I wanna beat Rice but then there's the other part in me that wants to send 7 bowl teams for CUSA. It'll be interesting.

This week's projection using Sagarin has 74 teams finishing 6-6 or better.

AAC--7 with 7 bids (0)
ACC--9 with 8 bids (+1)
Big Ten--7 with 9 bids (-1)
Big 12--6 with 7 bids (-2)
C-USA--5 with 7 bids (-4)
Independents--2 with 3 bids, Army's Poinsettia bid is open (-5)
MAC--8 with 5 bids (-2)
MWC--7 with 6 bids (-1)
Pac 12--10 with 7 bids (+2)
SEC--10 with 10 bids (+2)
SBC--3 with 4 bids (+1)
Access--G5 guaranteed bid plus 6 at-large bids (-6)

The projected 5-7 APR sweepstakes winners:
Nebraska (985)
Georgia Tech (978)
Indiana (977)
Missouri (976)
Kansas State (976)
and maybe Rock, Paper, Scissors, Spock between San Jose State and Minnesota (both 975)

Projected 5-7s on the outside looking in:
San Jose State or Minnesota
Rice (973)
Illinois (973)
Connecticut (960)
Louisiana-Lafayette (953)

(11-14-2015 05:51 PM)Shrack Wrote:  Bowl eligible:

WKU
Marshall
La. Tech
Southern Miss



Chances of becoming bowl eligible:

1. MTSU (5-5) - UNT, @UTSA left
2. Rice (4-6) - @UTSA, Char left
3. ODU (5-5) - @USM, FAU left
4. FIU (5-6) - WKU left
5. UTEP (4-6) - LT, @UNT left

We could end up with between 4 and 9 bowl eligible teams depending on what happens over the final few weeks, as crazy as that sounds. 6 is the most likely scenario with MTSU becoming eligible and then ODU or Rice, though 7 is a good possibility. If MTSU, Rice, and ODU were to lose out it would pretty much be a disaster for the league though this is also likely not a possibility as it involves UTSA winning their remaining 2 games and UNT beating MTSU. I don't see UTEP beating LT and it isn't likely that FIU defeats WKU.

CUSA 2015 Bowlers!

WKU
Marshall
La. Tech
Southern Miss
Old Dominion
Rice
Middle Tennessee

Monken said on the Golden Eagle Call-In show on 11/16 that he doesn't want the NO bowl. Maybe Indy or if possible HOD. Outstanding. He argued for another bowl because it would help with recruitment and preparation.

Interesting point from Monken - completely overlooked the preparation part of the bowl, which would be made more difficult by having to deal with distractions of the NOLA night life, especially since many of the team is from the surrounding area, I'm assuming. If USM wins the West, they should probably have a big say in where they want to go - do you think Monken would push for a bowl outside of NOLA if HOD wasn't available?

I am surprised to see ODU in the Arizona Bowl and Rice in the New Mexico Bowl in certain projections...figured it would be reversed. It's not as if either school is going to bring tens of thousands of fans (although I would think ODU would bring more than Rice) and ODU making its first bowl is a storyline that should be shown on a bowl broadcast on ESPN. Rice's regression over the last two years deserves to be shown on ASN at the Arizona Bowl, considering ASN barely qualifies as a television network in my book.

(11-06-2015 05:58 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  2. Which would your rather and MAC or Sunbelt Opponent? AAC would be an obvious choice for most on here so I discounted them first. MWC may have a team extra to send to Dallas but thats a long shot.

3. Given all the above, where would you want to see your bowl team play this season?

4. Who do you want them to play. Be realistic and take into account the variable given above.

2. If between a MAC & Sunbelt I'd prefer MAC all day every day.

3. College Football Playoff. However, that's probably put of the picture so one of the New Years Six Bowls. If that's also out then any bowl game minus Hawaii or Bahamas

4. I want the highest ranked opponent available. Don't care what conference if it's a Sun Belt and its ranked higher than a so called "power" 5 school then Inwant the better rated team.

(11-17-2015 01:42 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  Interesting point from Monken - completely overlooked the preparation part of the bowl, which would be made more difficult by having to deal with distractions of the NOLA night life, especially since many of the team is from the surrounding area, I'm assuming. If USM wins the West, they should probably have a big say in where they want to go - do you think Monken would push for a bowl outside of NOLA if HOD wasn't available?

I am surprised to see ODU in the Arizona Bowl and Rice in the New Mexico Bowl in certain projections...figured it would be reversed. It's not as if either school is going to bring tens of thousands of fans (although I would think ODU would bring more than Rice) and ODU making its first bowl is a storyline that should be shown on a bowl broadcast on ESPN. Rice's regression over the last two years deserves to be shown on ASN at the Arizona Bowl, considering ASN barely qualifies as a television network in my book.

All valid points on the USM bowl point of view but here's a few more disadvantages:
Earlier game date so less time to prepare.
Final exams are usually around the 2nd week in December so possibly even less practice time

I am not going to whine on here about any bowl we get. The last three years in hell has cured me of that.

At this point, I am happy with anything in the Central time zone but won't cry if its not.

(11-17-2015 08:53 AM)nastybunch Wrote:  I am not going to whine on here about any bowl we get. The last three years in hell has cured me of that.

WKU fans understand, we had just come off our national championship when things took a turn for the worse and put us into the dark ages and USM was coming off a season being ranked when things went south. There is nothing worse than to sit on top just to have a 1000 lbs gorilla throw you to the bottom then lay on you for a few years. Glad to see USM making a return and your correct about making you humble

(11-17-2015 09:58 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  At this point, I am happy with anything in the Central time zone but won't cry if its not.

I love the part of the country I live in and would never move , but we will never have a bowl game closer than 700-1500 miles wish sucks. The only shot WKU fans have a a close bowl is if the bowl in Birmingham or Memphis opened up ( 4-5hr drive)

(11-17-2015 11:27 AM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  

(11-17-2015 09:58 AM)pilot172000 Wrote:  At this point, I am happy with anything in the Central time zone but won't cry if its not.

I love the part of the country I live in and would never move , but we will never have a bowl game closer than 700-1500 miles wish sucks. The only shot WKU fans have a a close bowl is if the bowl in Birmingham or Memphis opened up ( 4-5hr drive)

Yeah, but that is one thing that all fans of "northern" teams have to deal with. We like FL because of our recruiting, large alumni faction, and cheap flights down form Huntington.

We never were a huge fan of the Motor City Bowl (except maybe for the first year or two), but I'd be happy in NOLA or whatever.

(11-13-2015 09:12 PM)CoachMaclid Wrote:  

(11-06-2015 07:21 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  For sake of argument, assume that Arkansas State is the Sun Belt Champion (which seems very likely) and goes to the New Orleans Bowl (which is at least possible). Would USM fans view that as an appealing match-up?

The MAC Champion is slated to go to the GoDaddy Bowl in Mobile this year against the Sun Belt, so I think it's likely they'd try to setup a champion vs. champion matchup there between MAC and SunBelt. As such, I'd imagine it'd be Appalachian State to the New Orleans Bowl.

Doesn't really matter where they are slatted to go, Boca Raton is a good example, negotiating went on and they got a conference champ vs. conference champ game, brokered by ESPN, and that wasn't originally where the conference champ was supposed to go.

The more people I talk to the more I realize that we have absolutely no say so in the matter and that CUSA is going to configure it in a way that best suits CUSA. I don't really have much of a problem with that with the exception of what USM had to endure in 2011. I means seriously somebody is going to get the short stick and have to play in Arizona online. I feel like no matter who wins or what happens, USM ends up in NOLA, MTSU ends up the Bahamas, and WKU/Marshall head to Florida. Tech, Rice, and ODU could end up Mars for all we know.

(11-17-2015 12:29 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  The more people I talk to the more I realize that we have absolutely no say so in the matter and that CUSA is going to configure it in a way that best suits CUSA. I don't really have much of a problem with that with the exception of what USM had to endure in 2011. I means seriously somebody is going to get the short stick and have to play in Arizona online. I feel like no matter who wins or what happens, USM ends up in NOLA, MTSU ends up the Bahamas, and WKU/Marshall head to Florida. Tech, Rice, and ODU could end up Mars for all we know.

In that case I'd say Tech or Rice in Dallas, the other in New Mexico and ODU in Arizona....unless we can somehow get a spot in the Indy bowl in which case I'd say Tech there, Rice in Dallas, ODU in New Mexico, and let the belt have Arizona.

(11-17-2015 12:29 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  The more people I talk to the more I realize that we have absolutely no say so in the matter and that CUSA is going to configure it in a way that best suits CUSA. I don't really have much of a problem with that with the exception of what USM had to endure in 2011. I means seriously somebody is going to get the short stick and have to play in Arizona online. I feel like no matter who wins or what happens, USM ends up in NOLA, MTSU ends up the Bahamas, and WKU/Marshall head to Florida. Tech, Rice, and ODU could end up Mars for all we know.

If, and I repeat, if, the Monarchs can get that sixth win, for which we ODU fans are starting to feel some real excitement -- it seems we are a strong bet to wind up in the new Arizona Bowl. So with great curiosity, just what do you mean by the "online" comment? At first I suspected you meant (horror) ESPN3. But I see that it will be broadcast via ASN, and we have become very familier with them this year. So what gives?

(11-17-2015 12:53 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  

(11-17-2015 12:29 PM)pilot172000 Wrote:  The more people I talk to the more I realize that we have absolutely no say so in the matter and that CUSA is going to configure it in a way that best suits CUSA. I don't really have much of a problem with that with the exception of what USM had to endure in 2011. I means seriously somebody is going to get the short stick and have to play in Arizona online. I feel like no matter who wins or what happens, USM ends up in NOLA, MTSU ends up the Bahamas, and WKU/Marshall head to Florida. Tech, Rice, and ODU could end up Mars for all we know.

If, and I repeat, if, the Monarchs can get that sixth win, for which we ODU fans are starting to feel some real excitement -- it seems we are a strong bet to wind up in the new Arizona Bowl. So with great curiosity, just what do you mean by the "online" comment? At first I suspected you meant (horror) ESPN3. But I see that it will be broadcast via ASN, and we have become very familier with them this year. So what gives?

Due to the fact that the Bowl was late to the party there is no major tv deal. ASN will broadcast it with campusinsiders.com doing the online broadcast. This means that there is a good possibility that while network affiliates in Norfolk would pick it up, there would be a very large portion of the country that would not able to just flip on the tube to watch a bowl game. Bowl games are as much about publicity as anything and the Arizona Bowl would have the least. All that being said, there are half a dozen seasons over my years as a Tech fan that I would have given my right arm to attend a bowl and even with the limitations that the Arizona Bowl will have this season....It's a worthy venture that your fans and team would enjoy!

ODU will happily take whatever bowl game if they are eligible. But is there any chance that CUSA could swap some bowls around since some are speculating not everyone will be able to fill their contracts?

Also, please excuse lots of rudimentary questions from this ODU fan as this whole bowl thing is new.

(11-17-2015 01:26 PM)monarchoptimist Wrote:  ODU will happily take whatever bowl game if they are eligible. But is there any chance that CUSA could swap some bowls around since some are speculating not everyone will be able to fill their contracts?

It has happened in the past but the bowls and the teams have to agree to it. I want to say the MUTS got screwed one year going 8-4 and not getting a bowl invite, because they were wanting a swap from the Independence bowl to the Music City bowl (I think?)

(11-17-2015 01:26 PM)monarchoptimist Wrote:  ODU will happily take whatever bowl game if they are eligible. But is there any chance that CUSA could swap some bowls around since some are speculating not everyone will be able to fill their contracts?

Also, please excuse lots of rudimentary questions from this ODU fan as this whole bowl thing is new.

I absolutely agree 100% Programs of OUR size take what we can get. I would have loved to have gotten our 2012 team that bowl.

Also you could have a 100 years of football tradition in the SEC and it would still be Chinese arithmetic. There are no stupid questions, bowls are contrary at best.