By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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Thanks to reform in the bowl selection policy, the SEC postseason slate is the most attractive that it has ever been. That appeal includes a large number of exciting 1-on-1 matchups between some of the nations best players.

A record 12 SEC teams qualified for bowl games in 2014, with only Kentucky and Vanderbilt staying home for the holidays. The SEC bowl season kicks off Saturday in Shreveport, Louisiana, when South Carolina meets Miami (FL) in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl.

The 11 other SEC bowl qualifiers will play over the ensuing week, highlighted by No. 1 Alabama taking on No. 4 Ohio State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, the second of two national semifinals.

Thanks to reform in the bowl selection policy, the SEC postseason slate is the most attractive that it has ever been. That appeal includes a large number of exciting 1-on-1 matchups between some of the nations best players.

Lets look at five 1-on-1 matchups that will go a long way in telling the story of SEC bowl season.

Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama OT Cameron Robinson vs. Ohio State DE Joey Bosa

Both underclassmen have lived up to the hype with which they arrived in college. Robinson, a true freshman, stepped in right away as Blake Sims blindside protector and has already become one of the SECs best tackles.

Bosa, a sophomore, finished fourth in the country this season with 13.5 sacks. Hell line up at three-technique tackle at times, but does most of his damage coming off of the edge. No play this season displayed his brute strength more so than his game-ending sack in overtime to preserve a victory against Penn State

The best news about watching these two do battle? Both will return to college in 2015 and will only get better.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: TCU WR Josh Doctson vs. Ole Miss CB Senquez Golson

His numbers arent at the level of Amari Cooper and Kevin White, but Doctson emerged as one of the most dangerous receivers in the nation this year in TCUs revamped offense. An ankle injury limited him at midseason, but the junior still finished with 959 yards and nine touchdowns as the Horned Frogs finished as Big 12 co-champions.

If theres one position where the Big 12 wasnt up to par this season, it was defensive back. After feasting on some shaky secondaries during the season, Doctson now must face an All-American in Golson, who finished second in the country with nine interceptions.

The fast track of the climate-controlled Georgia Dome should bode well for the Horned Frogs offense, but the Rebels defense shut down similar spread attacks this season in Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina WR Justin Hardy vs. Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III

The Birmingham Bowl will likely fly under the radar, but it does feature two of the best players in the nation at their respective positions in Hardy and Hargreaves III. Hardy broke the NCAA record for career receptions in the Pirates regular-season finale, while Hargreaves was an All-SEC selection.

Despite being an obvious target of opposing defenses, Hardy still managed to lead the nation in receptions per game with 9.2. The rapport between Hardy and third-year starting quarterback Shane Carden is as good as any in college football.

Hargreaves III had just two interceptions in his sophomore season, but did lead the SEC with 13 pass breakups. Hardys 1,334 yards were sixth-most in all of college football.

Advocare V100 Texas Bowl: Arkansas OG Sebastian Tretola vs. Texas DT Malcom Brown

Tretola is best known for his now-famous touchdown pass on a trick play against UAB (yes, he gave the Heisman pose), but the junior is also a key piece of a Razorbacks offensive line that was playing as well as anyone in the country at seasons end.

Brown, a consensus first-team All-American, anchors a Longhorns defense that was downright nasty at times. A junior, next Mondays Texas Bowl will likely be Browns final game for Texas before heading to the NFL.

Playing in the same division as Alabamas AShawn Robinson, Ole Miss Robert Nkemdiche, and Mississippi States Chris Jones, Tretola and Arkansas are no stranger to facing elite defensive tackles. But it will take more than just experience for them to curtail Brown.

Capital One Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech RB Zach Laskey vs. Mississippi State LB Benardrick McKinney

Georgia Tech has the No. 3 rushing offense in the nation, but the Bulldogs front seven may be the best that the Yellow Jackets have faced all season. That starts with McKinney, the heart and soul of a defense that brings a bad taste in its mouth into the Orange Bowl after a poor performance against Ole Miss.

Defensive coordinator Geoff Collins left for Florida earlier this month, so McKinney will have to take on an even greater role in this game in terms of on-field coaching. Facing a triple-option offense only increases the importance of ensuring everyone is on the same page.

McKinney led Mississippi State with 61 tackles, helping the Bulldogs overcome a suspect pass defense en route to their first 10-win season since 1999. Laskey trailed only quarterback Justin Thomas in rushing yards with 788, but did lead the team with nine touchdowns.