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Guess what? Les Miles is coaching a game tonight!
That might be all the incentive you need to watch No. 20 LSU kick off the SEC’s postseason with a Texas Bowl matchup against Texas Tech.
The last time Miles coached a game was quite eventful to say the least. Leading up to the Tigers’ regular-season finale at Texas A&M on Nov. 28, there were reports that Miles was about to lose his job. But apparently at halftime of that game, LSU made the decision to retain Miles, who has a 7-6 record in bowls and was carried off the field by his players following the Tigers’ 19-7 victory over the Aggies in Baton Rouge.
We’re pretty sure Miles will remain LSU’s coach regardless of tonight’s outcome, but you can’t totally be sure. That’s what makes the SEC’s opening bowl must-see TV– that and the fact that you never know what the Mad Hatter is going to do.
Including tonight’s matchup, all 10 bowl games involving SEC teams are on ESPN or an affiliate, and here’s the full lineup:
ADVOCARE V100 TEXAS BOWL: NO. 20 LSU VS. TEXAS TECH
NRG STADIUM, HOUSTON
(TONIGHT, 9 P.M. ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Joe Tessitore
Color commentators: Jesse Palmer & David Pollack
Sideline reporter: Maria Taylor
BIRMINGHAM BOWL: AUBURN VS. MEMPHIS
LEGION STADIUM, BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
(WEDNESDAY, NOON ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Beth Mowins
Color commentator: Anthony Becht
Sideline reporter: Paul Carcaterra
BELK BOWL: MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. NORTH CAROLINA STATE
BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM, CHARLOTTE, N.C.
(WEDNESDAY, 3:30 PM ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Clay Matvick
Color commentator: John Congemi
Sideline reporter: Dawn Davenport
FRANKLIN AMERICAN MORTGAGE MUSIC CITY BOWL: TEXAS A&M VS. LOUISVILLE
NISSAN STADIUM, NASHVILLE
(WEDNESDAY, 7 PM ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Tom Hart
Color commentator: Andre Ware
Sideline reporter: Laura Rutledge
GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC: NO. 2 ALABAMA VS. NO. 3 MICHIGAN STATE
AT&T STADIUM, ARLINGTON, TEXAS
(THURSDAY, 8 P.M. ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Chris Fowler
Color commentator: Kirk Herbstreit
Sideline reporters: Heather Cox, Tom Rinaldi
Other viewing/listening options: Kenneth Garay and Alex Pombo will announce the game on ESPN Deportes/ESPN2 and Brad Sham, Danny Kanell and Ian Fitzsimmons will have the call on ESPN Radio. Rules expert Dave Cutaia will also be available. ESPN2 will simulcast ESPN Deportes’ telecast, making the Spanish-language presentation widely available in the U.S.
“Finebaum Film Room: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic” will air on SEC Network during the game, allowing viewers to watch Alabama-Michigan State along with Paul Finebaum and his in-studio guests — SEC Network analysts Greg McElroy and Booger McFarland, along with former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel. Similar to past “Finebaum Film Room” episodes, the show will also take live calls during the game. Additional details of SEC Network’s coverage can be found here.
ESPN3 will offer enhanced coverage, featuring both Alabama’s and Michigan State’s radio broadcasts accompanying the ESPN telecast and the continuous spider cam feed. Plus, ESPNEWS and ESPN3 will air the trophy presentation. ESPN will also use pylon camera technology for the game, utilizing 16 cameras to look down at the goal line and sidelines at all corners of the field.
OUTBACK BOWL: NO. 23 TENNESSEE VS. NO. 13 NORTHWESTERN
RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM, TAMPA
(FRIDAY, NOON ET ON ESPN2)
Play-by-play: Mark Jones
Color commentator: Rod Gilmore
Sideline reporter: Quint Kessenich
BUFFALO WILD WINGS CITRUS BOWL: NO. 19 FLORIDA VS. NO. 14 MICHIGAN
ORLANDO CITRUS BOWL
(FRIDAY, 1 P.M. ET ON ABC)
Play-by-play: Mike Patrick
Color commentator: Ed Cunningham
Sideline reporter: Dr. Jerry Punch
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL: NO. 12 OLE MISS VS. NO. 16 OKLAHOMA STATE
MERCEDES BENZ SUPERDOME, NEW ORLEANS
(FRIDAY, 8:30 P.M. ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Bob Wischusen
Color commentator: Brock Huard
Sideline reporter: Shannon Spake
Other viewing/listening options: Kenneth Garay and Alex Pombo will broadcast the game on ESPN Deportes, and Bill Rosinski, David Norrie and Joe Schad will call it on ESPN Radio. Rules expert Bill LeMonnier will also be available.
The spider cam feed will be available throughout the game on ESPN3 and the trophy presentation will air on ESPNEWS and ESPN3.
TAXSLAYER BOWL: GEORGIA VS. PENN STATE
EVERBANK FIELD, JACKSONVILLE
(SATURDAY, NOON ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Allen Bestwick
Color commentator: Dan Hawkins
Sideline reporter: Tiffany Greene
AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL: ARKANSAS VS. KANSAS STATE
LIBERTY BOWL MEMORIAL STADIUM, MEMPHIS
(SATURDAY, 3:20 P.M. ET ON ESPN)
Play-by-play: Anish Shroff
Color commentator: Ahmad Brooks
Sideline reporter: Dawn Davenport
ESPN’s coverage plans for all New Year’s Six bowls can be found here.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
