AU NOTEBOOK: SEC bowl picture far from clear

Auburn didn’t play a game Saturday, but, somehow, its bowl future got even cloudier.

Kentucky’s improbable victory over Georgia proved that nothing is a given in these final few weeks of the season and set up a scenario where nearly every SEC-affiliated bowl would be back as possibilities for Auburn.

If Georgia upsets No. 7 Georgia Tech, South Carolina upends Clemson on Saturday and the rest of the favorites hold strong, six SEC teams, including Auburn, will finish the season with seven wins.

With Alabama and Florida destined for BCS games, and Ole Miss and LSU, which is favored in its home game Saturday against Arkansas, set to make trips to the Capital One Bowl and Cotton Bowl, respectively, that scenario would create a popularity contest of sorts for the remaining six bowl-eligible teams with the remaining six bowl spots.

From there, the Outback Bowl (Jan. 1) in Tampa, Fla., would choose first, followed by the Chik-fil-A Bowl (Atlanta, Dec. 31). The two Tennessee-based bowls (Music City, Dec. 27, Nashville) and (Liberty, Jan. 2, Memphis) then choose at the same time. If both bowls select the same team, the team gets its choice. The Independence Bowl (Shreveport, La., Dec. 28) goes next and the PapaJohns.com Bowl (Birmingham, Jan. 2) wraps it up.

The bowl situation might actually gain clarity with a few upsets.

If Georgia and South Carolina lose, they would each finish with six wins, which would lock them into the bowls that choose last. Tennessee, which is favored in its trip to Kentucky, would also be locked near the bottom if it’s unable to come away with its seventh win of the season.

Bowl game committees are not allowed to choose a six-win team over a team with more wins. That rule does not apply, however, when picking between teams with seven and eight wins, eight wins and nine wins, etc.

If Kentucky wins Saturday, it would separate itself from the pack with eight wins and would all but lock up a spot in the Outback Bowl.

The LSU-Arkansas game could potentially be considered a play-in game for the Cotton Bowl, as a win for Arkansas would give the two teams identical 8-4 marks.

An LSU loss would likely land it in the Chik-fil-A Bowl for the second consecutive season.

From there, it’ll be all about what team a bowl committee believes will fill more seats and bring more fans into the host city.

The daily Eltoro update
Gene Chizik remained sympathetic toward reporters, but still offered no help when discussing the status of linebacker Eltoro Freeman after Monday’s 90-minute, full-pads practice.

“It’s day-by-day,” Chizik said. “He’s mainly taking mental reps out there. That’s where we’re at. I’m sure that will come right down to game time.”

Freeman is nursing both a sore right ankle and suffered a concussion against Georgia.

Savage thinking about it
Cornerback Aairon Savage initially thought about quitting football altogether, but has recently had a change of heart, cornerbacks coach Phillip Lolley said.

Savage would likely qualify for a sixth year of eligibility if he applied to the NCAA for a medical hardship waiver. Savage tore his ACL during the preseason in 2008 and tore his Achilles before camp broke in August.

“He’s itching to play again and the whole thing is he’s out there every practice watching,” Lolley said. “He’s a great kid and a great leader. We’ll just see where it goes.”

Lolley said he would sit down with Savage and Chizik after the season to discuss his future. Players are not able to apply for medical hardships until the previous season is completed.

Onterio ready to go
Running backs coach Curtis Luper said freshman Onterio McCalebb rolled his nagging right ankle early against Georgia, but should be in good shape Friday.

“We need that speed,” Luper said. “He’s a big-time change of pace guy for us. He can make some things that are wrong, right.”

| 737-2561