11-22-2002, 11:16 AM
I guess this now goes in the "FWIW" column since the bowls and the BCS "boyz" are apparently conspiring to get around the intent of the current bowl eligibility requirements, but College Football News put out an interesting "(Nert-like, if you will), bowl analysis for "bubble" teams.
In short, they state the following: "The Big Ten, MWC and SEC are all in jeopardy of creating unforeseen opportunities for an eligible team looking for an at large invite. Those patiently waiting to swoop down on the Wisconsin or BYU's inlcude the likes of Oklahoma State, Washington, USF, BG and Wake Forest."
I won't go the conference by conference analysis, but if you're in the "camp" that believes there is still a possibility for a 3rd MAC team bowling, here is a synopsis of who to root "for" and "against" this weekend:
Root for:
ACC:
* Wake Forest (5-5) to lose to either Navy or Maryland, preferably both.
* Clemson to beat So. Carolina (taking So. Carolina {5-6} out of the bowl picture), alhtough then Clemson remains alive.
B10:
* OSU to beat Michigan (to get 2 BCS teams for the B10), and Purdue to lose to IU (very unlikely), or Wisconsin to lose to Minnesota at home (50/50 proposition I'd say).
Big 12:
* Texas A & M (6-5) to lose to Texas, although with all this BCS manuveuring they could still go bowling elsewhere I guess.
* Oklahoma State (5-5) to lose to Oklahoma.
* Missou (5-6) to lose to K-State.
C-USA:
* UC (5-5) to lose to Hawaii and ECU but beat UAB
* UAB (5-5) to lose to both UL and UC
* ECU (3-6) to beat UC but lose to TCU or So. Miss.
MWC:
* Utah to beat BYU (5-6)
* New Mexico (6-5) to lose to Wyoming and CSU.
SEC:
* Ole Miss (5-5) to lose at least once
* So. Carolina (5-6) to lose at Clemson.
At the end of the day, if any number of these 6-6 teams can be "shopped" to bowls, the MAC may be outta it anyway, but I would say that there is still a remote possibility for UT, BG, NIU, or possibly even Miami for the Music City Bowl if OSU wins, Wisconsin loses and a majority of the above takes place. If BG wins out but NIU wins the West then at 10-2 they'd have the best shot of going to Nashville. If UT wins out and takes the title, then it's anyone's guess because in that scenario if Miami beats UCF they may be a contender due to proximity.
Again, in the CFN article they pretty much dismiss the MAC getting a 3rd bowl, and say of BG, "After getting spanked in Tampa by USF, the Falcon's hopes for an at large bid were essentially eliminated. Wih no chance of representing the West in the MAC title game BG is likely to have the dubious distinction of being the IA team with the most wins that is not bowling."
In short, they state the following: "The Big Ten, MWC and SEC are all in jeopardy of creating unforeseen opportunities for an eligible team looking for an at large invite. Those patiently waiting to swoop down on the Wisconsin or BYU's inlcude the likes of Oklahoma State, Washington, USF, BG and Wake Forest."
I won't go the conference by conference analysis, but if you're in the "camp" that believes there is still a possibility for a 3rd MAC team bowling, here is a synopsis of who to root "for" and "against" this weekend:
Root for:
ACC:
* Wake Forest (5-5) to lose to either Navy or Maryland, preferably both.
* Clemson to beat So. Carolina (taking So. Carolina {5-6} out of the bowl picture), alhtough then Clemson remains alive.
B10:
* OSU to beat Michigan (to get 2 BCS teams for the B10), and Purdue to lose to IU (very unlikely), or Wisconsin to lose to Minnesota at home (50/50 proposition I'd say).
Big 12:
* Texas A & M (6-5) to lose to Texas, although with all this BCS manuveuring they could still go bowling elsewhere I guess.
* Oklahoma State (5-5) to lose to Oklahoma.
* Missou (5-6) to lose to K-State.
C-USA:
* UC (5-5) to lose to Hawaii and ECU but beat UAB
* UAB (5-5) to lose to both UL and UC
* ECU (3-6) to beat UC but lose to TCU or So. Miss.
MWC:
* Utah to beat BYU (5-6)
* New Mexico (6-5) to lose to Wyoming and CSU.
SEC:
* Ole Miss (5-5) to lose at least once
* So. Carolina (5-6) to lose at Clemson.
At the end of the day, if any number of these 6-6 teams can be "shopped" to bowls, the MAC may be outta it anyway, but I would say that there is still a remote possibility for UT, BG, NIU, or possibly even Miami for the Music City Bowl if OSU wins, Wisconsin loses and a majority of the above takes place. If BG wins out but NIU wins the West then at 10-2 they'd have the best shot of going to Nashville. If UT wins out and takes the title, then it's anyone's guess because in that scenario if Miami beats UCF they may be a contender due to proximity.
Again, in the CFN article they pretty much dismiss the MAC getting a 3rd bowl, and say of BG, "After getting spanked in Tampa by USF, the Falcon's hopes for an at large bid were essentially eliminated. Wih no chance of representing the West in the MAC title game BG is likely to have the dubious distinction of being the IA team with the most wins that is not bowling."