The Kentucky Wildcats are headed to a bowl game for the fourth consecutive season.
The only question now is which bowl?
Jon Hale of the Courier-Journal looks at the most likely scenarios:
1. Liberty Bowl (Dec. 31, Memphis, Tennessee)
The Liberty Bowl seems likely to be no higher than third on Kentucky’s preference list, but the two New Year’s Day Florida bowls in the “Pool of Six” are likely to go to Auburn and Texas A&M if only three SEC teams reach the New Year’s Six.
The Belk Bowl would likely be UK’s next choice, but Tennessee will likely be in play for both it and the Liberty Bowl as well and could be given preference thanks to its head-to-head win over Kentucky.
That leaves the Liberty Bowl, where Kentucky last played in the 2008 season, as the most likely option. The trip to Memphis would be an easy one for Kentucky fans, and a matchup against a Big 12 team would bring some intrigue.
2. Belk Bowl (Dec. 31, Charlotte, North Carolina)
Assuming Auburn and Texas A&M take the SEC’s spots in the Outback and Gator bowls, the Belk Bowl would probably be Kentucky’s most attractive remaining option. The Wildcats have never played in the game, offering a new trip for fans to an easy city to travel with the game featuring an appealing matchup versus an ACC team.
Kentucky might need Tennessee to rank the Liberty or Texas bowls ahead of the Belk on its preference list for that to happen though or for the Vols to finish at six wins with Kentucky beating Louisville.
3. Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, Tampa, Florida)
The Outback Bowl is almost certain to be Kentucky’s first choice of the “Pool of Six” bowls thanks to its status as a New Year’s Day Florida bowl that the team has not played in since the 1998 season, but it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where Kentucky is placed here even with a win over Louisville in the regular season finale.
The Outback Bowl is the only “Pool of Six” bowl Texas A&M has yet to play in during the SEC’s current bowl contract, and the Aggies are guaranteed to have at least as many wins as Kentucky with a more impressive resume. Kentucky’s best chance to reach the Outback Bowl would be for Texas A&M to upset No. 1 LSU next week and move into the Citrus Bowl spot, but even that possibility remains unlikely
The Cats are going bowling! Kentucky defeats UT Martin 50-7 thanks to 462 yards in the ground and a stout defensive performance. I’ll have the postgame recap tonight on @LEX18News at 11 pic.twitter.com/KAA1pNOYlY
— Eli Gehn (@EliGehnTV) November 23, 2019
