Complete 2015 SEC Football Postseason Bowl Schedule and Overview

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The SEC produced 10 bowl eligible teams during the 2015 season and for the second consecutive year managed to get all seven SEC West teams a bowl berth. The only teams not bowling for the SEC this year are Vanderbilt (4-8, 2-6), Kentucky (5-7, 2-6), Missouri (5-7, 1-7), and South Carolina (3-9, 1-7).

Alabama is once again the cream of the crop topping Florida 29-15 in the SEC Championship Game earning a second consecutive invitation into the College Football Playoffs. While the Crimson Tide have the most to play for on the grand scale going forward, several SEC teams, their players, and especially a few coaches have a lot left to prove with one game left in the season.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Advocare V100 Texas Bowl – 9:00 p.m. on ESPN

No. 20 LUS vs. Texas Tech

Line: LSU -7.5

LSU’s grind it out run game verses Texas Tech’s dynamic passing attack.

LSU head coach Les Miles saved his job with a win against Texas A&M. Will Miles try to open up the offense more against the Red Raiders to show the Tigers can pass the ball, even if it is against one of the worst statistical defenses in the nation?

Wednesday, Dec. 30

Birmingham Bowl – 12:00 p.m. on ESPN

Auburn vs. Memphis

Line: Auburn -3

Memphis was one of the surprise teams in the nation knocking off then- No. 13 Ole Miss 37-24 on Oct. 17. The Tigers limped into the postseason going 2-3 in November.

Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn maybe on the proverbial hot seat after posting a 6-6 season in 2015. The thought is without much logic considering a run to the BCS National Championship Game in 2013 but that’s life in the SEC. Malzahn’s defenses have been bad. DC Will Muschamp is gone. How will these Tigers stop the other Tigers?

Belk Bowl – 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

N.C. State vs. Mississippi State

Line: Mississippi State -5

N.C. State put together a solid 7-5 season but all of their wins were against bad teams. The Wolfpack did not notch a win against a quality opponent in 2015.

Mississippi State surprised a lot of people going 8-4, 4-4, after the loss of a lot of talent to the NFL following the 2014 season. Starting quarterback Dak Prescott is undervalued nationally as a MVP candidate.

Music City Bowl – 7:00 p.m. on ESPN

Texas A&M vs. Louisville

Line: Louisville -4.5

Louisville started the season with three consecutive losses but to some pretty good teams; Auburn, Houston, and Clemson. The Cardinals went 1-1 against SEC competition beating Kentucky 38-24 during the regular season finale.

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin is in hot water after the façade he has created in College Station has been exposed. He has run off three talented quarterbacks in one year, including two starters from the 2015 season; Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray. Sumlin is left with Jake Hubenak against Louisville.

A&M opened as the favorite but the loss of Murry and Allen have Louisville as the favorites. Hubenak can sling the ball. The Aggies offense should be fine for one game without Murray and Allen.

Thursday, Dec. 31

Cotton Bowl – 8:00 p.m. on ESPN – *College Playoff Semifinal Game

No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 2 Alabama

Line: Alabama -9.5

Tough to tell just how good Michigan State really is this year. They won by three against Oregon (31-28), beat Michigan on a fluke punt fumble by the Wolverines (27-23), and edged Ohio State (17-14) and Iowa (16-13). The Spartans are good, no doubt, but just how good are they?

Alabama was flat in last year’s college football semifinal against Ohio State losing 42-35. The Crimson Tide’s defense is arguably the best in the nation and they have one of the best offensive lines and best running backs in Heisman Trophy Award winner Derrick Henry.

Friday, Jan. 1

Outback Bowl – 12:00 p.m. on ESPN2

No. 13 Northwestern vs. No. 23 Tennessee

Line: Tennessee -8.5

Northwestern is a team on the rise posting 10 wins in 2015 with a statement victory in Week 1 against Stanford (16-6). The Wildcats are looking to make school history if an eleventh win can be had against Tennessee. Northwestern is all defense making a tough matchup for the Vols.

The Volunteers have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but the majority of it is really young in college football terms. Tennessee’s offense is built around the running game, something the Wildcats are used to in the Big Ten. Both teams have athletic quarterbacks making this Outback Bowl a very exciting game.

Citrus Bowl – 1:00 p.m. on ABC

No. 14 Michigan vs. No. 19 Florida

Line: Michigan -4.5

The battle of first year coaches in Florida’s Jim McElwain against Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is another Big Ten vs. SEC showdown that will be fodder for the message boards and bragging rights.

Michigan was in contention for the Big Ten East Division title all the way down to the last weekend of the regular season before catching a fired up Ohio State squad (42-13).

The Gators have had troubles moving the ball with Treon Harris under center. Florida relies on their run game and tough defense to shorten the game and keep the score close. Florida has lost a couple of players to transfer and will lose a couple more as early NFL Draft entries. Trouble for McElwain is to keep his team focused and ready to play against a formidable Michigan squad.

Sugar Bowl – 8:30 p.m. No. 16 Oklahoma State vs. No. 12 Ole Miss

Line: Ole Miss -7

The Cowboys went 10-2 getting a 49-29 win over a beaten up TCU team but then fell to Baylor (45-35) and Oklahoma (58-23) to end the season. OSU can put points on the board but the defense will be challenged against Ole Miss.

The Rebels will be without All-American DT Robert Nkemdiche but should have enough defense to slow down the Cowboys offense. Ole Miss can get the ball around the yard with duel-threat Chad Kelly under center.

Saturday, Jan. 2

TaxSlayer Bowl – 12:00 p.m. on ESPN

Georgia vs. Penn State

Line: Georgia -7

The fourth SEC vs. Big Ten bowl game giving fans of both conferences ammunition for which Power Five Conference member is best. The Nittany Lions had a tough schedule in 2015 but could not come up big in any of their big games losing to Temple (27-10), Ohio State (38-10), Northwestern (23-21), Michigan (28-16), and Michigan State (55-16).

Georgia is a team influx after losing head coach Mark Richt (Miami) and the Bulldogs will be without linebacker Tim Kimbrough. John Lilly is handling the offensive duties for the Bulldogs staff and Kevin Sherrer is overseeing the defense. The regular coordinators, OC Brian Schottenheimer and DC Jeremy Pruitt, are gone. Which Georgia team will show up in the TaxSlayer Bowl is anyone’s guess.

Liberty Bowl – 3:20 p.m. on ESPN

Kansas State vs. Arkansas

Line: Arkansas -12

Kansas State snuck in the backdoor to the postseason beating Iowa State, Kansas, and West Virginia to finish the season 6-6. The Wildcats lost six straight in the middle of the season and did not beat a quality opponent in 2015.

Arkansas is wrapping up a second consecutive season facing a Big 12 team in a bowl game. Last year the Hogs beat Texas 31-7. Arkansas’ offense is more balanced this year with a better passing attack and Alex Collins leading the ground game. The Hogs run defense is among the best in the nation but the pass defense is lacking.

Photo credit: bleacherreport.com; Nick Saban leads the Crimson Tide onto the field.