If LSU and Ky both win out they both, along with Bama and Uga, will likely be in NY6 bowls. If so, Fla to citrus (unless they totally fall apart) and us to outback.
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If LSU and Ky both win out they both, along with Bama and Uga, will likely be in NY6 bowls. If so, Fla to citrus (unless they totally fall apart) and us to outback.
I looked over some of the previous bowl appearances.
Music City - UK, UT, A&M, LSU, UM, Vandy, MSU, UT is the last 8 teams.
UT has been to the Music City twice, 2016 and 2010. Big attendance however they will probably travel well wherever they go.
SC & Mizzou have never been to the Music City.
Belk - A&M, Ark, MSU, and UGA.
SC would be a great fit here and they have never been there.
Gator - MSU, UK, UGA, UT, UGA, MSU, UF, MSU - Since SEC tie in MSU has went almost half the time.
AU or A&M would be a good fit here since neither has been there before.
Texas - Mizzou, A&M, LSU, Ark
AU, MSU, or A&M would probably be a good fit here. A&M would have the best attendance.
Liberty - No SEC last year, UGA, Ark, A&M, MSU, No Sec, Vandy, UGA, Ark, UK, MSU
Mizzou, MSU, Vandy, A&M would all be good fits here. MSU probably brings the best attendance.
Outback - SC, UF, UT, AU, LSU, SC, UGA, UF, AU, SC, UT, UT, UF, UGA, UF, UF, SC, SC, UK, UGA
MSU, UK, AU, A&M, UF all seem like a good fit here. It does seem that a lot of the time the SEC team was ranked in the top 20 and they favor the East.
With that said the probable landing spot for MSU is:
Outback if we are ranked in the top 20 and UF or UK isn't an option. I doubt they choose AU or A&M since both will probably be out of the top 25 at that time. Also with Joe going against the Big 10 it has a different spin.
Music City - close proximity and we have only played there once 8 years ago. I could see the Music City wanting us if we are available and UT isn't.
Belk - I doubt it due to driving distance and other bowls make more sense.
Gator - possible but with us going almost every other year along with being there last year.
Liberty - I could see Liberty wanting us, I also could see us lobbying to go somewhere else.
Texas - Mizzou was there last year so it might make sense for A&M to go here. They would travel well. I could see us or AU ending up there.
Citrus - We would need to play Bama close and kick Ark and UM's ass. We would also need UF to lose another game and fall out of the top 25. I think for the most part that the highest ranked team available goes here.
I don't know that anybody not on the inside of the SEC really knows. I suspect that the Bowls make their preferences known to the SEC and the schools make their preferences known to the SEC, and then the SEC tries to make everybody more or less happy, while keeping some variety in who goes where. I think MSU will be very desirable to all of the Pool of 6 bowls other than Gator, I just don't know that anybody other than Liberty will have a strong preference for us compared to say Auburn or A&M. One thing that may help will be Vandy being in the pool of 6. If the SEC tries to take the bowls and the schools wishes into account, presumably we'll at worst get our choice between two of the bowls.
One thing that could work against us is if Liberty was left out last year because of school choices. If that wasn't contractual, the SEC may try to give Liberty some preference this year to keep them happy.
I don't know how we could possibly go to the Citrus at 8-4.
Most likely scenario is Alabama (12-0), Georgia (11-1), Kentucky (10-2), LSU (10-2), Florida (9-3). All 5 of those would be ahead of State. Even if Florida goes 8-4 they would have a win over State. 3 will go to the NY6 and the 4th team will go to the Citrus. We are 6th. I don't see it.
Alabama - Playoff
UGA - SEC auto NY6
LSU - At Large NY6
UK - At Large NY6
If those happen then it leaves:
UF - 9-3 Citrus or 8-4 with loss to SC
MSU - 8-4
Mizzou could win out and be 8-4. Vandy, UT, Ark is who they have left with only UT on the road.
SC 7-5 unless they beat UF then 8-4
AU 7-5
A&M 7-5
Vandy 7-5 if they win out which would bump Mizzou down and eliminate UT
UT 7-5 if they win out which would bump Mizzou and Vandy down.
After all of this happens, depending on what the score is this weekend, we might be the only team ranked in that group below UF. I doubt we go to the Citrus unless we either 1) win out and beat Bama or 2)UF loses to FSU.
I realistically think our choices are Outback, Music City, Liberty, or Texas. I don't see us going back to the Gator or Belk. Texas Bowl probably depends on if they want A&M again after having them in 2016. Music City or Liberty would probably be thrilled to get UT if they are available.
SC has been to the Outback several times including last year and I could see SC fans getting Outback bowl fatigue similar to us with the Gator. SC has been 5 times since 2000.
Mizzou could go to the Outback but their fans would have even further to travel than us. Mizzou also has 1 good win and that is against UF.
AU will probably finish 7-5 and not ranked so within 1 game so it could happen. They have been in the Outback twice before. The only other West team was LSU.
A&M will also probably finish 7-5 and not ranked. This would be the team that would have the farthest to travel.
I think it boils down to us being the highest ranked and actual best on the field team that the Outback can get. We haven't been there before so you might have an attendance bump due to that. You also have the angle of Joe's offense against a Big Ten defense once again. If Penn St is the team from the Big Ten then it is a no brainer. That said, we have been passed over before and now the bowls are "equal" you can't say going to the Music City or Liberty is being passed over. Hopefully Cohen, Keenum, and Joe can recruit our way into the Outback or possibly Citrus because recruiting or pull is probably what it ends up being important.
LSU dropped 4 spots after losing to Bama 29-0 at home. Granted, they have some nice wins, but being 16th right now State shouldn't completely drop out of the CFP top 25 unless it's just a 63-3 shallacking.