Vols should find motivation in possible Birmingham, Liberty bowl trip

Tennessee's football season hasn't turned out as expected. But despite a disappointing 4-5 record, the Vols won't be lacking in incentive as they head down the stretch for a ... well, let's call it a three-game playoff.

With three games remaining, the Vols are only two victories away from bowl eligibility.

How about a trip across the state to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl? It's still in play.

More:Butch Jones' status not only mystery for Vols football

So is the Birmingham Bowl, which would be a first for the Tennessee program. The Dec. 23 date is the bowl's biggest plus. The Vols could enjoy all the festivities that come with a winter trip to Birmingham and still be home for Christmas.  

Missouri 34, Tennessee 30: Nine games into the season, Tennessee’s pass defense really hasn’t been tested – for obvious reasons.

Most teams have had so much success running the ball on the Vols they haven’t felt compelled to try something as risky as a forward pass. The Tigers won’t mind taking that risk, though.

And they probably will be rewarded for it.

More:Butch Jones: Missouri's Drew Lock will 'play a long time on Sundays'

Alabama 34, Mississippi State 10: The Bulldogs have looked dominant for much of the season, with two notable exceptions. They were overwhelmed by Georgia and Auburn, two of the top three teams in the league. They won't keep up with Alabama, either.

Georgia 27, Auburn 24: The Bulldogs proved they could win a big game on the road when they knocked off Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. But the environment will be considerably more hostile at Auburn. Both teams are talented, but Georgia is No. 1 in the College Football Playoffs rankings for a reason. It consistently plays up to its ability. Auburn doesn’t.

South Carolina 27, Florida 20: The Gamecocks probably have gotten as much from their talent as any other team in the league. Conversely, the Gators are underachievers.

South Carolina has something else Florida doesn't: a competent quarterback. Jake Bentley plays hard and smart, and he raises his play under pressure.

Seen any of that from a Florida quarterback lately?

Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 27: Wildcats running back Benny Snell Jr. is making a late-season charge to lead the SEC in rushing. Credit him with capitalizing on bad run defenses against UT and Ole Miss.

And expect more of the same against Vanderbilt.

LSU 37, Arkansas 17: You don’t think of either team as having a dynamic offense. Nonetheless, both teams have pulled off impressive comebacks.

Arkansas came back from a 24-point deficit to top Ole Miss. The Tigers rallied from 20 points down to beat Auburn.

LSU won’t need a comeback this time.

Ole Miss 42, Louisiana 24: As good as quarterback Shea Patterson was for much of the season, the Rebels' offense didn’t unravel when he was injured – for a couple of reasons.

They have the best receiving corps in the league. They also have another talented quarterback in junior-college transfer Jordan Ta’amu, as Kentucky found out last Saturday.

Texas A&M 34, New Mexico 17:  You can count on two things in SEC football: Alabama will contend for a national championship, and the Aggies will falter in the second half of the season under coach Kevin Sumlin.

They're likely faltering their way toward a five-loss regular season, which reminds you that Tennessee fans aren't the only ones waiting for their coach to be fired.

Record: 67-17 (.798) overall, 49-25 (.662)

Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.