(11-06-2017 10:03 AM)MTowho Wrote: I'll do a much more in depth look next week when things settle down even more, but right now I'm looking at 79 eligible teams for 78 slots. Obviously it changes week to week based on who is projected as making the playoff and New Year's Six slots, but I see the following bowls open, and the following conferences having extra teams.
Open Bowls
Frisco Bowl vs AAC
Independence (both slots)
Heart of Dallas (both slots)
Quick Lane vs Big 10
Gasparilla vs CUSA
Hawaii vs MWC
Extra Teams
Pac 12 x 1
MWC x 2
MAC x 2
CUSA x 4
The MAC would send one of its teams to the Quick Lane Bowl as they are primarily the backup there. CUSA would send one team to Independence. Best case scenario, CUSA uses its geography and plethora of teams to get the Frisco and HOD Bowl slots. Pac 12 would take the other HoD slot. MWC teams to Indy and Gasparilla. The final slot, Hawaii, would come down to a CUSA or MAC team. Maybe it isn't Hawaii, but I would imagine that the MWC teams would find slots before the final CUSA and MAC team.
Of course, this could play out a hundred different ways, but the only way to assure your team will be in is to get to 7 wins so CUSA will place your team over 6 win CUSA teams.
100 Miles of Hate will be huge as far as MT/WKU's bowl destination/chances this season, assuming MT gets by Charlotte this week.
Here's some random matchups I picked out for this week's slate of games:
Rutgers (4-5) at #7 Penn St (7-2) -- Rutgers ends season with Indiana and #24 Michigan State so a loss here would put them having to win out
Arkansas (4-5) at #19 LSU (6-3) -- Arkansas finishes with #16 Miss St and Mizzou so a loss here puts them having to win out
Duke (4-5) at Army (7-2) -- Duke has lost 5 straight and finishes with Georgia Tech (4-4) and Wake Forest (5-4). A loss here and they would have to win out
Florida (3-5) at South Carolina (6-2) -- UF only plays 11 games unless they add one on due to the cancellation earlier in the season from Irma. They finish with UAB and Florida St so a loss here could end their post season hopes
Georgia Tech (4-4) hosts #13 Va Tech (7-2) -- GT only plays 11 as well and they finish with Duke and #1 Georgia so a loss here could end their post season as well
Florida St (3-5) at #4 Clemson (8-1) -- FSU only plays 11 but they are working on making up their cancelled game with UL Monroe. If it doesnt happen a loss here would end their post season hopes
The SEC has 4 eligible teams (Ole Miss is ineligible) that are 4-5 so those outcomes could go a long way in CUSA and other G5 conferences to get extra berths:
Arkansas -- @LSU, Ms State, Missouri
Missouri - Tenn, @Vandy, @Arkansas
Tennessee - @Missouri, LSU, Vandy
Vandy - Kentucky, Missouri, @Tennessee
there's still a bit more but this is just a starter set of games that could benefit some of our bowl eligible teams