Tennessee was on the cusp of a season-defining win at Alabama last Saturday but a second half collapse resulted in a 34-20 loss in Tuscaloosa.

The No. 21 Vols (5-2, 2-2 SEC) will have to wait another week for a shot at bowl eligibility against Kentucky (5-2, 2-2) at Kroger Field in Lexington on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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Tennessee remains safely in the postseason picture with five games remaining on its schedule but the question of where the Vols will go bowling varies. The destinations range from Orlando, Florida to down the road in Nashville, among other locations.

Here is a look at where Tennessee is slated in the latest bowl projections after week 8 of the college football season.

Date: Jan. 1, 2024

Location: Raymond James Stadium | Tampa, Florida

Affiliations: Big Ten/ACC vs. SEC

Projector: CBS Sports

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A Florida bowl game seems to be the most popular pick for Tennessee, at least for now. Jerry Palm of CBS Sports has the Vols playing in Tampa in the ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly the Outback Bowl) at Raymond James Stadium against North Carolina from the ACC. The Tar Heels are currently ranked No. 17 in the AP poll. The Vols last played in Tampa in 2016 against Northwestern. Tennessee won, 45-6.

Date: Dec. 29

Location: TIAA Bank Field | Jacksonville, Florida

Affiliations: Big Ten/ACC vs. SEC

Projector: Action Sports Network, Sporting News

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Tennessee is trending to the Gator Bowl by a number of media outlets this week. A date in Jacksonville would likely mean that the Vols lost two of its next five games, which also includes ranked Missouri and Georgia teams. Sporting News has Tennessee playing Minnesota out of the Big Ten while Action Sports Network features an ACC/SEC match up with the Vols facing Duke. Tennessee has played in Jacksonville twice in the last nine seasons, including in 2019 vs. Indiana.

Date: Dec. 30

Location: Nissan Stadium | Nashville

Affiliations: Big Ten vs. SEC

Projectior: USA TODAY Sports, ESPN

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Vols shift focus to road bout at Kentucky

It's hard to imagine that Tennessee would play in the same stadium where it held its opener against Virginia on Sept. 9 and in a bowl game that the Vols just played in two years ago. Still, Tennessee keeps landing in Nashville in recent projections. Both USA TODAY Sports and ESPN predicts the Vols playing Maryland, but it would mean Tennessee falters down the stretch and ends up with five losses.

Date: Jan. 1, 2024

Location: Camping World Stadium | Orlando, Florida

Affiliations: Big Ten vs. SEC

Projector: Athlon Sports

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Most early-season projections had Tennessee playing in Orlando on New Year's Day and Athlon Sports is still counting on it, with the Vols playing Wisconsin. It would be the best non-New Year's Six bowl game for Tennessee to end up in, but it might need some outside help to get there. It can help itself by getting to nine wins, which would require the Vols to finish the next five games with a 4-1 mark. Tennessee's last Citrus Bowl appearance came in 2002 against Michigan.

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