Bowl Destination Prediction

PikeCat15

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2016
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I know we have talked about this ad nauseam over the past 24 hours, but wanted to give my bowl destination predictions for the SEC and get your thoughts. I have to work on the days of the two I think are most likely, which does not make me happy.

CFP-Alabama
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, LA)- Auburn
Citrus Bowl (Orlando, FL)- Florida
Texas Bowl (Houston, TX)- Texas A&M
Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, FL)-LSU
Belk Bowl (Charlotte, NC)-Georgia
Outback Bowl (Tampa, FL)-Tennessee
Music City Bowl (Nashville, TN)-Kentucky
Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN)-Arkansas
Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, AL)-South Carolina
Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA)-Vanderbilt

I would love to be wrong, considering I have family that lives 5 minutes from the stadium in Tampa. So i'll cross my fingers and hope for a miracle that we land the Outback Bowl. Realistically, I think we are back in Nashville, and I would be ecstatic. So proud of the Cats, Mark Stoops and his staff. Meaningful football in December!!!!
 
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trueblujr

Heisman
Dec 14, 2005
30,424
96,360
113
Music City most likely, but I'm hoping against all odds the Outback takes us, for similar reasons. In laws have a house in Fort Myers Beach, and I can turn it partly into a working vacation as I have work in South Florida as well. Would love to spend New Years down there.
 

mtn cat1

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
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Music City most likely, but I'm hoping against all odds the Outback takes us.

I'm certainly rooting for the Music City Bowl for a couple of reasons! First of all my son lives in Hendersonville, 15 to 20 minutes from Titan Stadium.
I'm coming up on 80 years of age, (4 months shy), & have health issues.
In all likely hood this would be my last opportunity to go to a Bowl Game & see my Cats play!
Peace
 

UKCatNnc

All-Conference
Sep 30, 2005
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Music City most likely, but I'm hoping against all odds the Outback takes us, for similar reasons. In laws have a house in Fort Myers Beach, and I can turn it partly into a working vacation as I have work in South Florida as well. Would love to spend New Years down there.
Tennessee will definitely get the Outback Bowl. - Don't forget, they won the Championship of Life. Go Cats!!
 

RV

Heisman
Jun 26, 2005
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The Music City Bowl hasn't taken an SEC team with fewer wins than 8 since the playoff format was installed. I don't look for that streak to break this year.
 

willievic

All-American
Aug 28, 2005
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I'm certainly rooting for the Music City Bowl for a couple of reasons! First of all my son lives in Hendersonville, 15 to 20 minutes from Titan Stadium.
I'm coming up on 80 years of age, (4 months shy), & have health issues.
In all likely hood this would be my last opportunity to go to a Bowl Game & see my Cats play!
Peace

mtn cat1, I don't want to hear anything about last opportunity to go to a bowl game. You and I have waited a long time for UK to have a good team, so we need at least time for three or more after this year. Hope you get feeling better. God Bless!

OLD STOLL FIELD GUY!
 
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Jan 29, 2003
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Still think Memphis, with UK basketball playing the night before at Ole Miss, is attractive to certain decision makers. Just a hunch.....
 

billoliver40

All-American
Dec 16, 2015
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I think Tennessee's loss to Vanderbilt puts them in the Music City. Just a wild guess, Kentucky is looking at Belk or a trip to Memphis. A bit odd how things have played out with Missouri being the only East team not bowl eligible, while both Mississippi schools would have to qualify by APR.....mainly because they play the SEC west.
Congrats to both Vanderbilt and South Carolina for becoming bowl eligible.

Gonna be a real interesting year next season as well, to see who fills graduation holes, who continues to develop and if anyone can find a way to catch up with the Crimson Tide.
Seems doubtful, but anything can happen. Just ask Louisville and UT.
 

Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,154
21,764
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Did a little research on this today. Honestly, SEC is so chaotic this season, there are a ton of teams with 4 or 5 losses, so bowls can damn near justify picking about anybody.

If you really want to get fans in the seats, and not send teams to games where they have played a number of times (e.g., UK in MCB four times) consider this:

Think I read that Independence will most likely pick Vanderbilt which seems about right. We will not get the Citrus or Outback or Sugar, I am thinking LSU, Florida and Auburn will fill those three in some order. A&M to the Texas Bowl seems likely.

So . . . . Minnesota (8-4) and Kentucky (7-5) have each never played in the Gator/TaxSlayer. That is my cross my fingers and hope to die matchup.

Georgia and UT have only played in MCB once and S. Carolina have never played in MCB.

Think Georgia has only played in Belk once, and S. Carolina and UT have never played in Belk. Kentucky has never played in Belk either, Wake or NC State would be a good host team which is my 2nd choice.

If it has to be MCB, then Iowa at 8-4 would be a great matchup. Big 10 has a lot of good teams this year and we would have our hands full, but would be a good bowl game for sure.

Not really interested in Memphis and don't honestly think we will end up in Birmingham, UK will travel well this season, and I think a higher rated bowl will pick us first. S. Carolina has only played in Liberty twice, and only one time (2006) since they joined the SEC, their other invite was nearly 30 years ago. They might get invited to Liberty and Arkansas in Birmingham while Belk and MCB take UT and UGA, not necessarily in that order
 

reflaine

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2007
2,512
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Georgia already playing in Jacksonville every year could hurt them at the taxslayer.

I think it goes like this

Semi - Bama
Sugar - auburn
Citrus - gators

Outback - a&m
Texas - lsu
Belk Georgia
Taxslayer - arky
Music city - cats
Liberty - Tennessee. (They are a hot mess right now).

Birmingham South Carolina
Independence - vandy

Last four could be anything listed in the group of six except don't think arky goes to liberty (but they are trending downward)

cats could go anywhere and really wish a&m took care of lsu at home. Probably put them in New Years six, and lsu at 6-5 we could of snuck into outback or taxslayer
 
Nov 7, 2008
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I really think we will get a bump due to being on an upswing with an energetic fan base.

Bowl officials know the Georgia and Tennessee fans are not excited about the way they are trending.
 
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MarkPftw

All-American
Nov 19, 2016
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I really think we will get a bump due to being on an upswing with an energetic fan base.

Bowl officials know the Georgia and Tennessee fans are not excited about the way they are trending.

Agreed. That's a big factor..UK just beat one of the top teams in the ACC in their own house..instate rival, Louisville..and won the Governor's Cup back..UK has won two in a row and 7 out of 10. Meanwhile..Georgia lost to instate rival GA Tech in a Heartbreaker at home, UT just blew a trip to the Sugar bowl by getting whooped by instate rival Vandy to finish 4-4 in the SEC..UT fans are talking about wanting Butch Jones and their whole staff fired. UK is on the upswing..us UK fans are pumped and as excited as we've been in 10 years. UK should and probably will get bumped up. I hope for a bowl game in Florida.
 

donngottie

Junior
Sep 28, 2013
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Florida is our highest hope but from what I'm seeing and hearing some of the good ole boys are lobbying to get uk into the mcb. Of course the mcb wants uk, look at the revenue bbn brings in. BUT why not use them to lobby for a bigger bowl. Leverage !!!
 
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KyCatFan1

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,808
31,521
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The Music City Bowl hasn't taken an SEC team with fewer wins than 8 since the playoff format was installed. I don't look for that streak to break this year.

With this only being the 3rd year of the pool of 6, it is to small of a sample size to come to any conclusion yet. So 2 years previously is all you have to go by. Plus last season the SEC only had 10 bowl bids. This year there are 11 with a likely 12th going to Miss St. Plus all 6 of the likely pool of six teams will be 7 or 8 wins.

Last year's teams had win totals of 7, 8, 8, 8, 8, and 9 going into the bowls. This year's teams will likely be 7, 7, 7, 7, 8, and 8. So every team except 1 was 8 or 9 wins last year. This year only 2 teams are over 7.

This is why I think we might find our way into a better bowl than expected. I believe I was the first one on here saying MCB or possibly a Florida bowl right after the Austin Peay game. Many others thought I was crazy and kept predicting Birmingham or Independence. The options this year at the top are less strong and will make things much more equal. Now we just wait and see what happens.
 
Mar 13, 2002
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Give me Music City. The farthest bowl is -NOT- the most desirable bowl (unless you aren't going anyway), it's just the most expensive. I was at the Outback bowl and it was a waste of money and time. Plus the locals were -not- friendly at all.
MCB is on Friday and gives me a day to drive home. I don't care to be a plane-flight from home on New Years eve.

JMO.

PS - Cards dropped to 16th. We did that.
 

maysvilleky

All-American
Aug 13, 2003
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From Wikipedia....Here is the SEC bowl selection process:

Southeastern Conference[edit]
2016:

  • #1 College Football Playoff. Automatic berth to one of the New Year's Six bowl games, the Sugar Bowl versus Big 12 #1 in years the Sugar Bowl is not a CFP Semifinal.
  • #2 The Citrus Bowl versus Big Ten or ACC. In years the Big Ten places a team in the Orange Bowl, the ACC will place its next selection in the Citrus Bowl after the CFB Playoff committee has made its selections for the Big Six Bowls.

Conference, in consultation with bowls and schools, assign teams to the following six bowls:
UK does not automatically qualify for the "pool of six" bowls. It's up to the SEC and the bowl committees. I would think with UK's uptick and the fanbase, I think UK would likely get one of the 6. My guess is MCB or LB.
 

KyCatFan1

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,808
31,521
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I don't think they posted enough information for you to come to that conclusion. Here is what it says for those 6 bowls.

Selection Criteria:: SEC No. 2-7 vs. Big-12
Selection Criteria: SEC No. 2-7 vs. ACC
Selection Criteria: SEC No. 2-7 vs. Big 12
Selection Criteria: SEC No. 2-7 vs. Big Ten/ACC
Selection Criteria: SEC No. 2-7 vs. Big Ten
Selection Criteria: SEC No. 2-7 vs. ACC/Big Ten

After the playoff there is the Sugar and Citrus. The pool of 6 starts after that. They all say SEC No. 2-7. Then the Birmingham says 8 and Independence says 9. We fall in the 2-7 teams. So according to the link below, we are guaranteed to be in the pool of 6. We aren't guaranteed which bowl of that group and that is where the SEC and the schools have to work together on. I wish they would do a show on the SEC Network where they explain it and guess at the picks.

https://campusinsiders.com/news/sec-bowl-tie-ins-selection-process-11-01-2016/
 

flcatfan07

Freshman
Feb 12, 2007
101
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Bring on the Taxslayer bowl, please! Being in Fl I never get to see the Cats play, this would be a nice treat! Not to mention, the weather is fantasitic! :)
 
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PikeCat15

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2016
646
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I have hotels booked in Nashville and Jacksonville. Actually hoping for Jacksonville. These guys actually make pretty good sense. Cats to TaxSlayer Gator Bowl! (Hopefully)
 
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sjjones

Sophomore
Nov 3, 2005
433
159
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TaxSlayer Bowl reps talking up UK and Arkansas...

http://jacksonville.com/sports/2016-11-28/tennessee-loss-vanderbilt-muddles-taxslayer-bowl-picture

UGA sportswriter picking UK to TaxSlayer. His picks across the board in the SEC make a lot of sense...

http://www.macon.com/sports/college...ldogs-beat/uga-football/article117509628.html

Only problem with this guy's picks is that I believe Arkansas went to Liberty last year I believe. Could see Arkansas to TaxSlayer and UK to Liberty?
 

Hjack

All-American
May 22, 2002
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The Music City Bowl hasn't taken an SEC team with fewer wins than 8 since the playoff format was installed. I don't look for that streak to break this year.
But after we go there and win, we'll have 8.

I know - that's pitiful. Sorry.
 

Kratz

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2001
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The "lesser" bowls (no offense intended) look at things like how many fans will travel in choosing the participants. Be prepared for Nashville. They know UK fans will show up in force = higher ticket sales.

Regardless, you've made a bowl game. Go win it, and set your selves up for a better season and bowl next year. Nothing wrong with the Music city bowl when you've been without a bowl game for several years. Gotta start somewhere.
 
Nov 7, 2008
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The "lesser" bowls (no offense intended) look at things like how many fans will travel in choosing the participants. Be prepared for Nashville. They know UK fans will show up in force = higher ticket sales.

Regardless, you've made a bowl game. Go win it, and set your selves up for a better season and bowl next year. Nothing wrong with the Music city bowl when you've been without a bowl game for several years. Gotta start somewhere.

The MCB is one of the higher payouts. This isn't 10 years ago. Try and keep up
 

Hjack

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May 22, 2002
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The MCB is one of the higher payouts. This isn't 10 years ago. Try and keep up

Noticed that. Don't know the exact history dates, but the Liberty has been in play significantly longer than the MCB, yet the payout for MCB is almost double of the Liberty.
 

MrKentucky

Heisman
Mar 2, 2006
28,591
21,153
113
Noticed that. Don't know the exact history dates, but the Liberty has been in play significantly longer than the MCB, yet the payout for MCB is almost double of the Liberty.

Nashville is a more fun place to visit, plus I think the Liberty killed itself for years with its CUSA tie in.
 

thefolker

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Jan 16, 2006
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The MCB is played in Nashville in a NFL stadium and the Liberty Bowl is played in Memphis in a dump.
 
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The_Godfather_rivals

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May 22, 2002
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The Taxslayer is the best bowl that is considering UK at this point. I'm hoping UK season ticket holders recognize this and pre-order a ton of tix to help UK land that spot.

I'm trying to determine if I can make it down there on 12/31. It would be a lot of fun and great if UK could face Miami.
 
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Nuke99m.

All-American
Aug 30, 2002
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The Taxslayer is the best bowl that is considering UK at this point. I'm hoping UK season ticket holders recognize this and pre-order a ton of tix to help UK land that spot.

I'm trying to determine if I can make it down there on 12/31. It would be a lot of fun and great if UK could face Miami.

As a season ticket holder you can order tickets for several bowls and only have to pay for the one they are picked for. I have pre-orders for Liberty,Music and Taxslayer Bowls.
 
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