according to a friend who is really good at this:

he thinks:

Texas Bowl will not be open. He thinks TCU vs. C-USA (Houston?).

Or could TCU go to the Armed Forces Bowl vs. AF?

(need to check these out).

The two this guy thinks two will be open:

"The two bowls in question would be the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth against Air Force and the Emerald Bowl in SF against an ACC team."

IF I'm following him correctly, it is possible or likely that the B12 and Pac10 won't fill all off their bowls (depends on the BCS selections).

Unless I'm missing something, I think ZERO 6 - 6 teams go bowling and I'm not sure there is an extra bowl for a 7 - 5 MAC team (beyond the three we are participants in).

BTW, IF, IF, IF OSU ends up in the NC game (it would require a lot of crazy happenings above them in the BCS standings), then it would be 8 BT teams for 8 bids with MCB getting the last team unpicked.

Some, not me, even have IL as an outside BCS pick.

TCU will not play Air Force in the Armed Forces bowl because they have already played each other this season and they are in the same conference. TCU taking the Big 12 spot in the Texas bowl is possible if Fresno State beats Kansas State this weekend and the Big 12 gets two teams into BCS bowls.
Possible extra 7-5 teams
TCU (if they beat SDSU this weekend)
New Mexico (already at 7, but TCU may be MWC bowl over them because TCU draws better)
Indiana or Michigan State or Purdue (I am assuming Indiana or Purdue will miss out on the Big 10 bowl and MSU will go to MCB)
South Carolina, Miss State, and Bama could all get to 7 this weekend, so there could be a extra 7 win SEC
Will the MAC have a extra 7 win team?

I can't see a 4th MAC team bowling this year (if we have 4 bowl eligible teams). Purdue is likely taking one of those open slots, leaving slightly less desirable IU for the MCB. I might mention that IU hasn't been to a bowl in a long time, and despite having less support than the "big" B10 programs, they did sell out their final home game with 50K in attendance. They will certainly bring a good contingent to Detroit if invited.

Quote:

"TCU will not play Air Force in the Armed Forces bowl because they have already played each other this season and they are in the same conference. TCU taking the Big 12 spot in the Texas bowl is possible if Fresno State beats Kansas State this weekend and the Big 12 gets two teams into BCS bowls."

This is essentially what my friend said - TCU to Texas Bowl based on those conditions.

I jumbled it.

Possible that the MAC has 4 7-5 teams.

CMU needs a win (Akron or MACC game), MIA needs a win (last game or MACC game), and BSU needs a win (vs. NIU).

CNN-SI projected BSU in the Armed Forces Bowl...is that a realistic possibility (i.e. the MAC gaining an at large bowl berth)? EMU Steve?? Nick?? HuronDave??

exCincy Kid Wrote:CNN-SI projected BSU in the Armed Forces Bowl...is that a realistic possibility (i.e. the MAC gaining an at large bowl berth)? EMU Steve?? Nick?? HuronDave??

I'd doubt it.

There is still one Big Ten team (most likely Purdue) looking for a bowl most likely the Armed Forces Bowl (or maybe Emerald???).

As the TCU poster indicates, looks like New Mexico will be available and maybe one or more extra SEC schools.

This seems consistent with what Jerry Palm wrote say a week ago to the effect more and more teams are scheduling to win a min. of 7 games and that will produce enough 7 win teams to fill the bowls.

Maybe later I'll go through the SEC, Pac-10, and B12 bowls and see what I come up with. (best to go to the conference website rather then something like USA Today which is not accurate on some minor bowls).

The one OPEN bowl I think I've found is Emerald. Pac-10 has 6 bowls but may qualify only 5. AZ and UCLA have 5 wins but face very tough games this weekend and next (UCLA has Ore. and USC and AZ has ASU).

Maybe Purdue ends up there?? IF Purdue ends up in the Armed Forces, then who goes to Emerald???

Maybe another Pac-10 bowl opens (assuming 2 BCS teams from Pac-10)??? The Pac-10 is very, very strong at the top but they have a number of teams with losing records (unlike the BT which had ONE - Minnesota).

This is crazy stuff...

If Ucla & Ariz lose out, Cal should end up in emerald. LV could have at-large selection, with BYU already in the bag. If LV can not get Haw, Perdue would work. MWC needs Kansas St to lose & open up spot for TCU.

I hear you, T'FBfan, but did you count two PAC-10 BCS bids?

I have both the Armed Forces and Emerald open (assumes two BCS bids for the Pac-10).

ESPN reported that the BCS committee voted to expand the at-large pool of BCS teams from 14 to 18. Does this have any affect on the MAC getting a 4th?

Frozenbaugh Wrote:ESPN reported that the BCS committee voted to expand the at-large pool of BCS teams from 14 to 18. Does this have any affect on the MAC getting a 4th?

no... there was a real problem that the bcs might not have 10 teams eligible to play with the no more than 2 from one conf rule.. so they just expanded the field a bit.. so they could grab some not on the list. it will have no effect on who will or will not be eligible..

Interesting development with the BCS lowering at-large criteria to 18.

My guess is the MAC won't have 4 teams with 7 wins. Miami, CMU, and Ball State have tough final games.

Detnews has an excellent article on the bowl mess this year, BT bowls and MCB.

I believe I was wrong on the Emerald Bowl.

According to the graphic, Emerald will most likely be filled.

The two Pac-10 bowls which might be open are LAS VEGAS and Armed Forces. (those are Pac-10 #5 and #6).

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../711210350

I found two articles (related) on http://www.freep.com (Det. Free Press) suggesting that MSU to Insight is far from a lock.

IU is now getting 'talked up' for the Insight Bowl, esp. by those in Indiana.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...90373/1048

My only comment:

I'd love to see MSU vs. CMU but I'd like to see a 9 - 4 type CMU team. A dominant MAC champ who could go toe to toe with the Spartans.

emu steve Wrote:The two Pac-10 bowls which might be open are LAS VEGAS and Armed Forces. (those are Pac-10 #5 and #6).

In his post-Buffalo game story, Ryan Autillo of The Blade indicated the three most likely bowl possibilities for the Falcons were the GMAC, the International and the Las Vegas.

"Las Vegas" obviously seemed to come out of nowhere, and some of us thought he just screwed up and meant to say "Motor City."

But it does look like the Pac-10 is going to be a team or two short of their commitments. My guess is that Autillo has heard some scuttlebutt.

I wish he would have explained the "Las Vegas" idea a little more, but he didn't.

The other thing I can say is that our radio team and Ryan seem to be fairly optimistic that Bowling Green will be in a bowl game, regardless of what happens this Friday. Most of fans sense we really need to beat Toledo to make sure of things.

The only reason for more optimism is to think another bowl is going to open up somewhere. So maybe people very close to the program are hearing more than they are letting on.

SF,

I wonder if the MAC lost a possible at-large bid when IU upset Purdue and MSU upset PSU?

BT has 8 7-5 or better teams for 7 bowls.

Had either IU or MSU lost, it would have been 7 teams for 7 bids and we just might have picked up a fourth bowl as the BT would not be a player for the Vegas or Armed Forces Bowls or any at large bids until ALL MAC 7 win teams are placed.

Where is Dick Vitale when we need them, "Let them all in" (well they already let 1/2 in now).

SF:

I'd guess it is almost impossible for BG NOT to be in a bowl game.

CMU and MIA both would need to end up with 7 wins (and being MACC participant with 7 wins there are 'guaranteed').

BSU would need to be 7 - 5 and picked by say I-Bowl.

Then, if there were NO at large bids remaining not already filled by a 'more desirable' 7 - 5 team,

That is the only scenario I can think of which would send CMU, MIA and BSU bowling and BG home for the holidays.

Friday and Saturday will be crazy in the MAC.