1. AUBURN (Last week: No. 1)
The Tigers’ dream season has included unbelievable comebacks and surprising fourth-quarter rallies. It also has included some stunning performances from a trio of Tigers who likely will be honored at the end of the season. Raise your hand if you had Gene Chizik, Cam Newton and Nick Fairley sweeping SEC honors for coach, offensive player and defensive player of the year awards. Didn’t think so.
PROJECTED BOWL: BCS championship vs. Oregon
SATURDAY: vs. South Carolina, 4, CBS
2. ARKANSAS (LW: No. 4)
No offense has the pro-style balance the Hogs are enjoying right now. They handed LSU’s SEC-leading defense a steady diet of big plays and run-dominated drives. With Ryan Mallett and Knile Davis, the Hogs ofensively are as good as anyone.
PROJECTED BOWL: Sugar vs. Ohio State
3. LSU (LW: No. 2)
It’s somewhat fitting when Les Miles – the father of the head-scratcher – gets beat on one of those “How did that happen?” plays. Seriously, an 80-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the first half? Really? Oh, well, call it coaching karma, and Miles just has to smile and nod during the discussion.
PROJECTED BOWL: Cotton vs. Texas AM
4. S. CAROLINA (LW: No. 5)
Looking for an even-money bet for player of the game from the SEC title game? Go with receiver Alshon Jeffery, who torched Auburn in the previous meeting and is the big-body-type of receiver that has given the Tigers fits all season.
PROJECTED BOWL: Outback vs. Penn State
SATURDAY: vs. Auburn, 4, CBS
5. ALABAMA (LW: No. 3)
Want a true definition of how tough the SEC is? No posturing, no shouting heads on the TV. How about this: In mid-October the Crimson Tide were No. 1 in the country; they finished fourth in the SEC West. There you go, and the next time someone tells you the Boise States and the TCUs can compete, remind them that Alabama finished fourth in its division. Yes, the smaller guys of the world can play only who’s on the schedule, but the big boys are forced to play who’s on the schedule.
PROJECTED BOWL: Capital One vs. Michigan State
6. MISS. STATE (LW: No. 6)
With his “school up north” references last year and his talk about never losing to Ole Miss again after last week’s Egg Bowl, Dan Mullen has become a cult hero in Starkville – for now. He has the Bulldogs poised for a nice bowl trip and on an upward swing. That said, his name is being mentioned with almost every job opening out there, including the Miami gig. Mullen may be a hero now, but if he leaves in the offseason, well, let’s just say he’s not going to be on the Christmas card list.
PROJECTED BOWL: Chick-fil-A vs. Florida State
7. FLORIDA (LW: No. 7)
Now we start the group of teams that have some serious issues to work through during bowl practice. And that’s a strange spot for Urban Meyer’s Gators, who have been almost as commonplace as controversy in the BCS. Well, after a 7-5 run that featured an offensive offense, the Gators can spend bowl preparations learning what former Gators legend Steve Spurrier learned long ago: If you have more than one quarterback, you have no quarterbacks.
PROJECTED BOWL: Gator vs. Iowa
8. GEORGIA (LW: No. 8)
A few Bulldogs underclassmen such as A.J. Green, Justin Houston and Brandon Boykin will spend the bowl practices getting ready for the NFL draft process. Coach Mark Richt will spend a lot of the next month saying he is not interested in this job and that job. Truth be told, though, Richt leaving could be a win-win for everyone involved – especially if Georgia could land someone like a Will Muschamp.
PROJECTED BOWL: Liberty vs. UCF
9. TENNESSEE (LW: No. 10)
Sometimes bowl projections are really fun. Take this year’s Music City Bowl, for example. UT athletic director Mike Hamilton is no doubt tickled chartreuse that the Vols won four straight games to qualify for a bowl game. Hamilton, however, is less than thrilled with a possible matchup against ACC foe North Carolina, which accepted UT’s buyout to cancel next year’s game between the Vols and the Tar Heels. Sweet, and yes I had to look up how to spell chartreuse.
PROJECTED BOWL: Music City vs. North Carolina
10. KENTUCKY (LW: No. 9)
It’s good to see that first-year Wildcats coach Joker Phillips has embraced UK traditions – both new and old. He extended the Wildcats’ program-best streak to five consecutive bowl trips. He also continued major college football’s longest stretch of one-sidedness (Yes, I made that word up) with Saturday’s loss to UT that extended the Vols’ streak to 26 consecutive.
PROJECTED BOWL: BBVA Compass vs. Pittsburgh
11. VANDERBILT (LW: No. 11)
Another bowless season of disappointmen for Vandy, and this time the Commodores will have to find their third coach in six months. Robbie Caldwell, who took the job after Bobby Johnson resigned in July, stepped down last week. Early contenders Al Golden of Temple and Gus Malzahn, Auburn’s offensive coordinator, have said they are not interested, so Vandy’s offseason will have some interest after all.
12. OLE MISS (LW: No. 12)
The Rebels won only one conference game – don’t you know Kentucky would love to have that one back? – and lost to the Commodores head-to-head to settle who resides in the basement. That said, Ole Miss’s struggles are hard to fathom. And the solutions to those struggles are even harder to figure considering the Rebels’ offensive bellcow – Jeremiah Masoli – was a one-year solution.