Week 10 could change circumstances for some SEC football teams. Vanderbilt at Texas, Georgia vs. Florida, Oklahoma at Tennessee, and possibly South Carolina at Ole Miss could change current CFB Playoff predictions.
Currently, ESPN's Heather Dinich and others project five SEC football teams in the Playoff field. The five are the Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Vanderbilt. Until one of the five teams falters, there are no SEC Playoff bubble teams.
Strong finishes by Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee could push them into the Playoff picture. Based on current ESPN Analytics, Missouri could be added to a potential Playoff team list, but losing quarterback Beau Pribula to injury makes the Tigers a long shot.
SEC Football Teams and Playoff Contention Carnage
Among the SEC's potential Playoff bubble teams, the Tennessee Vols have the easiest path. ESPN gives the Vols a 63.3% probability of beating Oklahoma in Knoxville, along with a 64.2% probability of beating Florida, and a 61.1% probability of beating Vanderbilt.
According to current ESPN Analytics, the Oklahoma Sooners, Vanderbilt, Texas, and Missouri will finish the regular season with multiple losses. Oklahoma's probability of beating Tennessee is 36.7%. Even lower, the Sooners' probability of upsetting the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa is only 25.7%.
The projection of Vandy's chances to beat the Longhorns in Austin is 29.5%. Not significantly better for the Commodores is a 38.9% probability of beating the Vols in Knoxville.
Next to Tennessee, the Texas Longhorns have the best probability of a strong finish, propelling them into the Playoffs. The Longhorns still have a difficult challenge, even if the ESPN projection is correct about a Texas win over Vanderbilt on Saturday. In road games that follow, Texas is given a 40.3% probability of beating the Georgia Bulldogs and a 42.2% probability of beating Texas A&M in College Station. Arch Manning has not been announced as 'Out' for the Vandy game due to a concussion. If he does not play, Vandy should have a better chance to pull off an upset.