For the MAC to get a 4th bowl berth, five of the following events
must occur over the next two weeks.

1) Syracuse needs to lose at Boston College.
2) South Florida needs to lose at home to either Memphis or Pitt.
3) Nebraska needs to be defeated at home to Colorado.
4) Arkansas needs to be beaten at home by LSU.
5) Southern Miss needs to lose at home to UAB and Cal.
6) If Hawaii beats Northwestern, they need to subsequently lose at home to Michigan State.
7) If Tulane beats Texas Christian, they need to subsequently lose at home to Louisville.
8) Troy is not selected instead of a 4th MAC team.
9) A 4th MAC team is selected over a 6th or 7th eligible CUSA team.

Okie you nailed the remaining possibilties. Let's just hope we get this SVB deal wrapped up before something bad happens.

Okie Chippewa Wrote:For the MAC to get a 4th bowl berth, five of the following events
must occur over the next two weeks.

1) Syracuse needs to lose at Boston College.
2) South Florida needs to lose at home to either Memphis or Pitt.
3) Nebraska needs to be defeated at home to Colorado.
4) Arkansas needs to be beaten at home by LSU.
5) Southern Miss needs to lose at home to UAB and Cal.
6) If Hawaii beats Northwestern, they need to subsequently lose at home to Michigan State.
7) If Tulane beats Texas Christian, they need to subsequently lose at home to Louisville.
8) Troy is not selected instead of a 4th MAC team.
9) A 4th MAC team is selected over a 6th or 7th eligible CUSA team.

I think the following could happen regarding #3...let me know if I'm wrong:

If Nebraska beats Colorado and Missouri beats Iowa State, Nebraska and Iowa State would tie for the Big12 North at (4-4, 6-5 over all). Iowa State would win the tie breaker and go to the Big12 Championship game and probably lose to Oklahoma. Iowa State would then be 6-6 and ineligible for a bowl.

Of course, it's easier to just hope for Colorado to beat Nebraska.

NIUHuskie Wrote:

Okie Chippewa Wrote:For the MAC to get a 4th bowl berth, five of the following events
must occur over the next two weeks.

1) Syracuse needs to lose at Boston College.
2) South Florida needs to lose at home to either Memphis or Pitt.
3) Nebraska needs to be defeated at home to Colorado.
4) Arkansas needs to be beaten at home by LSU.
5) Southern Miss needs to lose at home to UAB and Cal.
6) If Hawaii beats Northwestern, they need to subsequently lose at home to Michigan State.
7) If Tulane beats Texas Christian, they need to subsequently lose at home to Louisville.
8) Troy is not selected instead of a 4th MAC team.
9) A 4th MAC team is selected over a 6th or 7th eligible CUSA team.

I think the following could happen regarding #3...let me know if I'm wrong:

If Nebraska beats Colorado and Missouri beats Iowa State, Nebraska and Iowa State would tie for the Big12 North at (4-4, 6-5 over all). Iowa State would win the tie breaker and go to the Big12 Championship game and probably lose to Oklahoma. Iowa State would then be 6-6 and ineligible for a bowl.

Of course, it's easier to just hope for Colorado to beat Nebraska.

The B12 (aka we do know how to count as opposed to our Midwestern brethern) has already appealed to NCAA to allow the North champion to be bowl-eligible if the championship game takes them to .500. Personally, I think that is a fair request and will likely be granted. So don't count on an Iowa State loss in B12 Championship to knock them out of bowl.

mmcincy Wrote:

NIUHuskie Wrote:

Okie Chippewa Wrote:For the MAC to get a 4th bowl berth, five of the following events
must occur over the next two weeks.

1) Syracuse needs to lose at Boston College.
2) South Florida needs to lose at home to either Memphis or Pitt.
3) Nebraska needs to be defeated at home to Colorado.
4) Arkansas needs to be beaten at home by LSU.
5) Southern Miss needs to lose at home to UAB and Cal.
6) If Hawaii beats Northwestern, they need to subsequently lose at home to Michigan State.
7) If Tulane beats Texas Christian, they need to subsequently lose at home to Louisville.
8) Troy is not selected instead of a 4th MAC team.
9) A 4th MAC team is selected over a 6th or 7th eligible CUSA team.

I think the following could happen regarding #3...let me know if I'm wrong:

If Nebraska beats Colorado and Missouri beats Iowa State, Nebraska and Iowa State would tie for the Big12 North at (4-4, 6-5 over all). Iowa State would win the tie breaker and go to the Big12 Championship game and probably lose to Oklahoma. Iowa State would then be 6-6 and ineligible for a bowl.

Of course, it's easier to just hope for Colorado to beat Nebraska.

The B12 (aka we do know how to count as opposed to our Midwestern brethern) has already appealed to NCAA to allow the North champion to be bowl-eligible if the championship game takes them to .500. Personally, I think that is a fair request and will likely be granted. So don't count on an Iowa State loss in B12 Championship to knock them out of bowl.

There are a lot of "If's" to get there but do you think it will still be a "fair request" if Miami loses in the MACC and doesn't get a bowl bid while a 6-6 Iowa State teams starts making travel arrangements?

Quote:If Nebraska beats Colorado and Missouri beats Iowa State, Nebraska and Iowa State would tie for the Big12 North at (4-4, 6-5 over all). Iowa State would win the tie breaker and go to the Big12 Championship game and probably lose to Oklahoma. Iowa State would then be 6-6 and ineligible for a bowl.

Great Catch, NIUHuskie!

Under your scenario, that would leave a vacant spot in the Big XII's cache of bowls. The
only problem is it requires Missouri to show up in Ames.

Do you know what happens if a 6-6 Iowa State gets an exemption to go bowling? They get to
be 8th in the pecking order in the selection of teams from the Big XII. Brilliant!

On another note, everyone catch the brawls at the Clemson-USC game? Administrators say
they will come down hard on the players. How about declining their bowl invitations? Yeah,
that has a snowball's chance in South Carolina of happening.

Okie Chippewa Wrote:On another note, everyone catch the brawls at the Clemson-USC game? Administrators say
they will come down hard on the players. How about declining their bowl invitations? Yeah,
that has a snowball's chance in South Carolina of happening.

I thought the same sort of thing. Gee, we don't really want to teach them a lesson. Besides, do you think ESPN kept showing those highlights? A simple slap on the wrist.

Okie Chippewa Wrote:Oops, looks like I was dissing two other Sun Belt teams: New Mexico State and Middle Tennessee. I've since included them because they will compete with MAC teams for spots vacated by the BCSers, especially if we get deep into at-large berths.

MTSU got blown out by Troy State, you think thay have a chance at anything??

Does anyone really think that the Sun Belt would get more than 1 slot?

Okie Chippewa Wrote:For the MAC to get a 4th bowl berth, five of the following events
must occur over the next two weeks.

1) Syracuse needs to lose at Boston College.
2) South Florida needs to lose at home to either Memphis or Pitt.
3) Nebraska needs to be defeated at home to Colorado.
4) Arkansas needs to be beaten at home by LSU.
5) Southern Miss needs to lose at home to UAB and Cal.
6) If Hawaii beats Northwestern, they need to subsequently lose at home to Michigan State.
7) If Tulane beats Texas Christian, they need to subsequently lose at home to Louisville.
8) Troy is not selected instead of a 4th MAC team.
9) A 4th MAC team is selected over a 6th or 7th eligible CUSA team.

1) Syracuse WILL lose to BC. - POSITIVE
2) South Florida will lose to BOTH Memphis & PITT. - POSITIVE
3) Nebraska will beat Colorado. - NEGATIVE
4) Arkansas will be beaten by LSU. - POSITIVE
5) Southern Miss will only lose to Cal. - PUSH
6) If Hawaii will lose to NW & Michigan State. - POSITIVE
7) If Tulane will lose at home to Louisville. - POSITIVE
8) Troy MIGHT MIGHT MIGHT get a shot....doubt it - PUSH
9) I didnt think that C-USA would have that many - PUSH

Thats how I think things will go.
5 positives
1 Negative
3 pushes.

Who knows??

NIUHuskie Wrote:

mmcincy Wrote:The B12 (aka we do know how to count as opposed to our Midwestern brethern) has already appealed to NCAA to allow the North champion to be bowl-eligible if the championship game takes them to .500.  Personally, I think that is a fair request and will likely be granted.  So don't count on an Iowa State loss in B12 Championship to knock them out of bowl.

There are a lot of "If's" to get there but do you think it will still be a "fair request" if Miami loses in the MACC and doesn't get a bowl bid while a 6-6 Iowa State teams starts making travel arrangements?

Actually yes, I still consider it a "fair request". I was considering this in relation to how I would want it to work if it was a MAC scenario. I would hope the MAC divisional champs would still be considered bowl eligible even if a MAC Championship loss forced them into only .500 record. Now of course with only 2 bowl guarantees it's likely that the loser still wouldn't get a bowl bid, but it's still the scenario presented.

Miami still controls its own destiny. If they lose, there is a risk. I consider it unlikely they'd be out of the bowl picture in a year like this, though, anyway. I'm not saying the bowl system is "fair" mind you.....but that's another topic.

Question for Nick and other knowledgable "MAC followers".....what do you think the timing will be for the MAC's first 3 bowl slots to be announced? Will we hear immediately after the BG-UT game, or will the bowls wait until after Saturday so they and the conference can first determine if we might get 4 bowl bids?

mmcincy Wrote:

NIUHuskie Wrote:

mmcincy Wrote:The B12 (aka we do know how to count as opposed to our Midwestern brethern) has already appealed to NCAA to allow the North champion to be bowl-eligible if the championship game takes them to .500.  Personally, I think that is a fair request and will likely be granted.  So don't count on an Iowa State loss in B12 Championship to knock them out of bowl.

There are a lot of "If's" to get there but do you think it will still be a "fair request" if Miami loses in the MACC and doesn't get a bowl bid while a 6-6 Iowa State teams starts making travel arrangements?

Actually yes, I still consider it a "fair request". I was considering this in relation to how I would want it to work if it was a MAC scenario. I would hope the MAC divisional champs would still be considered bowl eligible even if a MAC Championship loss forced them into only .500 record. Now of course with only 2 bowl guarantees it's likely that the loser still wouldn't get a bowl bid, but it's still the scenario presented.

Miami still controls its own destiny. If they lose, there is a risk. I consider it unlikely they'd be out of the bowl picture in a year like this, though, anyway. I'm not saying the bowl system is "fair" mind you.....but that's another topic.

In fairness, Iowa State ought to get an exemption. Otherwise, they could just tell the Big 12 to screw themselves, we're not going to play in the conference championship.

Once Navy is "off the board" as an at large, the feeding frenzy will start......if Clemson and S. Carolina are indeed removed as bowl candidates (which I for one am skeptical of), then you can bet that the SVB will move right after the BG-UT game, 'cause if they don't they may not get BG if they win as BG may have other options by Saturday.

Well according to my math it is 53 teams with 9 teams still up in the air.

Revised bowl bids by conference (after this afternoon's SC and Clemson decisions).

ACC 6 eligible
SEC 6 eligible Arkansas needs to defeat LSU for 7th bid
PAC 10 5 eligible
BIG 12 7 eligible Nebraska needs to defeat Colorado for 8th bid
BIG 10 6 eligible Northwestern needs to defeat Hawaii for 7th bid
BIG East 4 eligible Syracuse needs to defeat BC for at-large bid
Indies 2 eligible
Mtn West 3 eligible
WAC 3 eligible Hawaii needs to defeat NU and Mich St. for bid
CUSA 4 eligible So. Miss needs to defeat eiter UAB or Cal to qualify
TCU must defeat Tulane to qualify
Tulane must defeat TCU to qualify
USF needs to defeat Memphis and Pitt to qualify
Sun Belt 1 guaranteed spot
MAC 2 guaranteed spots

Looks like 49 spots have been "clinched", with nine teams fighting for the last 7 spots. As Okie has pointed out, two of the four will get knocked out as a result of head to head contests this weekend, meaning an additional bowl spot will open for the MAC and SBC for every loss by Nebraska, Arkansas, Syracuse, USF, or two losses by So. Mississippi.

The MAC has four addtional teams to offer, and the Sun Belt one. How many get in depends upon how many of the five teams listed above lose out. Conceivably, all bowl eligible teams from the the MAC and SBC could go bowling.

One small change to that,

Tulane must beat TCU and Louisville to qualify.

Just returned from work to update the scoreboard.

With those two teams sent to the principal's office for detention, anywhere from 4 to 6 MAC teams have a real shot at going bowling! My main question right now is whether another bowl will sign a deal to get the 4th pick of MAC teams rather than hedging their bets on a team such as Syracuse. Otherwise they may have to settle for our 5th or 6th-best. Unbelievable.

First of all - let's all applaud Clemson University and South Carolina University for taking their actions. While many here were rightly skeptical, I find it very refreshing that each would do the right thing and make the perpetrators pay by missing out on an earned bowl trip and costing the university bowl practices and bowl money.

I count 54 now eligible on my board, with 3 listed as "probable" (Northwestern, So Miss, TCU), making 57 for 56 slots. I'd only put two from my "unlikely" group on to a "decent chance" list - Arkansas (vs. LSU) and Nebraska (@ Colorado). This includes 6 eligible MAC teams. Could the MAC get 5 teams bowling? More likely 4.

HuskieDan Wrote:First of all - let's all applaud Clemson University and South Carolina University for taking their actions.  While many here were rightly skeptical, I find it very refreshing that each would do the right thing and make the perpetrators pay by missing out on an earned bowl trip and costing the university bowl practices and bowl money. 

I count 54 now eligible on my board, with 3 listed as "probable" (Northwestern, So Miss, TCU), making 57 for 56 slots.  I'd only put two from my "unlikely" group on to a "decent chance" list - Arkansas (vs. LSU) and Nebraska (@ Colorado).  This includes 6 eligible MAC teams.  Could the MAC get 5 teams bowling?  More likely 4.

Four is definitely most likely. You do have to give Troy their due. They finished second in the SBC, defeated Marshall on the road, and also beat Missouri. Based upon their performance on the field, they earned a bid ahead of the Zips and Herd.

Also, one of those open bowl slots would likely be in the south, so advantage Troy. And didnt' they have pretty decent attendance this year as well?

Four MAC bowls is pretty much a certainty (unless you see a series of unexpected upsets like Syracuse over BG), and 5 is probably a 50/50 venture now. Don't see 6 teams bowling, though.