By LARRY VAUGHT

Chick-fil-A Bowl scout John Stephenson watched Kentucky’s win at Vanderbilt last week (and the Chick-fil-A Bowl will be back to watch UK play at Georgia Saturday).

Several of you submitted questions for him and here is how he answered those and others:

Question: Do matchups enter into the discussion for bowl pairings?
Scout: “Yes. We look at both sides and matchups, particularly if teams have played during the season or in a recent bowl. We like to gauge what will be the best team and draw the biggest audience on TV.”

Question: Do injuries factor into selections?
Scout: “It all factors in. If there is a buzz around the team and what the fan base is feeling or if they are a little off because they had a recent injury or excited because someone coming back that the fan base wants to see play. We consider who is hot at the time and injuries can be a factor.”

Question: Does the Chick-fil-A Bowl even consider how fans travel with a team since your game annually is sold out?
Scout: “We sell out the game before we announce the teams, but we want people in the seats. We are prime time on ESPN and we want it to be a good show. We want it to be loud. We want it to be a good visual on TV with colors clashing across the Georgia Dome. We have had great games because ACC and SEC fans travel to support teams. We do think how well a team travels to make sure we have fans in the seats making noise.”

Question: Is it ever frustrating to be scouting a game and realize the teams you are watching will never make your bowl?
Scout: “That is a good question. I am here and Vanderbilt is not going to be bowl eligible, so right away you know one team won’t be coming. The games I have been to and feel a letdown you can usually tell before the game that the fan base is not energized. But SEC fans stick with their teams and so do ACC fans.”

Question: Do bowl scouts lobby for certain teams when the selection committee is making the choice?
Scout: “There is not a lot lobbying across the room. Usually we have played out the scenarios so many times because we meet every Monday starting in October. Things develop to where you get to crunch time that it is pretty clear who the right picks will be. It usually is a consensus.”

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