THE BOWL PICTURE

Assuming Alabama beats Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Saturday, here’s a look at the probable bowl lineup. An Alabama loss would change things and probably put Miami and Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl.

*Bowl Game: Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Dec. 18, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Opponents: Nevada (7-4) vs. Bowling Green ((9-2) Comments: History lesson: This used to be the California Bowl and they used to be Nevada Reno.

*Bowl Game: Aloha, Honolulu, Dec. 25, 12:30 p.m. (ABC) Opponents: Kansas (7-4) vs. Brigham Young (8-4) Comments: Kansas was facing that most difficult choice for December travel: Miami or Honolulu.

*Bowl Game: Copper, Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 29, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Opponents: Washington State (8-3) vs. Utah (6-5) Comments: Why were Washington State and Drew Bledsoe almost left hanging with an 8-3 record?

*Bowl Game: Freedom, Anaheim, Dec. 29, 6 p.m. (Raycom) Opponents: USC (6-4-1) vs. Fresno State (8-4) Comments: Fresno State fans are thrilled to be here; Trojan fans slightly more reserved.

*Bowl Game: Holiday, San Diego, Dec. 30, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Opponents: Hawaii (8-2) vs. Illinois (6-4-1) Comments: Can Rainbows and Illini live up to history of this game and produce a 50-49 thriller?

*Bowl Game: Independence, Shreveport, La., Dec. 31, 9:30 a.m. (ESPN) Opponents: Wake Forest (7-4) vs. Oregon (6-5) Comments: This is what a victory over Oregon State is worth these days, a Weed Eater invitation.

*Bowl Game: John Hancock, El Paso, Dec. 31, 11:30 a.m. (CBS) Opponents: Arizona (6-4-1) vs. Baylor (6-5) Comments: Oooh, that wide-open Arizona offense runs wild against some second-rate SWC team.

*Bowl Game: Gator, Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 31, 3 p.m. (TBS) Opponents: North Carolina State (9-2-1) vs. Georgia (9-2) Comments: The Heisman Bowl? Will voters make a garrison stand for Georgia’s Hearst?

*Bowl Game: Liberty, Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 31, 5 p.m. (ESPN) Opponents: Air Force (7-4) vs. Mississippi (8-3) Comments: They might as well rename this the Air Force Bowl: It’s the Falcons’ fourth in a row.

*Bowl Game: Hall of Fame, Tampa, Fla., Jan. 1, 8 a.m. (ESPN) Opponents: Boston College (8-2-1) vs. Tennessee (8-3) Comments: Johnny Majors gets a chance to end his career at Tennessee with bowl victory.

*Bowl Game: Cotton, Dallas, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. (NBC) Opponents: Texas A&M; (12-0) vs. Fla. St. (10-1 or Notre Dame (9-1-1) Comments: The Aggies would prefer to play Florida State because of its higher ranking.

*Bowl Game: Citrus, Orlando, Fla., Jan 1., 10 a.m. (ABC) Opponents: Ohio State (8-2-1) vs. Florida (8-3) Comments: Ohio State Coach John Cooper gets latest in a series of chances to save his job.

*Bowl Game: Blockbuster, Ft. Lauderdale, Jan. 1, 10:30 a.m. (CBS) Opponents: Penn State (7-4) vs. Stanford (9-3) Comments: Penn State earned this invitation, when, April? Paterno looking ahead to Pasadena.

*Bowl Game: Fiesta, Tempe, Ariz., Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m. (NBC) Opponents: Colorado (9-1-1) or Stanford (9-3) vs. Syracuse ((9-2) Comments: Syracuse is team worth watching; switch from Rose Bowl from time to time.

*Bowl Game: Rose, Pasadena, Jan. 1, 1:45 p.m. (ABC) Opponents: Michigan (8-0-3 vs. Washington (9-2) Comments: Again, a game in Pasadena without national championship implications.

*Bowl Game: Orange, Miami, Jan. 1, 5 p.m. Opponents: Nebraska (8-2) vs. Fla St. (10-1) or Notre Dame (9-1-1) Comments: Rumor has it the Seminoles will reject Cotton Bowl for the Sugar.

*Bowl Game: Sugar, New Orleans, Jan. 1, 5:30 p.m. (ABC) Opponents: Alabama (11-0) vs. Miami (11-0) Comments: Assuming Alabama beats Florida, undisputed national title is at stake.

*Bowl Game: Peach, Atlanta, Jan. 2, 5 p.m. (ESN) Opponents: North Carolina 98-3) vs. Mississippi State (7-4) Comments: On Jan. 2, you have to like Mississippi State, a team quarterbacked by Greg Plump.