The rivals’ games are over with and have left many people scratching their heads — mainly the playoff committee and many coaches wondering where they will be next year.
SEC and ACC championship are games this weekend. Here’s what to expect:
- Florida Gators (8-3) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (12-0): I do not see any team stopping the Big Crimson Tide Train — Alabama by 24 or more points.
- Virginia Tech Hokies (9-3) vs. the Clemson Tigers 11-1: The Hokies are back into a playoff game but the Tigers will show them the front door — Tigers by 26 or more points.
The SEC and ACC each have 11 teams eligible for a bowl bid. Not all of them will make it this year, so it’s off to the drawing board to see just which bowl will be offered to which school.
Here are the upcoming bowls:
- National Semifinal Bowl, Dec. 31
- Peach, Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 31
- Fiesta, Glendale, Ariz., Dec. 31
- Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla., Dec. 30
- Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Texas, Jan. 2
- Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 2
- Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, La., Jan. 2
- National Championship Game, Tampa, Fla., Jan. 9
ACC-hosted bowls:
- Quick Lane Bowl, Detroit, Mich., Dec. 26; Big Ten vs. ACC
- St. Petersburg Bowl, St. Petersburg, Fla., Dec. 26; AAC vs. ACC
- Music City Bowl, Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 30; SEC vs. ACC
SEC-hosted bowls:
- Independence Bowl: Shreveport, La., Dec. 26; ACC vs. SEC
- Texas Bowl: Houston, Texas, Dec. 28; Big 12 vs. SEC
- Belk Bowl: Charlotte, N.C., Dec. 29; ACC vs. SEC
- Liberty Bowl: Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 30; Big 12 vs. SEC
- Citrus Bowl: Orlando, Fla., Dec. 31; Big Ten vs. SEC
- Taxslayer Bowl: Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 31; Big Ten vs. SEC
- Outback Bowl: Tampa, Fla., Jan. 2; Big Ten vs. SEC
Bowls that invite the ACC and SEC:
- Military Bowl: Annapolis, Md., Dec. 27; ACC vs. AAC
- Pinstripe Bowl: Bronx, N.Y., Dec. 28; ACC vs. Big Ten
- Birmingham Bowl: Birmingham, Ala., Dec. 29; SEC vs. AAC
- Sun Bowl: El Paso, Texas, Dec. 30; ACC vs. Pac 12
Bill Everett is a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and lives in the Baker area.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: College football picks and bowls in the SEC, ACC