SEC Football: How Many SEC Teams Will go Bowling in 2016?
SEC football saw 10 teams go bowling last year and accumulate an historic 9-2 record in postseason play. While there’s no telling if SEC football will lay claim to another national championship, the conference will outdo itself and send even more teams bowling in 2016.
Yes you read that introductory statement correct. With Alabama playing twice in the College Football Playoff and winning a National Championship, SEC football played postseason games while only sending 10 teams. Their 9 wins set an NCAA record for postseason wins by a conference. SEC football will be back for more in 2016-17.
For the third straight year, the most dominant division in all of college football will send everyone bowling. Every team from the SEC West will be representing SEC football in postseason play.
Auburn, Arkansas and Mississippi State all have question marks and are typically being picked between 5-7 in the SEC West. Each will find a way to make a bowl appearance, though.
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Mississippi State has the easiest out of conference schedule in the SEC West and plays Kentucky from the SEC East. That’ll get Mississippi State to 5 and they’ll undoubtedly pick up another win to reach bowl eligibility.
Arkansas faces more of an uphill battle with their schedule as they travel to TCU and have to play Florida from the SEC East. While that’s tough even for an SEC football schedule, they do catch a break by playing Missouri and 3 other “gimmes” out of conference. Arkansas will find an upset or two to reach bowl eligibility.
Auburn faces the toughest task to represent SEC football in postseason play. Their schedule includes national runner-up Clemson and Georgia from the SEC East. They also have 3 other cupcakes out of conference and should have no trouble disposing of Missouri from the SEC East. That will also give them 4 wins and searching for an upset or two — but it’ll happen.
All three of these teams must face each other — obviously — and will collect a necessary win to reach bowl eligibility. The SEC East, though, is where things get more dicey.
Florida, Georiga, and Tennessee should all be in contention for the SEC East crown and easily reach bowl eligibility. Those three teams plus 7 from the SEC West gives us the same 10 teams to make bowls from last year. At least one more will emerge from the SEC East to represent SEC football and give the conference 11 bowl teams.
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In a previous article I discussed whether Missouri or Kentucky would make a bowl in 2016. I picked Kentucky from that group and like their chances. I also think Vanderbilt has a great shot to make a bowl game with their improved defense and the returning Ralph Webb. If things shake out the way I think they will, only one team from the group of South Carolina, Missouri, Vanderbilt and Kentucky need to make a bowl to help SEC football make history. If history has taught us anything, it has taught us to never bet against SEC football.