(01-10-2013 09:12 PM)IceJus10 Wrote:  Hasn't the Liberty bowl been undergoing upgrades, new lighting, monster video board, entertainment complex (restaurants, bars, and shops) built out in the parking lot? I thought last summer the conference realignment board was full of updates...

Yes...it has been going through upgrades...too bad the SunBeast decided to self destruct. Memphis fans are good folks and deserve better.

(01-09-2013 03:51 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  If no payouts change, and you pick up the Gator and Pinstripe, this is the result

#1 Discover Orange Bowl.
#2 Chick-fil-A Bowl
#3 Gator Bowl
#4 Russell Athletic Bowl
#5 Sun Bowl
#6 Pinstripe Bowl
#7 The Belk Bowl
#8 Music City Bowl
#9 Independence Bowl
#10 Military Bowl
#11 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (conditional)

Observations:
- Virtually never will the ACC fulfill 11 slots with 14 teams.
- I can live with the KFH being dead last conditional. At least SFO is a destination, even if football in the Giants stadium is deplorable and the city is a filthy liberal wasteland.
- Please punt the I-Bowl. They may be 9th, but they are the worst one to go to. And it aint even close.
- The back end of the bowl lineup is actually pretty nice. DC. Nashville, Charlotte. NYC.
- I'm surprised the Gator pays out so high. The Gator outpays the CFA bowl's payout to the SEC, but not the per-team average (the ACC gets quite a bit more for handing over 2nd pick).
- I'm fine with the Sun Bowl. It's historic. It's usually warm. Amazing food. And the most unique bowl atmosphere ever. It's like a college football United Nations. At least 20+ teams represented in the stands from locals. It's not cheap to fly to though. You'll come in at just under $500 round trip via AA through DFW if you're lucky. And might I add my experience flying those AA legs from ELP <--> DFW <--> CLT is that it was the worst flying I've ever done. No wonder AA is bankrupt.

You have to include ND for bowl tie ins so that would be 15 teams.