If you all see anything that does not look correct let me know - this breakdown took a while but should be complete on who is bowling, who is on the bubble and who is NOT bowling. It looks like Ohio and (potentially) Akron at 6-6 will get left out.

2014-2015 Bowl Game Breakdown

Do any of our potential opponents look worthwhile?

I know we have tie-ins with the Sun Belt, CUSA, and MWC.

(11-26-2014 12:27 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Do any of our potential opponents look worthwhile?

I know we have tie-ins with the Sun Belt, CUSA, and MWC.

1. Who is a worthwhile opponent?

2. How many of the bowl eligible MAC schools would those schools consider a worthwhile opponent?

Idaho is tough for fans with a good opponent and virtual away game

Bahamas could have Marshall but with passports and travel thats also tough for fans

Boca will have a worthy opponent and is good for florida living alums and vacationers

Godaddy should have a decent opponent but one the MACC would be favored in

Camelia seems like a poorer SBC opponent, but could be a winnable game for CMU or OU or whoever they take.

(11-26-2014 12:27 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Do any of our potential opponents look worthwhile?

I know we have tie-ins with the Sun Belt, CUSA, and MWC.

Here is the link to our Bowl Central homepage - the bowl projections are updated weekly, the CFB Playoff Standings are listed with a breakdown of the 7 teams in consideration for the Top 4 spots, bowl history is listed for each school, etc. Very complete but always looking to grow the content.

FWIW, the gossip is that MTSU is the front-runner for the Bahamas Bowl from CUSA.

(11-26-2014 12:27 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  Do any of our potential opponents look worthwhile?

Given our OOC performance this year, the MAC is in no position to look down on anyone else.

I think the point is "worthwhile" for fans to travel or the casual fan to tune in. Honestly i dont want to play texas state or south alabama... These teams havent even been FBS for many years. The teams arent horrible, but name recognition matters when a group of fans is considering spending 1000s of dollars for winter vaca. IMO the Camelia bowl has a bleek outlook for having at least a good name of an SBC school...( stAte, ULL, ULM) id much rather play La tech, MTSU, Marshall, SDSU, Utah State, Boise, Nevada than a Texas State or Georgia Southern (who is actually pretty good)

All true, but it should also be noted that those schools don't want to play MAC schools either. It's ugly at the bottom of the barrel when you have no teams having notable seasons nationally.

(11-27-2014 09:26 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  I think the point is "worthwhile" for fans to travel or the casual fan to tune in. Honestly i dont want to play texas state or south alabama... These teams havent even been FBS for many years. The teams arent horrible, but name recognition matters when a group of fans is considering spending 1000s of dollars for winter vaca. IMO the Camelia bowl has a bleek outlook for having at least a good name of an SBC school...( stAte, ULL, ULM) id much rather play La tech, MTSU, Marshall, SDSU, Utah State, Boise, Nevada than a Texas State or Georgia Southern (who is actually pretty good)

This is exactly what i mean. I have no interest in paying to see NIU play some Sun Belt school that just moved up to 1-A football. Most of their teams already have four or five losses already.

We need to make more tie-ins with MWC.

(11-27-2014 03:09 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  This is exactly what i mean. I have no interest in paying to see NIU play some Sun Belt school that just moved up to 1-A football. Most of their teams already have four or five losses already.

We need to make more tie-ins with MWC.

Same as the MAC!!! LOL!!

And I wonder if the MWC wants more tie-ins with the MAC?

Ok, I guess I don't. I think we know.

(11-27-2014 03:09 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(11-27-2014 09:26 AM)UofToledoFans Wrote:  I think the point is "worthwhile" for fans to travel or the casual fan to tune in. Honestly i dont want to play texas state or south alabama... These teams havent even been FBS for many years. The teams arent horrible, but name recognition matters when a group of fans is considering spending 1000s of dollars for winter vaca. IMO the Camelia bowl has a bleek outlook for having at least a good name of an SBC school...( stAte, ULL, ULM) id much rather play La tech, MTSU, Marshall, SDSU, Utah State, Boise, Nevada than a Texas State or Georgia Southern (who is actually pretty good)

This is exactly what i mean. I have no interest in paying to see NIU play some Sun Belt school that just moved up to 1-A football. Most of their teams already have four or five losses already.

We need to make more tie-ins with MWC.

That's not happening. Even if (big IF) the MWC was interested, the conference has signed its bowl agreements through the 2019 season. Link

Understand that MAC schools don't get excited about playing SBC but as someone pointed out, the feeling is mutual. I honestly don't get how the MAC has managed to get 5 bowl tie-ins. Must be because of population and TV sets. I don't think its based on performance and I know its not based on attendance. The last 3 Go Daddy bowls the stAte fans outnumbered NIU, Kent and Ball State by at least 5 to 1. Figure it will be the same this year in the Go Daddy and the Camellia if they select stAte and South Alabama. I know it's because of the location. Sun Belt schools wouldn't travel that well either out of our region.

I was going to say when FIU and WKU were in the Pizza Pizza Bowl they brought absolutely no one. So it just depends how far your school is, the matchup, and how interesting the match up is



quote='Rik Flair' pid='11448757' dateline='1417197086']
Understand that MAC schools don't get excited about playing SBC but as someone pointed out, the feeling is mutual. I honestly don't get how the MAC has managed to get 5 bowl tie-ins. Must be because of population and TV sets. I don't think its based on performance and I know its not based on attendance. The last 3 Go Daddy bowls the stAte fans outnumbered NIU, Kent and Ball State by at least 5 to 1. Figure it will be the same this year in the Go Daddy and the Camellia if they select stAte and South Alabama. I know it's because of the location. Sun Belt schools wouldn't travel that well either out of our region.
[/quote]

Absolutely. Detroit wasn't a good spot for either. FIU doesn't even attend their own games much less a bowl game. Glad they moved to CUSA.

Last three bowls in Mobile, MAC fans I met were great. They just didn't bring a lot of folks. I think the MAC and SBC are going to have to settle for bowls against G5 conferences. Lower tier P5 schools are afraid to play a game on a neutral field against a good SBC or MAC school. It would burst their arrogant bubble and heir of superiority.

If stAte makes a bowl, and they should with a win tomorrow, I will be happy no matter what MAC school we play. Really don't want Toledo since we are about to start a home and home. It will also be nice to have a coaching staff for once instead of an interim head coach like the last three years. Coach Anderson's buyout is 3 million so he isn't going anywhere this year.

(11-28-2014 12:58 PM)rocketinchitown Wrote:  I was going to say when FIU and WKU were in the Pizza Pizza Bowl they brought absolutely no one. So it just depends how far your school is, the matchup, and how interesting the match up is



quote='Rik Flair' pid='11448757' dateline='1417197086']
Understand that MAC schools don't get excited about playing SBC but as someone pointed out, the feeling is mutual. I honestly don't get how the MAC has managed to get 5 bowl tie-ins. Must be because of population and TV sets. I don't think its based on performance and I know its not based on attendance. The last 3 Go Daddy bowls the stAte fans outnumbered NIU, Kent and Ball State by at least 5 to 1. Figure it will be the same this year in the Go Daddy and the Camellia if they select stAte and South Alabama. I know it's because of the location. Sun Belt schools wouldn't travel that well either out of our region.

[/quote]

NMR: as Marshall is trying to get in one of the diluted top bowls, they are losing to WKU 42-28 and it's only half way through the 2nd pd. Holy cow.

I have no problem with playing a SBC team, if its a strong one. But there are no strong teams in the SBC this season. So an NIU or MAC win over one of them just won't mean much.

But yes, the MAC needs as many postseason wins as it can get. I just like the competition to be tougher.

(11-28-2014 02:33 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I have no problem with playing a SBC team, if its a strong one. But there are no strong teams in the SBC this season. So an NIU or MAC win over one of them just won't mean much.

But yes, the MAC needs as many postseason wins as it can get. I just like the competition to be tougher.

Sun Belt is a little down this year but so is the MAC. Have any MAC schools had an significant OOC wins? stAte is rebuilding but we did beat a good Utah State team this year. ULM beat Wake Forest. That's about it. It's hard playing you non-conference games against SEC opponents. I know NIU can attest to that.

We will have to wait and see how strong the SBC is when the conferences are matched up against each other in the bowls

Not looking good for (5-6) Akron. KSU leads Akron 20-10 in the third