We're at that time of the year where at-large bowl berths hang in the balance. Depending on whether you are MAC team wanting in or a MAC team desiring a "name" opponent, here's the skinny:

ARMY (5-6): Lose to Navy on Dec 12 and a second slot opens up in the DC Bowl (CUSA has clinched the slot vacated by the lack of ACC teams). Due to the late date of the Army-Navy game, it's likely only a MAC or Sun Belt team will be left to fill Army's slot.

TCU (11-0): The Frogs are prohibitive favorites to beat New Mexico this Saturday, which will thrust them into a BCS bowl. This opens up a slot that will be vacated by the Mountain West in the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise.

WYOMING (5-6): Root for Colorado State to beat the Cowboys this weekend in Fort Collins. If it happens, another bowl slot is vacated by the Mountain West.

KANSAS (5-6): If the reeling Jawhawks somehow beat Missouri, they will get a bowl berth should two Big XII teams play in BCS bowls.

UCLA (6-5): If the Bruins win against USC they still might have only a game available against a MAC opponent. Lose, and it's still the case, but only if no 7-5 teams are available.

NOTRE DAME (6-5): Root against the Fighting Irish versus Stanford and the best bowl for them will be one against a MAC team! They chose to go bowling last year at 6-6, so why not again this year? Of course there's also the black eye ole' Charley has given the program, not to mention the black eye Jimmy Clausen was just reported to have received at a restaurant altercation last night.

UCONN (5-5): Unless the Huskies lose home games to both Syracuse and South Florida, they gain one of the Big East's six bowls.

HAWAII (5-6): It's unlikely Hawai'i will defeat both Navy and Wisconsin in the next two weeks, but if they do, the Rainbow Warriors will be bowling.

UAB (5-6): The Blazers chances of bowling are about as good as Toledo or Kent State (see below).

ULM (6-5) & ULL (6-5): These teams have tough games against Troy and Middle Tennessee. Win and they gain the advantage over 6-6 squads; lose and they are among the "last gasp" teams. Root for them to lose.

BOWLING GREEN (6-5) vs TOLEDO (5-6): If BG wins, they become a strong at-large candidate; if UT wins, both teams become marginal candidates at best.

KENT STATE (5-6): The Flashes bowl chances hang by a thin thread.

The Flashes have zero chance at a bowl. Nada.

Even in the best case scenario, the only additonal bowl openings will be Texas and New Mexico which will be filled by UCLA or Boise State.

The ONLY 6-6 school that does have a shot is Toledo with a win over BG and Colorado. Absolutely everying would have to work out for that to happen including New Mexico and Texas both open which is a long shot.

(11-24-2009 01:41 PM)Airport KC Wrote:  The Flashes have zero chance at a bowl. Nada.

Even in the best case scenario, the only additonal bowl openings will be Texas and New Mexico which will be filled by UCLA or Boise State.

The ONLY 6-6 school that does have a shot is Toledo with a win over BG and Colorado. Absolutely everying would have to work out for that to happen including New Mexico and Texas both open which is a long shot.

There are no 6-6 MAC teams going bowling but to discard WMU w/2 big time players in Hiller and West (leading yardage in NCAA history) and a smack down of Toledo is a bit much. I would place them even w/the edge to WMU. But its all irrelevant. Both terams stumbled w/at least one bad loss, in WMU's case 2 that cost them. Better luck next year.

(11-24-2009 02:00 PM)conrock Wrote:  

(11-24-2009 01:41 PM)Airport KC Wrote:  The Flashes have zero chance at a bowl. Nada.

Even in the best case scenario, the only additonal bowl openings will be Texas and New Mexico which will be filled by UCLA or Boise State.

The ONLY 6-6 school that does have a shot is Toledo with a win over BG and Colorado. Absolutely everying would have to work out for that to happen including New Mexico and Texas both open which is a long shot.

There are no 6-6 MAC teams going bowling but to discard WMU w/2 big time players in Hiller and West (leading yardage in NCAA history) and a smack down of Toledo is a bit much. I would place them even w/the edge to WMU. But its all irrelevant. Both terams stumbled w/at least one bad loss, in WMU's case 2 that cost them. Better luck next year.

Hiller may be big time in Kazoo, but really....he is a shell of what he was when he had two NFL bound receivers playing for him. Big Time players play for championships.

Re: The Flashes have zero chance at a bowl. Nada.

Actually, I believe Kent State could still draw a straight flush. One scenario is for all of the following teams to lose (and all but one are underdogs): Army, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, UAB, UConn, Wyoming, and Toledo.

Such a situation would result in SIX at-large slots to be filled by:

1) Middle Tennessee
2) NIU/Ohio/Temple
3) Notre Dame (if they accept)
4) UCLA (if they accept)
5) Bowling Green
and
6) pick among ULL, ULM and Kent for the last bowl remaining in D.C.

Based on watching last night's game vs BSU, Hiller may not have very dependable receivers this year, but he did not impress me at all regardless...I had to think that his stock must be going downhill if scouts were watching his performance.

(11-24-2009 08:47 AM)Okie Chippewa Wrote:  ARMY (5-6): Lose to Navy on Dec 12 and a second slot opens up in the DC Bowl (CUSA has clinched the slot vacated by the lack of ACC teams). Due to the late date of the Army-Navy game, it's likely only a MAC or Sun Belt team will be left to fill Army's slot.

That's not entirely correct. The ACC spot will remain at-large, and likely go to the MAC. Army automatically qualifies with a win, but could only play against a CUSA team if SMU and Marshall both win to create an extra 6 7+win teams in CUSA. That would make it Army vs. at large which could be any 7 win team. In other words, the only way this game can end up Army vs. CUSA is if Army AND SMU AND Marshall all win.

CUSA officially clinches a berth to this bowl with a 6 win team if Army loses to Navy.