Kentucky Bowl Projections: Book your trip to Tampa for the Outback Bowl

Are you ready for some Shrimp on the Barbie? How about some Alice Springs Chicken or a Bloomin’ Onion? That’s what will be on the menu this New Year’s for the BBN when Kentucky punches its ticket to the Outback Bowl.

Saturday’s loss to a Tennessee essentially crushed the Wildcats’ chances of playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Even though our dream of New Year’s in New Orleans may be dead, a strong finish all but guarantees a return to where it all started for many Kentucky fans, the Outback Bowl.

Before I share national media bowl projections, many of which will surely differ from my statement, allow me to explain why Kentucky will return to Raymond James Stadium for the first time in 23 years if they finish the season with a 9-3 record.

Outback Bowl History is in Kentucky’s Favor

The rules state that after the New Year’s Six, the Citrus Bowl gets first dibs on SEC teams. Then a pool of six bowl games selects its opponents. In reality, there is a pecking order in the pool of six and the Outback Bowl is near the top. Word on the street is that officials in Tampa have wanted Kentucky to return, but things haven’t worked out. Based on history, it appears likely, even though the BBN is expected to descend upon the south Florida city in March for the SEC Tournament.

In 2019 Auburn represented the SEC in Tampa, followed by Ole Miss a year later in the Outback Bowl. Along with Texas A&M, those are the three teams competing for the same bowl bids as Kentucky.

The Outback Bowl does not want a team that’s been to Tampa in the last two years. If A&M defeats Ole Miss this weekend, they will be an LSU win away from clinching a spot in the New Year’s Six, opening the door for Kentucky to waltz into Tampa on Jan. 1.

National Media Bowl Projections

• On3: Outback Bowl vs. Purdue (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL)
• ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL)
• ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Gator Bowl vs. Pitt
  • This will never, ever, never, ever happen. Kentucky went to Jacksonville in 2020 and 2016. They aren’t playing in the same game three times in six years.
• Brett McMurphy: Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL)
• CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm: Outback Bowl vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL)
• The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel: Outback Bowl vs. Penn State (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL)
• College Football News: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. North Carolina
  • This is another non-starter. If Kentucky falls that far in the pool of six, they aren’t going to a game they played in just two seasons ago.
• 247 Sports’ Brad Crawford: Citrus Bowl vs. Michigan State (Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ABC, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL)
• Athlon Sports: Outback Bowl vs. Penn State (Jan. 1, Noon, ESPN2, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL)
• Saturday Down South’s Jim Tomlin: Liberty Bowl vs. Texas Tech (De.c 28, 6:45 pm, ESPN, Memphis, TN)