Tennessee bowl projections still point to Vols potentially facing a top NFL draft pick
The Tennessee Volunteers wrapped up their third regular season under Josh Heupel with a 48-24 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores. All that remains now is finding out where the Vols will end up for their final game of the season. Most media outlets are projecting the same game and opponent for the Vols. If they're […]
The Tennessee Volunteers wrapped up their third regular season under Josh Heupel with a 48-24 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores. All that remains now is finding out where the Vols will end up for their final game of the season.
Most media outlets are projecting the same game and opponent for the Vols. If they're right, Tennessee fans can start to cast their eyes towards what could be an appealing matchup in an equally appealing location.
The Vols are largely projected to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Gator Bowl on December 29 at 2:00 pm at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL. Nothing is certain about bowl projections until the bids are offered and accepted, which mostly won't take place until conference championship have been decided. However, Tennessee-North Carolina in the Gator Bowl has previously been the projection by several outlets and looks even more likely to take place now.
A clash with UNC is compelling in a number of respects. The schools don't match up very often and are big name brands in the South, so that's always of interest.
Perhaps most noteworthy is the possibility of the Vols getting the chance to test themselves against one of the best quarterbacks in college football in Drake Maye. The UNC standout is almost certain to be a very high draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, perhaps one of the top two quarterbacks among the top five overall picks. It's a distinct possibility that he sits out to prepare for the draft, but if he plays, that would drive the intrigue factor up significantly. Maye said after the team's loss against NC State that he would sit down with his family and decide what he will do.
Lastly, the matchup gives the Vols a chance to flip the script on the sour ending to the 2010 Music City Bowl, in which it appears the Vols won, but UNC was given one second after being flagged for illegal procedure while the clock ran out. UNC would win in overtime 30-27.
All bowl games will be announced on Sunday, December 3.
