I think it will be the Cotton Bowl versus Memphis. Here are the projections by the experts competed against the actual bowl tie-ins.
An SEC team will be in the Sugar Bowl vs. the Big 12 if not in the College Football Playoff. LSU will definitely be in the CFP. Georgia is currently projected in the CFP, but could fall out with a horrible loss to LSU in the SEC championship. Florida has the better résumé than Alabama to be the next SEC team in line, but the committee loves Alabama and could put them above Florida despite the Gators being ranked higher in the Coach’s Poll.
- College Football Playoff Semifinal: #1 LSU (12-0, 8-0, #1 SEC) vs. #2 Ohio State (12-0, 9-0, #1 B1G) or #3 Clemson (12-0, 8-0, #1 ACC)
- Sugar Bowl: #4 Georgia (11-1, 7-1, #2 SEC) vs. #6 Oklahoma (11-1, 8-1, #1 B12) or #8 Baylor (11-2, 8-1, #2 B12)
- Capital One Orange Bowl: #9 Alabama (10-2, 6-2, #4T SEC) vs 22 Virginia (9-3, 6-2, #2 ACC)
- Goodyear Cotton Bowl: #7 Florida (10-2, 6-2, #4T SEC) vs. #16 Memphis (11-1, 7-1, top G5 choice)
- Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl #11 Auburn (9-3, 5-3, #6 SEC) vs. #10 Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2, #2T B1G)
- Outback Bowl #15 Minnesota (10-2, 7-2, #2T B1G) vs NR Tennessee (7-5, 5-3, #7 SEC)
- TaxSlayer Bowl NR Mississippi State (6-6, 3-5, #8T SEC) or NR Kentucky (5-6, 3-5, #8T SEC) vs NR Indiana (8-4, 5-4, #7 B1G) or #18 Iowa (9-3, 6-3, #6 B1G)
- AutoZone Liberty Bowl SEC vs. Big 12 (if available)
- Belk Bowl SEC vs. ACC (if available)
- Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: NR Kentucky (5-6, 3-5, #8T SEC) vs. NR Virginia Tech (8-4, 5-3, #3 ACC)
- Academy Sports Texas Bowl: NR Texas A&M (7-4, 4-4, #8 SEC) vs. NR Kansas State (8-4, 5-4, #8 B12)
- Jared Birmingham Bowl SEC vs. American Athletic (if available)
- Walk-On’s Independence Bowl SEC vs. ACC (if available)
The Gators can wind up in the following games depending on CFP ranking.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium, Dallas
Dec. 28, noon, ESPN
Memphis vs. Florida
If Alabama gets ranked ahead of Florida, then the Gators drop down to the Cotton Bowl as an at-large selection against another at-large selection.
Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Dec. 30, 8 p.m., ESPN
Virginia vs. Florida
If Florida gets ranked ahead of Alabama, then the Gators get to stay home and play the ACC.
Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ESPN
Minnesota vs. Florida
If Georgia gets knocked down the pecking order due to a bad performance in the SEC championship, the Gators will fall into the Outback Bowl.