big-strike play. That worked against many teams this season, but others knew what was coming towards the end of the season. Don’t be surprised if Iowa wins the Citrus Bowl.
Best Bet: Iowa +2.5 (+100)
2022 Allstate Sugar Bowl Picks
Ole Miss vs. Baylor Preview
Jan. 1 – 8:45 pm ET – ESPN
Watch the spread on this game before committing. Currently, it’s essentially an even match and a pick- em game with a fluctuating 1.0 on-the-point spread. That’s worth watching as Ole Miss has turned into one of the most unpredictable teams in the SEC and college football. The one prediction you and make about Ole Miss is that head coach Lane Kiffen probably won’t do what you expect him to do. The Rebels are 10-2 on the year because of Kiffen’s fast-paced offense and a better-than-expected defense. The Baylor Bears come in after winning the Big 12 Championship with strong play on both sides of the ball. But they’ve not encountered a Kiffen style SEC offense with speed and size.
Best Bet: Ole Miss -1 (-110)
2022 TaxAct Texas Bowl Picks
LSU vs. Kansas State Preview
Jan. 4 – 9 pm ET – ESPN
This is a straight-up pick-em game for most. The LSU Tigers may have already spent the magic in their emotional feed bag with the notion of “winning one more” for Coach Ed Orgeron. This game will be coached by Offensive line coach Brad Davis as Orgeron has already departed after being let go by LSU. As for Kansas State, they do not enter as a juggernaut. Kansas State comes in as a slight favorite seemingly on the fact that the LSU coaching staff is in flux, and many players are eyeing the transfer portal. If LSU can get things going, and play Tiger football, they’ll be tough to beat. The key for the Wildcats will be to take advantage of LSU secondary which has given up their fair share of points on untimely busted coverages.
Best Bet: LSU +1 (-105)
