Volunteer TV is reporting that Tennessee has been bypassed in favor of Auburn for the Outback Bowl.
Auburn over Kentucky? Even though both were 7-5 and Kentucky beat Auburn 21-14 in Auburn?
The story also says that Tennessee could be in line for either the Chick-fil-A or the Music City Bowl. Those are two bowls that Kentucky is being considered for, as well.
Meanwhile, David Brandt of the Clarion-Ledger is reporting that Ole Miss is all but selected for the Cotton Bowl.
John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky and graduate of UK, he covered UK football for 13 seasons before being promoted to columnist in 2000. Born in Paris, he graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester in 1977. He lives in Lexington with his wife and two sons. You can e-mail him at johnclay.bloginky.com.
Welp, you touched on the problem these officials face, but you stopped short of the real situation. Even though AU lost to KY, why would they take KY over UT since UT beat KY. Then again, why would they take UT over AU since AU beat UT…see the problem. No matter which 7-5 team they pick, there’s another one getting the shaft. So I guess it comes down to geography. Auburn is much close to Tampa than either KY or UT…AND AU probably has more fan in the state of FL than either of the other schools too.
Don’t know if it’ll happen, but here’s hoping.
War Eagle!!!
You make an excellent point about geography, and in this economic climate that may play a key role. Georgia to Chick-Fil-A, in the state of Georgia. Tennessee to Music City, in the state of Tennessee.
Here’s hoping geography wins out even further and puts Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl and Ole Miss in the Liberty Bowl. Not likely.
AU should not go to the Outback over UT, UK, or even UGA. UGA or UT should be in the Outback bowl.UGA beat them head to head and just beat the #7 team in the nation. Who has AU beaten. This makes it hard on fans when they dont stick to the order they are to pick teams. Ole Miss should not even be in the Cotton bowl. When was the last time a team from the east played in the Cotton bowl?