Bowl Watch: Tennessee Projected in Intriguing Match-Ups
But now that the Vols have qualified for a Bowl, the question has shifted from “Will the Vols make a Bowl Game?,” to “Who will the Vols play in the Bowl Game?” Well, that question isn’t an easy one to answer as the Bowl Projections are changing every day, but as of right now here is where the media believes Tennessee will land.
VOLUNTEER ROADSHOW
TaxSlayer (Gator) Bowl V. Iowa Hawkeyes
We, along with 247 Sports, are projecting that the Volunteers will have a reunion with the Iowa Hawkeyes for a rematch of the 2014-15 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. While this game would not qualify as a big name match-up and some critics may go as far as to call it “boring,” it seems like a very probable, and even likely, match-up. As for how the game itself would go, you could expect it to have the same result as the match-up went in 2014, Iowa just does not have the talent necessary to compete with the speed and power of the SEC.
ESPN
OutBack Bowl V. Penn State Nittany Lions
One ESPN reporter is projecting one of, if not the, most intriguing match-up for Tennessee. Not only did the OutBack Bowl seem far out of reach just a few weeks ago, so was playing an opponent like Penn State. Don’t get it twisted, Penn State is a really good football team and the fact that they could be meeting up with Tennessee in a bowl is quite frankly shocking. In order for this match-up to happen Tennessee would have to defeat Vanderbilt and get to 7 wins, and if it does, I think we’re all in for a real treat.
ESPN
TaxSlayer (Gator) Bowl V. Michigan Wolverines
Another ESPN reporter is projecting an equally interesting match-up for the Volunteers against the Michigan Wolverines. It goes without saying that Tennessee is TaxSlayer Bowl material, the question here is whether the Wolverines have really fallen this low and if they have, it sets up the possibility for this extraordinary Bowl Game. The Vols and Michigan have only played one time in history (2002), in which the Vols torched the Wolverines 45-17.
CBS SPORTS
Music City Bowl V. Louisville
CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm is projecting the Volunteers to make the exact same Bowl Game they did the last time they had the opportunity, in 2016, the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. It would be interesting as the Volunteers would likely bring a massive home crowd to see Tennessee kick-off against Louisville and would be a sight to be seen. Unfortunately for the Music City Bowl, it is looking like the Vols are a step or two above them right now. Nevertheless, they’re still a very realistic destination for Vol fans to consider.
SB NATION
Belk V. Pitt
This would be a very interesting Bowl Game as SB Nation is projecting the Volunteers to meet up with Pitt in the Belk Bowl, two tradition-rich programs looking to find their way back to relevance. Pitt is a decent team in the ACC and it would certainly make an interesting match-up. Additionally, since it is not a repeat game it would certainly make things more interesting.
SPORTING NEWS
Liberty Bowl V. Iowa State
Sporting News is also predicting an in-state match-up for Tennessee. The Liberty Bowl is a very likely destination for the Volunteers, but their opponent would be very much up for debate. Texas would be a potential opponent and their name has been thrown around quite a bit per this projection it will be Matt Cambell and the Iowa State Cyclones.
In the end, the scenarios for the Volunteers are endless and we will discuss the Bowl Game more in depth in the coming weeks, for now, Tennessee has to defeat a struggling Vanderbilt team to help them make it into a better Bowl.
Luke A. Thomas
Senior Writer
Luke was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and grew up with a passion for SEC Football.
His career in journalism started in 2016 when he covered his hometown MTSU Blue Raiders. He would later go on to cover the local Vanderbilt Commodores before he would begin covering the Volunteers. He wrote for SBNation, covering UT Athletics before joining Volunteer Roadshow in May of 2019. At Volunteer Roadshow he covers all things Tennessee, with a focus on UT Football and Basketball.
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