TAMPA, Fla. — Monday's Outback Bowl between Tennessee and Penn State will pit the Big Ten against the SEC. So will the Capital One Bowl that same day with Arkansas and Wisconsin. The national championship game features the two conferences as well with Florida and Ohio State.

The SEC has fared better than the Big Ten in this season's bowl games.

Kentucky and South Carolina of the SEC won Friday and Georgia knocked off Virginia Tech on Saturday. Alabama was the SEC's lone loss on Thursday.

The Big Ten — Minnesota, Purdue and Iowa — was 0-for-3 after Saturday.

No matter what happens between the two conferences, Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe will be pulling for the SEC.

Just not too hard.

"I watched the (Thursday's) game, a little bit of it, hoping Alabama started things off right for the SEC," Cutcliffe said. "It's a little hard when you're recruiting against those guys or they're your bitter rivals. I can't say that I jump up and down and cheer for them, but there's a little conference pride involved."

Receiver Jayson Swain is well aware of the pride factor for the SEC as well.

"When you watch ESPN, you see the little thing at the bottom flashing records for different conferences in bowl games," he said. "It's about that too. It's about representing the SEC against the Big Ten. We got a lot at stake."

So does the SEC, which is why Cutcliffe will be cheering, albeit it slightly.

When asked if he felt like SEC teams were on the same team a little bit during bowl season, Cutcliffe agreed.

"When you say a little bit, that probably defines it," he said. "I'm an SEC guy. I like to see the conference do well. I spent 25 years coaching in the league. I like to see the SEC teams play well in the bowl games."

Tailback Trio: UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Montario Hardesty will be the first tailback to play for Tennessee, but LaMarcus Coker and Arian Foster will play.

"All three of our tailbacks, we consider them starters," Fulmer said. "All of them will play. It might depend on what play or situation we are in as to who gets the call, so to us it's not a big deal."

Fulmer will be looking for something out of each back.

"I'm really hopeful that Coker gets back into the groove he's been in," he said. "That Arian Foster comes to life. He was so important to us early in the season and played so well and then he's had his struggles in the last couple ballgames."

Cornered? Jonathan Wade and Antwan Stewart will play their last game Monday, leaving the Vols without both starting cornerbacks for next season.

Highly touted recruit Eric Berry will figure in the mix, but there's a possibility safety Jonathan Hefney could move to cornerback.

The All-SEC performer said he's not sure where he'll be next year — and doesn't really care as long as he's on the field.

"I really don't know right now," he said. "I want to play wherever on the field. I like to play corner, I like to play safety. I don't really care."

Slimming Down: Saturday's high temperatures in Tampa reached the low 80's, which was nearly 40 degrees warmer than State College, Pa.

Nittany Lions players have had some trouble adjusting to the heat.

"I've lost a couple pounds myself," Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli said. "It's a big difference from State College to down here. It's a little warmer and guys are losing a little bit of weight."

Defensive tackle Jay Alford also said he had lost a few pounds.

Great Quarterback: Penn State linebacker Dan Connor said UT quarterback Erik Ainge ranks among the best quarterbacks the Nittany Lions have faced this season.

"This is a great quarterback," he said. "We've faced a couple of them: (Heisman Trophy winner) Troy Smith, (Notre Dame's) Brady Quinn, (Michigan's) Chad Henne.

"This guy, he looks people off. That's one of the things that seems most impressive. He can look to one side of the field then come back and hit a slant on the other side of the field. Almost no-look passing."

Extra Points: UT held a walk-through Saturday at Raymond James Stadium. The Vols couldn't walk-through today because the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing the Seattle Seahawks. UT and Penn State players participated in "Beach Day" Saturday afternoon in Clearwater. Players also had the option to attend a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game at night.