CFN is usually one fo the least reliable projections, but here goes. Note that they do not have a MAC team in Poinsetta....I thought we have a back-up agreement there:

http://cfn.scout.com/2/557866.html

We do and since Army is out there will be a MAC team in the Poinsetta bowl..

That's what is so unreliable about some the these bowl projections. Their prognosticators don't even know about the secondary tie-ins!

Hmmm...I guess I can see either Buffalo or BG getting into a bowl, but isn't one of them gonna lose to the other? And Toledo beat them both, but isn't projected into the "4th MAC spot" by CFN? That seems a bit odd...

(11-18-2013 04:29 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  Hmmm...I guess I can see either Buffalo or BG getting into a bowl, but isn't one of them gonna lose to the other? And Toledo beat them both, but isn't projected into the "4th MAC spot" by CFN? That seems a bit odd...

MAC Winner is #1
MAC DIV Winner (not Champ) is #2
Then you get into #3

So for this year I suspect

NIU
Buffalo / Bowling Green Winner
Ball State
Toledo
Buffalo / Bowling Green Winner
Ohio
CMU

But all of this is sort of "who cares" *IF* NIU makes a BCS Bowl (looks like Fresno will have to lose a game for that to happen) this all gets messy.

But even without that it's all horse trading.

UB went to Toronto in 2008 even through they were MAC#1 because Toronto was the best for all. Buffalo brought 30K+ fans and the i-Bowl had it's best attendance/tv viewership.

To expect the Little Ceasers bowl to want Toledo (or CMU) unless there is a really good opponent that's who they will get.

I think unless the pinstripe falls into the MAC's lap (IF ND picks a different Bowl) UB ends up in either Boise or San Diego.

A lot of these bowl projections are useless because teams will become eligible the last week of the season and bump other teams out. CMU wasn't projected for a bowl last year until like the day before they came out. A lot of factors come into play. Toledo could beat NIU then mess everything up for the MAC projections.

I don't think anyone PROJECTED Central Michigan to be in a bowl last year; not until it actually happened.

Once again, we thank La Tech's AD for not understanding how the bowl selections work.

(11-18-2013 04:44 PM)Okie Chippewa Wrote:  I don't think anyone PROJECTED Central Michigan to be in a bowl last year; not until it actually happened.

Once again, we thank La Tech's AD for not understanding how the bowl selections work.

And a couple of bowl bans..

I am one of those who thinks the MAC will be fortunate to get 4 bowls this time--would like to see more, but I don't know if the math will work for us...my point from my earlier post, albeit skewed by my status as a Rocket fan, was that I didn't see why, if CFN also would only project 4 MAC teams in bowls, they would pick 2 teams that both lost to Toledo and one of whom will be losing to the other, over Toledo? Just didn't make sense to this Rocket fan...I mean, Toledo may not get a bowl this year--but to lose out to Buffalo & BG would be very odd...

(11-18-2013 04:58 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  I am one of those who thinks the MAC will be fortunate to get 4 bowls this time--would like to see more, but I don't know if the math will work for us...my point from my earlier post, albeit skewed by my status as a Rocket fan, was that I didn't see why, if CFN also would only project 4 MAC teams in bowls, they would pick 2 teams that both lost to Toledo and one of whom will be losing to the other, over Toledo? Just didn't make sense to this Rocket fan...I mean, Toledo may not get a bowl this year--but to lose out to Buffalo & BG would be very odd...

Well, either BG or Buffalo has to go to a bowl by virtue of winning their division and going to the MACC. That being said, the loser will more than likely be home or at least behind Toledo for a bowl spot. I wouldn't worry.

(11-18-2013 05:00 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(11-18-2013 04:58 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  I am one of those who thinks the MAC will be fortunate to get 4 bowls this time--would like to see more, but I don't know if the math will work for us...my point from my earlier post, albeit skewed by my status as a Rocket fan, was that I didn't see why, if CFN also would only project 4 MAC teams in bowls, they would pick 2 teams that both lost to Toledo and one of whom will be losing to the other, over Toledo? Just didn't make sense to this Rocket fan...I mean, Toledo may not get a bowl this year--but to lose out to Buffalo & BG would be very odd...

Well, either BG or Buffalo has to go to a bowl by virtue of winning their division and going to the MACC.

EXACTLY. One of them...but, if Toledo finishes with, let's say 8 wins for the sake of argument, and let's say BG beats Buffalo (awfully big of me to suggest that, dontcha think)...BG goes to a bowl, but since UT has beaten both Buffalo & BG, why would Buffalo go over Toledo? Again, I am concerned enough that UT may not fit into the bowl picture as it is, but if there are 4 MAC teams bowling, and UT gets to 8 wins, I don't understand a "media source" having that "last spot" go to either Buffalo or BG over Toledo--just from a "doesn't make sense" stand, not just as a UT fan, I guess...oh well, in a few weeks we'll all know more.

(11-18-2013 05:05 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  EXACTLY. One of them...but, if Toledo finishes with, let's say 8 wins for the sake of argument, and let's say BG beats Buffalo (awfully big of me to suggest that, dontcha think)...BG goes to a bowl, but since UT has beaten both Buffalo & BG, why would Buffalo go over Toledo? Again, I am concerned enough that UT may not fit into the bowl picture as it is, but if there are 4 MAC teams bowling, and UT gets to 8 wins, I don't understand a "media source" having that "last spot" go to either Buffalo or BG over Toledo--just from a "doesn't make sense" stand, not just as a UT fan, I guess...oh well, in a few weeks we'll all know more.

I'm not trying to be rude here, but I don't think people realize bowl selections. There are unfair selections every year. Teams with better records and head to head often lose out. MTSU went 8-4 and beat WKU 7-5 and WKU got selected. It's typically about money.

Hence, why CMU was selected for the LCPB last year. I know other things happened, but it's about drawing fans unfortunately.

(11-18-2013 05:12 PM)george14 Wrote:  Hence, why CMU was selected for the LCPB last year. I know other things happened, but it's about drawing fans unfortunately.

If its the Pizza Pizza Bowl Bowl picking, that seems like it works to the advantage of Toledo rather than its disadvantage.

(11-18-2013 05:46 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(11-18-2013 05:12 PM)george14 Wrote:  Hence, why CMU was selected for the LCPB last year. I know other things happened, but it's about drawing fans unfortunately.

If its the Pizza Pizza Bowl Bowl picking, that seems like it works to the advantage of Toledo rather than its disadvantage.

I was just drawing an example man. Trying to get people to understand it can be political. Yes, Toledo would have an advantage if it's in Detroit. Once again, it would be incredibly unfair, but if it came down to UT vs. CMU maybe CMU gets picked. I'm a Chippewa and that would be a travesty for UT, but just a point.

CMU can't be selected ahead of UT per the bowl eligibility rules.

(11-18-2013 06:36 PM)Okie Chippewa Wrote:  CMU can't be selected ahead of UT per the bowl eligibility rules.

For the final time, I'm trying to draw an example. It was a poor one, sorry. You understand what I'm saying though. It can be political.

(11-18-2013 05:05 PM)bcunn3128 Wrote:  but if there are 4 MAC teams bowling, and UT gets to 8 wins, I don't understand a "media source" having that "last spot" go to either Buffalo or BG over Toledo--just from a "doesn't make sense" stand, not just as a UT fan, I guess...oh well, in a few weeks we'll all know more.

As if we all haven't figured it out by now, it's obvious that most of the media places that do bowl projections have no clue what secondary tie-ins exist (and who can blame them, since many change on a year-to-year basis) and certainly won't bother to look at schedules of specific MAC teams to see who beat who and who still has to play who.

Most of them have no knowledge of any sort of geographic attendance advantages that one school might have over another.

And for the few prognosticators out there that actually do have legit bowl contacts, most of those contacts are with the big name bowls, not bowls that the MAC is going to be involved with.

So their projections are simply an exercise to see if they can make it through the list without accidentally naming the same team twice. They have less of an idea about who's going to Idaho or Detroit than most folks here do.

"meow... we're still eligible!" (tucks bobbed tail between legs and cowers from falcons, bulls, and natives in the Appalachian forest)

I'd be surprised to see Buffalo picked for a bowl over UT, but you never know. Also, remember that CFN is a joke on bowl forecasts.

(11-18-2013 08:30 PM)exCincy Kid1 Wrote:  I'd be surprised to see Buffalo picked for a bowl over UT, but you never know. Also, remember that CFN is a joke on bowl forecasts.

Like I said if it's the pinstripe picking it's a no brainer... Buffalo will get it. Anyone else will take UT first *UNLESS* the Bulls win the east..