Texas A&M Football 2017: Midseason Bowl game predictions
By Robert Ford
![ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Texas A](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/47c67b154dee4b7ff73480211255c8fc577665b6d30c900534ea8fcc19b1841d.jpg)
A Tier Two SEC Bowl game
On the previous slide, I outlined a couple of ways for the Aggies to play on New Year’s weekend. A 10-2 and potentially 9-3 team will not be a part of this next list. Even though I do not want to break down this next group of bowl games, I have too because the next five games on the schedule will not be easy.
Here are the pool of six bowl games in this tier. Outback Bowl in Tampa, TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Music City Bowl in Nashville, Texas Bowl in Houston, Belk Bowl in Charlotte and finally the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. I can tell you and after a life on the road, I want to go to either the Outback, TaxSlayer or Music City Bowl.
Those three options would be a great consolation prize if making it to Atlanta or Orlando did not happen. Of course every prediction you see till the end of the season will have the Aggies going just about everywhere. I’ve seen a few that want a game against Texas in Houston. That probably will not happen. The 2016 team just played in the Texas Bowl, back to back years would be a drag for the fan base. I would hope the conference and the bowl games understand that Aggieland does travel.
A 9-3 team is most likely ranked somewhere between 13-18 in the final rankings. That also means the team finished 6-2 in conference play. The West would be Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.
Here’s where I struggle trying to determine what do the bowls, the conference and television want. Alabama and Georgia are more than likely in the New Year’s Six which leaves the Citrus Bowl deciding between LSU, A&M and Auburn. They probably take LSU since they beat both teams in this scenario. That sends the Aggies to either Tampa or Jacksonville. Like I said earlier, my flight would be booked very quickly.
Aggieland, what do you think? Again, imagine a game against one of the Michigan schools in the Outback Bowl or potentially a match-up against a Miami, NC State or Virginia Tech in the TaxSlayer Bowl.