Tennessee football can look forward to a matchup with a Big Ten opponent in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, according to recent projections.
A victory over South Alabama in Week 12 ensured the Tennessee Volunteers will go bowling.
The next question: Where will they head this December?
Brett McMurphy’s latest bowl projections point to one particular destination.
Tennessee bowl game: Volunteers projected in Music City Bowl
McMurphy has the Volunteers in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl with a matchup against Minnesota.
If that projection turns out to be true, Tennessee will battle the Golden Gophers for just the second time in their history.
Way back in 1986, Tennessee and Minnesota met in the Liberty Bowl. The Volunteers came away with a 21-14 victory, giving them bragging rights to last decades.
The Liberty Bowl was played in Memphis, so Tennessee had the regional advantage then. They’d have a similar advantage this year with the Music City Bowl being played in Nashville.
The Volunteers last went to a bowl game in 2019 under Jeremy Pruitt. They have actually won their last four bowl appearances including a Music City Bowl appearance in 2016 under butch Jones.
It’s up to Josh Heupel to keep that postseason streak intact with his first bowl appearance as Tennessee’s head coach. Doing so would help propel the Volunteers into Year 2 with a bit of confidence.
Minnesota is undefeated in two bowl appearances with P.J. Fleck so the Gophers will certainly expect to spoil the party.
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