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The Tennessee Volunteers finished at 7-5 on the year — right where everyone thought they would be to end the year. They took a roundabout way to get there, but hey, they got there.
Now focus shifts to a bowl destination. Tennessee should be a team in demand this bowl season, considering the fanbase and the fact that they haven’t been to the postseason since 2016.
A look at the early projections coming out of week 14 doesn’t offer any clarity though. Options still range anywhere from Tampa Bay to Memphis.
Latest Bowl Projections
ESPN: Outback vs. Minnesota
ESPN (x2): Outback vs. Minnesota
247 Sports: Gator vs. Indiana
CFB News: Liberty vs. Iowa State
CBS: Music City vs. Louisville
Obviously, ESPN doubling down on the Outback Bowl is noteworthy. Tennessee beat Northwestern after the 2015 season in that game — a destination that the Volunteers are very familiar with. Auburn, Florida and Texas A&M are also in play there.
The most likely destination still feels like the Gator Bowl though. Tennessee could see anyone from Michigan to Indiana in that matchup. The Vols beat Iowa in their last game at that venue back after the 2014 season.
The Liberty Bowl feels like the third option here. We’ve seen Iowa State and Texas as projected opponents in that matchup in Memphis, but momentum seems to be trending towards a Florida bowl.