New SEC Bowl Lineup

As the offseason progresses, we are about halfway between national signing day and spring practice, basically the deadest college football period of the year. With that in mind, lets take a look at the new and improved SEC Bowl lineup that will go into effect this year and should hold firm through 2013. The shakeup was the result of the SEC signing a four year deal with the Gator Bowl for a game that will feature yet another SEC v. Big 10 New Year's Day matchup. Not coincidentally, the Independence Bowl has dropped its association with the SEC. The decision was reportedly based in part on being bumped down a spot in the pecking order, and the increased chance that, as in year's past, no SEC team would be available to take the slot in future years.

Obviously, the SEC has once again made out like a bandit with the switchout. This is a boon for fans of middling to lower tier football schools (read: Us) as the league's worst bowl destination has been replaced by a potentially warm and closer, if not exactly picturesque, Jacksonville.

The Gator has apparently been promised to have at least the sixth pick (seven if the SEC places 2 teams in the BCS) among SEC schools, placing it just behind the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in the pecking order. Given the CFA's history with the SEC and its strength (the game sells out annually) I don't anticipate that lie will improve. Assuming so, below is a look at the new lineup. Recall that the SEC will almost always received an at-large BCS berth, which effectively gives it 10 slots instead of 9.

1) BCS (??)

2) Capital One Bowl v. Big 10 #2 (Jan. 1)

3,4) Cotton Bowl v. Big 12 #2 (Jan. 2)

3, 4) Outback Bowl v. Big 10 #3 (Jan. 1)

5) Chick-Fil-A Bowl v. ACC #2 (Jan. 1)

6) Gator Bowl v. Big 10 #4 or #5 (Jan 1)

7, 8) Music City Bowl v. ACC #5, 6 or 7 (Jan. 27)

7,8) Liberty Bowl v. Conference USA Champion (Jan. 2)

9) Papajohns.com Bowl v. Big East #5 (Jan. 2)