I'm a-guessing that it'll be Minnesota in the MCB, although with MSU's loss to Purdue we could see MSU if they end up 6-5. Man, that would make for a nice crowd at Ford Field, wouldn't it?
The GMAC picks second outta C-USA, but that race is obviously still wide open. My guess would be that UTEP goes to the Liberty, and even though Tulsa may have a better record the GMAC goes with S-Miss and lets Tulsa go to the Fort Worth Bowl (which I read really wants the Golden Hurricane). I figure that UCF plays the SunBelt in NO (MTSU?), and Memphis or Houston, or UAB (or even the Herdiban) in the Hawaii Bowl. I don't think that the Houston Bowl is obligated to C-USA this year, but I guess they might like Houston in that game to sell a few tickets.
I'd keep my eye on Iowa, should MSU not pull through.
Neither Michigan State or Iowa should be considered a lock to be bowl eligible. Both need one more victory and there are no gimmees. Iowa plays Minnesota and Wisconsin, Michigan State plays Minnesota and Penn State. As unlikely as it appeared most of the season, it is possible the Big Ten might have as few as 6 bowl eligible teams. While this is not great for the MCB, it is great for the MAC as it could lead to additional bowl opportunities.
Sorry to say it could well be Rutgers. If it is be prepared for a lot of spin.
I'd go with Navy before Rutgers.
Navy will likely have more attractive bowl destination options than Detroit....Poinsetta Bowl or even the Liberty Bowl.
Okie Chippewa Wrote:I'd go with Navy before Rutgers.
Sorry, it will not be Navy, by contract,it will be a BE team, if the B-10 doen't have enough teams to fill the slot.
What's not to like about Rutgers? Rutgers is a team that hasn't been to a bowl since 1989. Their fans will be dying to travel to ANY bowl game. They may not be the sexy pick, but I think they'd be a quality pick.
I think West Va, Louisville, and USF will get bids other than the MCB. So, if it breaks down to a Big East team, I'd expect either Rutgers or Pitt.......personally, I'd rather see Rutgers. I've seen Pitt.
rteynor Wrote:What's not to like about Rutgers? Rutgers is a team that hasn't been to a bowl since 1989. Their fans will be dying to travel to ANY bowl game. They may not be the sexy pick, but I think they'd be a quality pick.
I think West Va, Louisville, and USF will get bids other than the MCB. So, if it breaks down to a Big East team, I'd expect either Rutgers or Pitt.......personally, I'd rather see Rutgers. I've seen Pitt.
I'd rather see Pitt, but I hope your right about Rutgers. The Newark Star-Ledger, N.J.'s largest newspaper, has depicted the Motor City Bowl as the worst destination for the Rutgers team. The last 5 times that RU has played Temple, Temple won four of the five...
Tomznj Wrote:The Newark Star-Ledger, N.J.'s largest newspaper, has depicted the Motor City Bowl as the worst destination for the Rutgers team.
Detroit will always be Detroit, and people will always say ignorant things about the Motor City Bowl. The fact is, it's a well-supported game in one of America's best stadiums.
The only game with a non-BCS tie in that's clearly stronger is the Liberty Bowl.
Looking at the B10 and Big East, it is pretty uncertain if either league will be able to fill a MCB slot for the MAC opponent.
As stated elsewhere, Mich State and Iowa both ( each 5-4) need another win to insure that we have a B10 team in the game.
In the Big East, UL, Rutgers (ugh!), and WVU are bowl eligible. The league has 4 tie-ins including using Notre Dame to fill a BIg East slot. So, to get an extra team Cincy (4-4), UConn (4-4) SFlorida (4-5) or Pitt (4-5) have to get bowl eligble. With UConn having already played in Detroit, the pickn's are pretty slim after that. None of these teams would bring any fans nor elicit any excitement if they show up in Detroit with a 6-5 record.
Bottom line: I think we need to root for Iowa and MSU to win another game somehow!
Speaking of the MAC getting an "extra' (i.e. 3rd) bowl bid, here's a quick run-down:
ACC: 5 bowl eligible, with 5 other teams in the running to be bowl eligible vs. 6 bowl tie-ins. Likely result, the ACC will have at least 7 and probably 8 bowl eligible teams. So, they'll have teams leftover.
B10: Already discussed.
B12: 4 eligible with 7 more possible for 8 bowls.
C-USA: 2 eligible with 6 others possible (although they play each other I suspect so the most that will likely be eligible is probably aobut 6) for 5 bowl tie'ins.
Independents; Navy and ND
WMC: TCU eligible with 5 others possible for 2 bowls.
PAC-10: 4 eligible with 3 others possible for 6 bowl slots
SEC: 6 eligible with only 6 likely for 8 bowl slots (so, they won't fill their slots).
WAC: Two eligible with two probable for 2 slots.
Help me out - why are you guys (miami) a lock for the Motor City when the MACC hasn't been played yet?
I would think the GMAC is still just as likely. Or have you already pounced on what will be the West champ (I haven't followed the MAC in conference games this year).
Thanks.
st932253 Wrote:Help me out - why are you guys (miami) a lock for the Motor City when the MACC hasn't been played yet?
I don't think anyone said that. I think the "we" comment in the subject refers to the MAC. Who will the MAC rep face in the MCB, not who will Miami face in the MCB.
With no B-10 & no B-E. Does West Mich vs Mia{o} work. If Toledo wins west, these 2 will not meet this yr.
I think its Toledo vs Miami in the MACC game with Toledo winning that matchup and playing Michigan State. That would be a great game for the MAC. Thats the way things are looking. MAC will get a very strong Big Ten team.
OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:I think its Toledo vs Miami in the MACC game with Toledo winning that matchup and playing Michigan State. That would be a great game for the MAC. Thats the way things are looking. MAC will get a very strong Big Ten team.
I can guarantee that if Toledo makes a bowl game, they won't be going to Detroit for the third time in 4 years. They will be in moblie in the GMAC bowl.
OUBOBCATJOHN Wrote:I think its Toledo vs Miami in the MACC game with Toledo winning that matchup and playing Michigan State. That would be a great game for the MAC. Thats the way things are looking. MAC will get a very strong Big Ten team.
I agree that MSU would be the "dream" b-10 team to play in this year's Motor City Bowl. IMO they would help the MAC the more than any other probable opponent,and probably smash the MCB attendance number of 52,000 by a lot. If there were no B-10 or BE team in the MCB, I don't think a WMU vs Miami inter conferenc MCB would work any better than the MCC game as far as attendance is concerned...
I would think that S-Miss's (rather lucky) win vs. Marshall may help land them in the GMAC....I just hope they don't put UCF in that game, 'cause I don't think MAC fans will get fired up about playing last year's last place MAC team. Beore you UCF lurkers get bent out of shape, I do think that your team is better than S-Miss this year....I'm just looking at it from the perspective of fan interest. At Miami we had pretty bad home crowds when UCF came to town......to the average fan they were just not well known.
There'd be more interest in playing the likes of S-Miss or Memphis I would think.
exCincy Kid1 Wrote:I would think that S-Miss's (rather lucky) win vs. Marshall may help land them in the GMAC....I just hope they don't put UCF in that game, 'cause I don't think MAC fans will get fired up about playing last year's last place MAC team. Beore you UCF lurkers get bent out of shape, I do think that your team is better than S-Miss this year....I'm just looking at it from the perspective of fan interest. At Miami we had pretty bad home crowds when UCF came to town......to the average fan they were just not well known.
There'd be more interest in playing the likes of S-Miss or Memphis I would think.
Nah, nothing to get bent out of shape over.
In fact, it's kinda funny hearing a mac team refer to another team as not being too well known.. The whole pot and kettle thing.....
I'd be the first agree that it "cuts both ways" (i.e. how well known MAC schools are down south vs. how well known UCF is up north). Another good reason why a UCF vs. MAC bowl match-up is not the greatest pairing.