UT could face several options for bowl game

After three straight 5-7 seasons, hope ran high that the 2014 season would provide a rosier outcome and a bowl trip. After beginning the season 2-1, the Vols only obtained one more win before the start of November. With just four games remaining in the season, the Vols were only halfway to bowl eligibility headed into a road game at South Carolina. Down 35-21 in the 4th quarter, Sophomore QB Josh Dobbs–who had taken over for an injured Justin Worley the week before–led a furious rally en route to a 45-42 overtime victory.

The Vols are now faced with three more conference opponents, needing to win two games to obtain bowl eligibility. The remaining games against Kentucky, Missouri, and Vanderbilt are all winnable and, assuming that UT pulls out at least two of the three, there are a few locations that the Vols may end up.

Music City Bowl – Nashville, TN

The first and most apparent choice for a bowl game comes from the state capital. Tennessee fans always travel well instate and the guarantee of ticket sales could be a big motivator for the MCB committee. If chosen here, the Vols would face either an ACC or Big 10 team. Tennessee has agreed to start next season at LP Field, so a berth in the Music City Bowl could give LP Field officials an idea of how Big Orange attendance will go next September.

Liberty Bowl – Memphis, TN

Though Memphis is as far west in the state that you can go, it can still host the Vols well and draw a crowd despite the six hour drive from Knoxville. The Liberty Bowl has missed out on hosting Tennessee for the past two seasons when two losses to Vanderbilt and one to Kentucky dropped them from contention for a bowl game. If the Vols play in the Liberty Bowl for the first time since 1986, they would likely face a Big XII or American conference opponent.

Belk Bowl – Charlotte, NC

The Belk Bowl was an ACC-American matchup until this season. Now, the Belk Bowl has dropped the AAC for an SEC berth and UT may be the perfect fit. Charlotte is a three hour drive east from Knoxville on I-40, thus a prime location for a bowl game crowd. Tennessee could make their first ever trip to Charlotte to play an ACC team for the first time since 2012. Tennessee has agreed to play in Charlotte in 2018, so this would be a prime opportunity for the Vols Athletic Department to scout Charlotte and the stadium to pre-plan for that matchup.

BBVA Compass Bowl – Birmingham, AL

If the Vols pass by a few locations in the selection process, they may end up in Alabama to face an American conference foe. The fan following to this game would not be as large as the other three bowls, so it’s likely that the Vols would be picked up before this game, however, if they were to be picked here, it would mark Tennessee’s first game in Birmingham for the first time since 1997.

Edited by Will Lomas