Athlon projects Tennessee to the Belk Bowl

The Tennessee Volunteers are entering the 2019 season looking to get back to a bowl for the first time since 2016. Quite a bit has happened since then, including the crumbling of the Butch Jones era, along with the beginning of the Jeremy Pruitt era. Now in year two, Pruitt is looking to improve on his 5-7 record in year one. With a ton of returning production, Tennessee is a popular pick to take at least one or two steps forward.

If the Vols get that tricky sixth win, where will they land? According to Athlon Sports’ latest projection, it could be the Belk Bowl. Athlon placed the Vols in the Charlotte bowl game, projecting a matchup with the Virginia Tech Hokies.

The Belk Bowl will be played on December 31st at 12 p.m. ET.

If Tennessee does get bowl eligible, the options are pretty wide open. The Music City, Liberty, Gator, Outback, Texas, Independence or Birmingham Bowls could be destinations for the Volunteers.

Other notable projections

Music City: Kentucky vs. Miami

Texas: Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma State

Liberty: Memphis vs. West Virginia

Citrus: Texas A&M vs. Nebraska

Outback: Penn State vs. Auburn

Gator: Wisconsin vs. South Carolina

Sugar: LSU vs. Oklahoma

Orange: Florida vs. Syracuse

Playoff: Clemson vs. Georgia, Alabama vs. Michigan