The SEC concluded the bowl season with another winning record in the post season, this year finishing with a record of 6-5 with a 3-1 record in New Years 6 bowls. We had some surprising performances both good and bad from teams in the southeastern conference and I am here to tell you which ones were the best and which were the worst.
#11. South Carolina
To put it nicely, South Carolina flat out sucked in this years Belk Bowl. The Gamecocks came in as a 3.5 point favorite over a mediocre Virginia team and managed to get shut out 28-0 while getting out-gained 413-261 by the Cavaliers. South Carolina was the only team this year to get shut out in their bowl game and I don't think it honestly happens very often. Will Muschamp has some serious things to figure out if the Gamecock offense is going to be good next year.
#10. Georgia
It wasn't the worst performance in the SEC, but it was definitely the most disappointing. The Bulldogs were one of the best teams in the country all year and with a lot to prove after being left out of the playoffs the Bulldogs basically layed down and run over by a 4 loss Texas team. This was one of the most lopsided match ups heading into the bowl games and Texas dominated the Bulldogs and honestly should have won by more than 7 points. After hearing Georgia fans complain about being left out of the playoffs, you have to question how much these players really wanted to be in this game.
#9. Mississippi State
Not a terrible loss for the Bulldogs to a good Iowa team but the Mississippi State defense looked lost at some points and gave up too many big plays to an Iowa offense that isn't known for big plays. A disappointing season for Mississippi State was capped off with a loss in a game that they should have won.
#8. Missouri
Missouri didn't play terrible and lost a close game against an Oklahoma State team that has been very good at some points. The reason they drop below Vandy is the way they managed the game down the stretch with a chance to win. Having Drew Lock run on a 4th down and fall short was questionable to many.
#7. Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is the highest team that lost on this list partially because they played well and lost to a good team close and partially because I don't think many people expected them to win anyways. Winning a bowl game is great for Vandy but making a bowl game is still a good season for the commodores.
#6. LSU
LSU was America's team on Tuesday as they finally defeated the UCF Knights. I have them this low because the honestly should have won by a lot more. Different circumstances forced them to play thin on defense and it showed in the second half. Regardless the Tigers won the Fiesta bowl and finish with 10 wins.
#5. Alabama
You may be wondering why I have the #1 team in the nation at #5. Partially because of some of the other teams on this list and partially because Alabama kinda mailed it in during the second half of the Orange bowl and almost let Oklahoma back in the game. Alabama is still really good but they didn't do anything that they weren't expected to do.
#4. Texas A&M
Texas A&M rolled over NC State in their bowl win and ended up winning 52-13 in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl. The only reason I don't have the aggies higher on this list is because of how impressive some of the other teams looked.
#3. Kentucky
Kentucky capped off one of their most impressive seasons in school history with an impressive win over Penn State in the Citrus Bowl this year. Benny Snell and Josh Allen went out on top and Kentucky has a ten win season for the first time in I don't know how long.
#2. Florida
A lot of people expected the Gators to lose and lose big in this one but the exact opposite happened. Florida dominated Michigan especially in the second half outscoring the Wolverines 28-5 in the second half. The Gators will be a top ten team coming off of a year in which they won 4 games.
#1. Auburn
Auburn may be #1 on this list if it included every team in the nation. The Tigers completely dominated a good Purdue team and made them look like the Purdue of old. Auburn scored a TD on every drive of the first half except their last drive in which they took a knee to go to the locker room. Getting off to a 56-7 halftime lead is impressive no matter who you play!