Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low
Eight teams in the SEC ended up being bowl eligible. And with Alabama and Florida both headed for BCS bowls, that means two of the bowls that were tied to the conference -- Independence and Papajohns.com -- won't get SEC teams.
Arkansas, Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee all ended their seasons this past weekend and won't be going bowling.
For the other eight teams, there will be a postseason. Vanderbilt, even though the Commodores, slumped toward the end of the season, will be making its first bowl trip in 26 years. Ole Miss is one of the hottest teams in the SEC after not winning a league game a year ago and will be making its first bowl trip in five years.
ALABAMA
This much we know: The Crimson Tide are going somewhere nice and to a bowl that pays out a bunch of money. What a year for Nick Saban and crew. A win over Florida puts Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game. A loss would send the Tide to the Sugar Bowl for the first time since 1992.
- Possibilities: BCS National Championship Game, Sugar Bowl
- Prediction: Sugar Bowl
FLORIDA
It's pretty much the same scenario for Florida as Alabama. If the Gators win this Saturday in the SEC Championship Game, they can punch their ticket for the BCS National Championship Game. If they lose, they're headed to the Sugar Bowl.
- Possibilities: BCS National Championship Game, Sugar Bowl
- Prediction: BCS National Championship Game
GEORGIA
The Bulldogs have been a big disappointment this season, and it begins and ends with a defense that has been sliced and diced. They're likely headed to the Capital One Bowl to play Michigan State, but Ole Miss is a much hotter team right now.
- Possibilities: Capital One Bowl, Outback Bowl
- Prediction: Capital One Bowl
KENTUCKY
Good thing the Wildcats got those four nonconference wins in September, because they were pretty unspectacular in SEC play. Injuries took a heavy toll, but they still managed to qualify for their third straight bowl appearance, the first time that's happened since 1949-51. It's probably fitting then that they're headed to the Music City Bowl for the third straight year.
- Possibilities: Music City Bowl, Liberty Bowl
- Prediction: Music City Bowl.
LSU
The Tigers went from the defending national champions and a good bet to play in a BCS game to a team that couldn't stop anybody defensively. Their only two wins the last half of the season were over Tulane and Troy.
- Possibilities: Chick-fil-A Bowl, Music City Bowl
- Prediction: Chick-fil-A Bowl
OLE MISS
You wonder if the Capital One Bowl will take a long look at the Rebels with how well they've played down the stretch and the fact that they're the only team to beat Florida so far. This is a team that believes right now and is playing fantastic football.
- Possibilities: Cotton Bowl, Capital One Bowl
- Prediction: Cotton Bowl
SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks were another SEC team that collapsed at the end of the season. They were embarrassed in their final two games against Florida and Clemson. But the state of Florida still loves Steve Spurrier, right?
- Possibilities: Outback Bowl, Chick-fil-A Bowl
- Prediction: Outback Bowl
VANDERBILT
The Commodores were one of college football's hottest tickets back in September. It just hasn't been the same ever since, but they were still good enough to earn their first bowl trip since the 1982 season, which is why they will likely avoid staying at home and playing in the Music City Bowl and instead go across the state three hours.
- Possibilities: Liberty Bowl, Music City Bowl
- Prediction: Liberty Bowl
Chris Low joined ESPN.com in 2007 after 10 years with The (Nashville) Tennessean covering the University of Tennessee and SEC. The Rock Hill, S.C., native lives with his wife in Knoxville and has three sons.
