We’re keeping regular tabs on the updated bowl projections for the Vols and we’ll throw in our own thoughts as the rest of the season unfolds:
ESPN (McMurphy): Music City Bowl vs. Penn State
ESPN (Schlabach): Belk Bowl vs. North Carolina
CBS: (Palm): Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas State
SBNation (Kirk): Outback Bowl vs. Northwestern
RTI’s take: It was ugly, but in terms of bowl eligibility, a win is a win and the Vols got one on Saturday against South Carolina, virtually guaranteeing that they will return to a bowl for the second straight season for the first time since 2009-10. Tennessee is still very much in play for one of the pool of six (Liberty, Music City, Belk, Texas, TaxSlayer, Outback) bowls and will likely be headed to one of those barring a collapse against Missouri and Vanderbilt down the stretch. There are some intriguing matchups in those projections – especially a Music City Bowl appearance against James Franklin and Penn State or a Belk Bowl trip to face the Tar Heels in their home state.
