SEC East outlook: Can the division redeem itself with a strong bowl season?

Is this year’s SEC East the worst since the conference was split into divisions?

A few weeks ago, it seemed like it. But on the whole, things in the division are looking up since then.

Still, it hasn’t been a banner year for the SEC East. Thankfully, the bowl season offers a chance for a measure of redemption — not to mention some momentum for next season — for Tennessee, Florida and Georgia.

Let’s have a look at the match-ups:

Outback Bowl — Tennessee vs. Northwestern (Jan. 1, noon, ESPN2): Tennessee is riding a five-game winning streak coming into this contest, and are an 8-point favorite against the Wildcats. The Volunteers have the chance to end the season with six consecutive wins, knock off a Big Ten foe in a New Year’s Day bowl game and make a case to be the SEC East favorite in 2016. There’s plenty left to play for if you’re Tennessee.

Citrus Bowl — Michigan vs. Florida (Jan. 1, 1 p.m., ABC): Another Big Ten school provides the opposition for a SEC East squad as Michigan faces Florida in Orlando. The Wolverines are a four-point favorite over Florida, and the Gators will be hoping that a few weeks of preparation can jump start their struggling offense. Even with its late-season issues, Florida exceeded expectations in coach Jim McElwain’s first season. A loss against a solid Michigan squad wouldn’t hurt the Gators all that much, but a win would be a nice way to end what’s already been a successful campaign.

Taxslayer Bowl — Penn State vs. Georgia (Jan. 2, noon, ESPN): The Nittany Lions and Bulldogs complete an unofficial SEC East/Big Ten challenge in Jacksonville. Georgia is a 6.5-point favorite, and will be playing with WR coach Bryan McClendon running the show before the Kirby Smart era gets underway in Athens. The coaching transition probably takes the pressure off for the Bulldogs, but the players and coaches would like to win to make it a 10-win season.

A clean sweep for the SEC East would go a long way toward rehabilitating the league’s national reputation. Some pundits, including SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, are touting the Big Ten as superior to the SEC this season — an assertion that could be turned on its head should the SEC’s “weakest” division notch three bowl wins against the “mighty” Big Ten.

Randy Capps

Randy Capps is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, South Carolina and Georgia.