While there’s still chaos that could certainly unfold over the final three weeks of the season, the postseason bowl picture is starting to come into more focus as pretenders are separated from contenders.
The second edition of the College Football Playoff rankings will release on Tuesday night, giving even more clarity into the final 12-team tournament that’s set to come this winter.
Tennessee is one of the teams on the outside looking in. But after a loss to Oklahoma two weeks ago for their third loss of the season, the Vols’ view through the window is starting to look more and more foggy with just a small handful of games remaining. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Tennessee a 1.9% chance to make the playoffs with its current 6-3 record.
Tennessee’s more realistic probability is playing in one of the non-playoff bowls next month. The question that’s still on the table, though, is whether the Vols will be entering the bowl season as a 9-3 team, an 8-4 team, or a 7-5 team. UT’s next three contests will have a significant impact on where the team heads for the final game of the season.
On3 Sports’ Brett McMurphy has Tennessee tabbed to take on Miami (7-2) in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, FL. Last season’s Gator Bowl matchup saw No. 16 Ole Miss pummel Duke by a score of 52-20.
The Hurricanes went through much of the season as one of the top teams in the nation, but the Carson Beck-led squad has split its last four games with two wins (vs Stanford, vs Syracuse) and two losses (vs Louisville, at SMU). The losses might have the ‘Canes out of the running for the playoffs despite the ACC being wide open. If that happens, McMurphy believes that they could wind up playing the Vols in a post-Christmas showdown.
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ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has Tennessee heading to the Sunshine State, but in a different game. Schlabach has Josh Heupel’s team taking on Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Last season’s bowl game saw Michigan defeat No. 11 Alabama by a score of 19-13.
The Hawkeyes are 6-3 on the season after a last-second home loss to Oregon over the weekend, but still have remaining games against Southern Cal, Michigan State, and Nebraska.
And, lastly, ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has Tennessee heading to Charlotte, NC, to take on Louisville in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday, Jan. 2. Last season’s postseason contest saw Minnesota beat Virginia Tech by a score of 24-10 at Bank of America Stadium.
The Cardinals are 7-2 on the season, but their two conference losses have them down at sixth in the ACC standings with just three games left on the schedule. Louisville’s best win this season came on the road at Miami, but its two losses have come against Virginia and unranked Cal last weekend.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more college football bowl projections each week during the final stretch of the regular season.
For a look at how Tennessee’s final three games could impact the Vols’ season record from an analytical standpoint, click here.
