Alabama football: Best guess where and vs. who Tide will go ‘bowling’

Alabama football is ‘going bowling’ does not have the ring it did in the pre-CFB Playoff era. Check out a best guess of where the Crimson Tide goes and who it plays.

Alabama football fans will learn the Crimson Tide’s bowl destination Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM CST. Here’s hoping the designated bowl will feature an opponent, players and fans can look forward to.

Some Alabama football fans are hoping the Sugar Bowl will use some voodoo magic and choose the Crimson Tide. With the Georgia Bulldogs falling flat in the SEC Championship Game, the Sugar Bowl committee may not have much enthusiasm for Kirby’s team. Given the protocols that drive team selection, Georgia will probably still get the Sugar Bowl. The Orange Bowl will want the Florida Gators.

What is left for the Crimson Tide will be the Cotton, Citrus and Outback. Memphis and a Big 10 team will likely get the Cotton. Since the CFB Playoff Committee has been enamored with Penn State, look for the Nittany Lions to rank high enough to be placed in Dallas.

Wisconsin is Rose Bowl bound. The Citrus picks before the Outback. By process of elimination, that means the Alabama Crimson Tide will be heading to Orlando. The Citrus can match an ACC or Big 10 team. The Citrus Bowl committee will ignore the ACC and go with either Minnesota or Michigan.

Minnesota has had a dream season. The Golden Gophers got to 9-0 before losing. That is the longest in-season, unbeaten streak for Minnesota since 1904. P.J. Fleck’s team was picked to finish sixth in the Big 10 West. The preseason picked looked accurate during the Gophers’ first three games. Minnesota squeaked by South Dakota State, Fresno State and Georgia Southern.

Knocking off Penn State was the big win for Minnesota. After the victory over the Nittany Lions, Minnesota lost two of its last three games. A quick review of recent stories by Minnesota beat writers shows fans of the Golden Gophers have few illusions of competing with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The other option for the Citrus is Michigan. Saban vs. Harbaugh would create some sizzle. Unsurprisingly, the Wolverines underperformed again under Harbaugh. For a change, the Wolverines are probably better than their record. Harbaugh’s 9-3 team has a generally comparable defense to the Crimson Tide. Michigan fans will crow the Wolverines are far better defensively. Alabama football is superior offensively, even with Mac Jones at quarterback.

Alabama football fans could enjoy a trip to the Citrus to play Michigan. The same trip, to play Minnesota, will not generate as much enthusiasm.

The Citrus is a New Year’s Day game. So are the CFB Playoff semi-finals.