If the report in the News Sentinel is true, the Outback Bowl could be passing on Tennessee, instead selecting Auburn from the Southeastern Conference Western Division.

Should that happen, it would make an already muddled SEC East bowl picture even messier. If the report comes true, which says the Chick-fil-A Bowl would then select Tennessee, it sends off a chain reaction that could move the Cats down the bowl pecking order.

The Outback Bowl traditionally selects an SEC East team, meaning all those teams that were hoping to play in Tampa would then get knocked down a bowl.

Let’s say it indeed comes true and Auburn lands in the Outback and Tennessee winds up the Chick-fil-A. That would leave Kentucky, Georgia and South Carolina all vying for the Music City Bowl.

How do you decide who gets to go of the three? Kentucky beat Georgia, Georgia defeated South Carolina and South Carolina toppled Kentucky. It’s a mess. Whoever gets left out will have a legitimate gripe.

It will likely come down to revenue and fan interest, but even then it’s a crapshoot because all three teams’ fan bases travel well. Kentucky has the argument that it has a proven track record in Nashville, but do the bowl representatives really want to choose a team that has been there two out of the last three years?

We’ll have to wait and see. It’s still all strictly speculation at this point, but I figured I would keep everyone up to date on what’s being said in the bowl circles.

Update: The Kentucky Kernel just spoke with Scott Ramsey, president for the Music City Bowl, who said Kentucky “is very high” on their list.

Because of UK’s recent history and fan support in Nashville, Ramsey said they wouldn’t think twice about selecting Kentucky if they feel it’s in their best interest.

“We’ve had great success with Kentucky in our game,” Ramsey said, according to the Kernel report. “We wouldn’t hesitate a minute to make it three in four years.”

I can’t remember a more interesting bowl year. Stay tuned.