Ole Miss continues to strengthen its bowl projections with win over Auburn
Saturday’s win over Auburn ended more droughts and streaks for No. 12 Ole Miss but its third straight Southeastern Conference win also officially ensured the Rebels will play in the postseason.
Securing their sixth win of the season the Rebels (6-1, 3-1 SEC) have clinched bowl eligibility. That is not the singular goal for Ole Miss anymore these days under head coach Lane Kiffin, who has gotten the program to a bowl game all four seasons of his tenure.
With the magic number secured and in its back pocket Ole Miss can begin the process of improving on its bowl prospects with each win in its final five games. Though there is more than likely a ceiling to to which game the Rebels can reach.
The Sugar Bowl is part of this season’s College Football Playoff semifinals and thus eliminates the chances for Ole Miss to reach it unless it somehow found its way into the CFP — still not mathematically eliminated.
Due to that, a New Year’s Six bowl berth becomes tougher with Alabama currently taking the non-CFP spot for the SEC in projections ranging from the Cotton Bowl to the Peach Bowl. Ole Miss dropping its game to the Crimson Tide last month weighs heavy in regards to securing a top-level bowl berth.
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But fear not, the Rebels are on a path for potential another regular season with double-digit wins and because of it continue to bolster its chances of spending time in Florida for the holiday weekend.
Four different outlets project Ole Miss to play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on January 1. Placing the Rebels in Orlando inside Camping World Stadium is becoming the popular pick but which Big Ten team they would face still varies.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach project Iowa facing Ole Miss. Jerry Palm of CBS Sports and College Football News project Wisconsin getting the bowl bid. Brett McMurphy of Action Newtork projects No. 10 Penn State and has an early line with the Rebels a 1.5-point underdog to the Nittany Lions.
Athlon Sports is the lone outlet projection Ole Miss to play in Florida but not in Orlando, putting it in the Gator Bowl against No. 18 Louisville in Jacksonville on December 29.
Full list of current bowl projections for Ole Miss:
ESPN –
- Kyle Bonagura (Citrus Bowl; Iowa)
- Mark Schlabach (Citrus Bowl; Iowa)
CBS Sports –
- Jerry Palm (Citrus Bowl; Wisconsin)
Action Network –
- Brett McMurphy (Citrus Bowl; Penn State)
Athlon Sports –
- Gator Bowl; Louisville
College Football News –
- Citrus Bowl; Wisconsin
