[More Cowbell]

After a disappointing loss to Georgia, I think we can put to rest any flickering hopes of contending for the East division title. Now, the Cats have to focus on just getting bowl-eligible first, then improving their bowl spot. Let's see what's at stake...

UK currently sits at 4-4, with games left at Mississippi State, home for both Charleston Southern and Vanderbilt, then at Tennessee. As Charleston is as close to a gimme win as possible, it appears that UK could finish anywhere from as good as 8-4 or as bad as 5-7.

Right now, at least 9 SEC teams go to a bowl, with the order of selection as follows:
1) BCS bowl
2) Capital One
3) Cotton
4) Outback
5) Gator
6) Chick-Fil-A
7) Music City
8) Liberty
9) Birmingham
Plus, if the SEC gets a second team into a BCS bowl, (which is usually the case), then each team moves up a spot and a tenth team goes bowling. So...

If UK finishes 8-4, the sky is really the limit. Considering the middle of the league is the weakest it's been in years, an 8-4 record may end up as the fourth-best overall record behind Auburn, Alabama, and LSU, giving UK a good shot at the Outback. If more attractive teams like Arkansas, South Carolina, and Florida finish with a better or even the same record, UK will get pushed down, but I don't see them dropping past #7 in the pecking order. So if UK wins out, look for the Cats to end up in the Outback, Gator, or Chick-Fil-A bowls.

If UK finishes 7-5, we may be headed back to Nashville once again. Depending on other teams' records, we could be as high as #7 or as low as #9 in the bowl order. Best case scenario here would get the Cats to the Chick-Fil-A, more likely would be either the Music City or Liberty bowls.

If UK finishes 6-6, even going bowling at all is not guaranteed. If by some chance the SEC does not land a second team in the BCS, a tenth bowl-eligible team could be left out in the cold. While the chances of this are slim, it is still a possibilty. Again, depending on how other teams do, we could be as high as #8 or as low as #10. Kentucky ends up in the Music City, Liberty, or Birmingham bowls, or possibly none at all.

Of course, 5-7 means it's time for basketball season. :biggrin: