For more than three MAC teams to be bowling this year, some slots will have to open up. Here is who to root against so that additional MAC teams can play in the post-season.

MIAMI 6-4 @ AKRON 0-10 Unless you are a Zips fan, MAC fans need to root for Miami, as the Redhawks need one more win to become unconditionally bowl-eligible (i.e, record over .500).
BOWLING GREEN 2-8 @ TOLEDO 6-4 Similar deal as above.

ACC has eight bowl slots, with six clinched. Max number of unconditional bowls stand at nine.
Virginia 4-6 @ Boston College 5-5
Clemson 5-5 @ Wake Forest 2-8
Duke 3-7 @ Georgia Tech 5-5
NC St 7-3 @ North Carolina 6-4

Big XII has eight guaranteed, plus one more likely due to a second BCS bid. Currently seven are clinched. Max number unconditional: 8 or 9.
Kansas St 6-4 @ Colorado 4-6
Missouri 8-2 @ Iowa St 5-6
Weber State 6-4 @ Texas Tech 5-5
Florida Atlantic 4-5 @ Texas 4-6

Big East is a big mess! They have six slots with three guaranteed thus far. Max unconditional: six (I think!)
UConn 5-4 @ Syracuse 7-3
Pitt 5-4 @ USF 6-3
West Virginia 6-3 @ Louisville 5-5
Rutgers 4-5 @ Cinci 3-6

Big Ten has 8 autos, plus an extra BCS slot likely. Seven teams are in with three on the bubble.
Illinois 5-5 @ Northwestern 7-3
Penn State 6-4 @ Indiana 4-6
Purdue 4-6 @ Michigan State 9-1

CUSA has six autos with five clinched. Max unconditional: Six or seven.
East Carolina 6-4 @ Rice 2-8
Marshall 4-6 @ SMU 5-5
Houston 5-5 @ USM 7-3
UTEP 6-5 @ Tulsa 7-3
UCF 7-3 @ Tulane 4-6

Mtn West has five autos with possibility of a BCS. Four are in.
New Mexico 1-9 @ BYU 5-5

The Pacific 10 is a potential bonanza for the MAC. Six slots are open with a second BCS bid a strong possibility.
Only three teams have clinched, with USC ineligible this year.
USC 7-3 @ Oregon St 4-5
Stanford 9-1 @ Cal 5-5
UCLA 4-5 @ Washington 3-6 UW would still have a tough row to hoe.
Arizona St 4-6 bye week

SEC has 9 autos with an extra BCS likely. Eight have clinched with three on the bubble.
Georgia 5-6 bye week before Georgia Tech
Ole Miss 4-6 @ LSU 9-1
Tennessee 4-6 @ Vanderbilt 2-8

WAC has four autos with a slight possibility of a BCS. Four teams have clinched, with three bubble teams.
Idaho 4-6 @ Utah State 4-6 Idaho has a tougher final schedule.
Louisiana Tech 4-6 @ San Jose St 1-9

Sun Belt has two auto bids with no teams yet eligible!

Lastly, there is a slim chance for one more MAC team to go bowling; namely Western Michigan or Kent St.
If either finishes 6-6 and a bowl still needs a squad, they're in.

There will almost certainly be open slots for Miami and Toledo, especially if they get to 7 wins.

Wow... that's a lot of work. But thanks, I was wondering how things need to shake down for teams like Toledo to get in.

We may actually see teams with a losing record go bowling this year. There are 70 spots (2 more than last year) and with all the losses to I-AA teams, there's likely to be fewer teams. If that's the case, every 6-6 teams goes bowling first.

Thanks, Okie....as you say, it's really complicated. For instance, if Marshall can beat SMU (best team left on their schedule), they will likely end up 6-6 and eligible for a bowl. So, really depends on schedule remaining in terms of who to root for (or against). Should be much clearer after this weekend....I think they will have enough 6-6 (and better) bowl eligible teams to fill 70 spots.

Great Stuff !!!

I would like the Big ten to philly the pizza bowl slot... and essentially fill all their bowls.

I went through all the remaining schedules of each and every DIA team.....I took into account who was playing who (in many cases although there are multiple teams capable of finishing 6-6 it isn't plausible since many teams play each other in the last two weeks) and I came up with a likely number of 72 teams bowl eligible, so I don't think it's a given that all MAC bowl eligible teams will find a spot One thing I did not consider was whether or not a 6 win team might be bowl ineligible since thehy can't count a IAA win.

(11-16-2010 11:45 PM)exCincy Kid Wrote:  I went through all the remaining schedules of each and every DIA team.....I took into account who was playing who (in many cases although there are multiple teams capable of finishing 6-6 it isn't plausible since many teams play each other in the last two weeks) and I came up with a likely number of 72 teams bowl eligible, so I don't think it's a given that all MAC bowl eligible teams will find a spot One thing I did not consider was whether or not a 6 win team might be bowl ineligible since thehy can't count a IAA win.

I predicted 72 bowl eligible teams on the Toledo board the other day. I think Miami beats Akron and gets to 7 wins, and hopefully Toledo wins at least one of their last two to get to 7 wins. If the WMU/Kent winner is a 6-6 team, they will likely be fighting with a 6-6 Sun Belt and 6-6 C-USA team for the last bowl slot. My hunch tells me the C-USA team goes instead.

Don't forget that Notre Dame gets a Big East bowl slot if they become eligible -- so cheer against ND/for Army on Saturday night!

(11-15-2010 09:13 PM)Okie Chippewa Wrote:  WAC has four autos with a slight possibility of a BCS. Four teams have clinched, with three bubble teams.
Idaho 4-6 @ Utah State 4-6 Idaho has a tougher final schedule.
Louisiana Tech 4-6 @ San Jose St 1-9

But Utah State closes the season the on the road at Boise State. I'd recommend cheering against Idaho in this one.

(11-17-2010 11:08 AM)BeatNavy Wrote:  cheer against ND/for Army on Saturday night!

Who in their right mind would do otherwise, regardless of the year?