Fearless SEC Final Predictions-Bowl Predictions

We are now close enough to the end of the year that I go with my Fearless SEC Final Predictions. Yes, I did this by taking the time to pick a winner for every remaining game involving an SEC team and thus the outcome is in all ways plausible. Yes, this took a while.

SEC East
1. Alabama (8-0 overall currently, 5-0 in SEC play currently)
(12-0, 8-0 final)
2. LSU (5-2, 3-2)
(9-3, 5-3)
3. Ole Miss (4-4, 2-3)
(7-5, 4-4)
4. Auburn (4-4, 2-3)
(5-7, 2-6)
5. Arkansas (3-5, 1-4)
(5-7, 2-6)
6. Mississippi St. (3-5, 1-3)
(3-9, 1-7)

SEC West
1. Florida (6-1, 4-1)
(11-1, 7-1)
2. Georgia (7-1, 4-1)
(10-2, 6-2)
3. South Carolina (5-3, 2-3)
(8-4, 4-4)
4. Vandy (5-3, 3-2)
(6-6, 4-4)
5. Tennessee
(6-6, 3-5)
6. Kentucky
(6-6, 2-6)

Here are the assumptions/close calls/angles I went with:
1. UK takes the new QB momentum into Starkville this week and gets a win. They do not win another game. The Vandy thing was the toughest call in the conference. Truthfully, this was based more on a gut feel that UK seems to be a bowl eligible, but not 7 win, team. I cannot see Vandy losing 7 straight to blow their 5-0 start and not even go to a bowl. It is the game the Commodores seem most likely to win to prevent that from happening. Further, assuming things play out like I predict to that point, UK will already be in the bowl picture and Vandy will need the win. It will be cold, and assuming the Cats already have a sixth win, the game will not be particularly well attended. If we need this game for six wins by then, all bets are off. Bottom line is, I think UK gets to 6-6 one way or the other.
2. The records assume Tennessee will lose at South Carolina this week, then rattle off three straight to back door their way to bowl eligibility. That includes a win in Nashville, which is the closest thing to an upset I really have in these picks.
3. Mississippi State will not win another game.
4. Auburn loses at Ole Miss this weekend in what is a huge game for both schools. Here is something interesting. My scenario has three SEC teams at 6-6. Switch only the outcome of this one game, which is totally plausible, and we then have five 6-6 teams.
5. Florida wins the Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
6. Alabama wins at LSU.

Assuming this is how things shake out, the bowl picture will look something like this:

Alabama and Florida would both play in either the National Championship, Sugar or some other BCS Bowl depending on outcome of SEC Championship and, of course, other games around the country.

Capital One: Georgia
Cotton:LSU
Outback: South Carolina
Chik-Fil-A: Ole Miss (The Bowl Committee would be free to select a 6-6 team listed below over the Rebels if inclined. Ole Miss fans are jacked about their new coach and will show up for this bowl, which makes them the the play here.)

After this, things get fuzzy with UK, Tennessee and Vandy in the mix for the Music City, Independence and Liberty Bowls. With the worst conference record and having, under this scenario, lost to both of the other schools, UK could be looking at Shreveport. The Papajohns.com Bowl would not have an SEC selection left and would have to take a Sun Belt team.

What does all this mean for the Cats? With all the potential mediocrity, a seven win season would ensure a pretty nice bowl spot, maybe even a trip to Atlanta. UK could go into Tennessee on 11/29 at 7-4 with New Year's Day still in play (Don't believe me? Comment and I'll explain how). As Jeff Probst would ask, "Worth playing for?"

Hell yeah.