(11-26-2013 02:09 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 02:04 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 01:49 PM)Tallgrass Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 01:24 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 12:51 PM)Tallgrass Wrote:  BOW PROJECTIONS: GET READY FOR A LOT OF POSTSEASON MACTION
By Stewart Mandel, Sports Illustrated/11/25/2013

"Two additional at-large spots opened up in my line-up this week after Tennessee lots its seventh game and San Jose lost its sixth, with a likely seventh coming this weekend against Fresno State. Of all the conferences, the MAC was a huge beneficiary.

First and foremost, Northern Illinois moved into the projected BCS lineup after leap frogging Fresno State, thus bumping all of the MAC's other teams up a rung.

Secondly, that league has been proactive about securing backup deals with bowls, several of which figure to be open."

Sports Illustrated Bowl Projections

I wonder how accurate SI has been in the past. They have Houston vs Vandy in the Liberty Bowl. That would be great for us if it pans out that way.

ECU, which many analysts have predicted for Liberty Bowl, would undoubtedly bring many more fans than Houston.

Ok, after rereading the AAC Board thread on the subject it appears its a contractual thing that has to do with how many SEC teams are bowl qualified. If the SEC has 9 bowl qualified teams the AAC vacates Birmingham and takes the Liberty instead. The Liberty wouldn't have the choice between ECU and Houston. I guess Mandell think the SEC will have 9 bowl qualifiers. This, of course, is the last year this will occur as the Liberty will become an SEC-B12 game in the future.

If memory serves me right from 2-3 years ago, with the Liberty, the SEC has the right to demand that switch. They don't have to do that switch if they don't want to. That's why I think if ECU was the rep from CUSA, I think they probably would allow them to remain there. But, if it's a Marshall, or even moreso if UTSA wins CUSA- and ineligible- than it's a no brainer.

Steve, heres the stuff from the AAC thread. The info is from the Commercial Appeal. Its behind a paywall, so it has been summarized.

Based on the Commercial appeal article I linked in Post #19, this looks like it is the pertinent information for this year.

- Liberty Bowl picks before the Compass Bowl in 2013.
- The American must be paired with an SEC opponent if at all available

As for who plays in the Liberty, that will depend on the number of bowl eligible SEC teams (assuming the Commercial Appeal article is correct). Basically, there are two possible scenarios:

1. If the SEC can fill only one spot (liberty OR Bham), then the American will play the SEC in the Liberty Bowl. This would be the case if the SEC finishes with 9 eligible teams and places two teams in the BCS.

2. If the SEC can fill both spots (Liberty and Bham), then the C-USA will play the SEC in the Liberty and the American will play the SEC in Bham. This would be the case if the SEC finishes with 10 eligible teams and places two teams in the BCS.

The SEC currently has 9 bowl eligible teams (Mizzou, South Carolina, UGA, Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt). UK, Arkansas, Florida, and Tennessee have been eliminated from bowl contention as they have already lost too many games. The only remaining SEC team that can become bowl eligible is Miss St (5-6) who takes on Ole Miss on Nov 28th.