If you have status and trying to go for an upgrade, take a seat assignment so you can check in at the 24 hour point. Without a seat assignment you cant use the OLCI.

Are you an Admiral's Club member? If so, call your local AC club within 24 hours of your flight and they can give you a seat that is under "airport control". I did this for a flight I had today. I couldn't get anything but a middle seat and my seat showed "unassigned", so I called the EXP line. The agent there couldn't get me a seat, but when I called the AC, they could! I got seat 8A. I ended up getting upgraded anyway.

If you don't have status or are not an AC member, get to the airport early and try to get one of the seats that are under airport control, which would be rows 7 and 8 on the MD80.

Good luck!