can cajuns get at large bid for a bowl?

[MiamiCajun32]

A couple of years ago Troy received an at large bid for some small bowl game, even though they went 6-5 (although beat Missouri). That year there was a lack of bowl eligible teams in the bigger conferences. On the other hand, I think La Tech missed out on a bowl last year even after posting a nice record.

It seems like whether the cajuns can go to a bowl depends on how many bowl eligible teams there will be out there. Almost no chance of MT losing 2 of their last 3 conference games.

It also seems like Cajuns chances of going to a bowl game may not change much whether they go 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5. A 9-3 sunbelt team will likely be passed over by a 6-6 conf usa team so the record does not really matter for bowl purposes, except to make sure Cajuns are the second team in the sunbelt.

Does any one have any insight on this?

[kracka75LSU]

A couple of years ago Troy received an at large bid for some small bowl game, even though they went 6-5 (although beat Missouri). That year there was a lack of bowl eligible teams in the bigger conferences. On the other hand, I think La Tech missed out on a bowl last year even after posting a nice record.

It seems like whether the cajuns can go to a bowl depends on how many bowl eligible teams there will be out there. Almost no chance of MT losing 2 of their last 3 conference games.

It also seems like Cajuns chances of going to a bowl game may not change much whether they go 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5. A 9-3 sunbelt team will likely be passed over by a 6-6 conf usa team so the record does not really matter for bowl purposes, except to make sure Cajuns are the second team in the sunbelt.

Does any one have any insight on this?

Outside of getting into the New Orleans bowl via a MT collapse and a UL run the table, their are no chances to get into a bowl. Look at all the teams in the top 25 that are going to go to bowls. Their isn't going to be any small conference at large bids to spare.

[rhineaux]

A couple of years ago Troy received an at large bid for some small bowl game, even though they went 6-5 (although beat Missouri). That year there was a lack of bowl eligible teams in the bigger conferences. On the other hand, I think La Tech missed out on a bowl last year even after posting a nice record.

It seems like whether the cajuns can go to a bowl depends on how many bowl eligible teams there will be out there. Almost no chance of MT losing 2 of their last 3 conference games.

It also seems like Cajuns chances of going to a bowl game may not change much whether they go 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5. A 9-3 sunbelt team will likely be passed over by a 6-6 conf usa team so the record does not really matter for bowl purposes, except to make sure Cajuns are the second team in the sunbelt.

Does any one have any insight on this?

You pretty much said it all. The bowl thing will depend on a lot of others. Plus, of the bowl games nearest to us, which means NO, Houston, Independence, or Alamo, and at least two of those are totally out of the question, then we are likely to get passed over becasue we won't bring enough fans because it would be too far.

[VObserver]

You pretty much said it all. The bowl thing will depend on a lot of others. Plus, of the bowl games nearest to us, which means NO, Houston, Independence, or Alamo, and at least two of those are totally out of the question, then we are likely to get passed over becasue we won't bring enough fans because it would be too far.

Wrong. There are likely to be at least two, maybe three open bowl slots; and the NCAA has changed the eligibility rules. If a bowl has an open slot, it cannot take a 6-6 team unless ALL available teams with a better record have bowl slots. It is very unlikely that any conference other than the SBC will have any available teams at 7-5 or better.

Now, we might end up in Toronto or Detroit [International and Motor City Bowls, respectively], but open slots are also possible at the Ft. Worth Bowl and the Houston Bowl; either of which would be great for an SBC team.

It is too early to tell, but the Sunbelt could actually have 3 bowl teams this year.

[MiamiCajun32]

Outside of getting into the New Orleans bowl via a MT collapse and a UL run the table, their are no chances to get into a bowl. Look at all the teams in the top 25 that are going to go to bowls. Their isn't going to be any small conference at large bids to spare.

There are many more bowl games than only the 12.5 represented by the top 25. A couple of years ago 6-5 Troy was not even close to receiving votes in the top 25, much less competing with those teams for a bowl bid.

The point made that 6-6 teams cannot be considered for bowls if there are other bowl eligible teams out there will help, although most BCS mediocre teams scheduled a cake walk for the new 12th game.

Who knows? The sunbelt splitting 6 games with the conference usa might just cause a conference usa team to be ineligible for a bowl and allow a sunbelt at large team to get in. But again, it seems highly unlikely that any team from the sunbelt would get an invite over any team eligible, even with worse record, from conference usa. With wac, that is another story, as some of those teams are very far from most bowl sites and don't have large fan bases. Perhaps an 8-4 Cajuns team would be selected for a Texas bowl over a 7-5 wac team that would be hard pressed to bring any fans so far to the low level bowl game. If Cajuns were in Houston or Fort Worth for a bowl, there would be thousands of fans making the trip, the first ever D-1A bowl game.

[CajunProud]

Wrong. There are likely to be at least two, maybe three open bowl slots; and the NCAA has changed the eligibility rules. If a bowl has an open slot, it cannot take a 6-6 team unless ALL available teams with a better record have bowl slots. It is very unlikely that any conference other than the SBC will have any available teams at 7-5 or better.

Now, we might end up in Toronto or Detroit [International and Motor City Bowls, respectively], but open slots are also possible at the Ft. Worth Bowl and the Houston Bowl; either of which would be great for an SBC team.

It is too early to tell, but the Sunbelt could actually have 3 bowl teams this year.

So obviously we still have a heck of a lot to play for.

[MiamiCajun32]

So obviously we still have a heck of a lot to play for.

A reasonable chance to finish 8-4 or 9-3 and perhaps another tie for conference championship is a lot to play for, even if a bowl game does not work out.

I like this new sunbelt better than the one North Texas used to roll through by default, as the only program putting a competitive team on the field.

sunbelt splitting 6 games with conference usa says a lot and it is translating to the conference games. I am glad to see that MT is a good team and has potential to be consistently good in coming years. There is no doubt that FAU and FIU will be very good teams in next 5 years, due to the money pouring in to those programs. I also think there is little doubt that the Cajuns will be a very competitive team in sunbelt for years to come. Having four or five teams compete for conference title every year, with all those teams playing as well as an average or better conference usa team, is a huge improvement. Perhaps in the future the sunbelt can rise above a conference like the MAC and WAC due to better fan support and better locations. For that long shot possibility to happen, the sunbelt needs a handful of good teams each year and good competition. I personally would rather see the Cajuns win the conference untied once every four years, if it meant the sunbelt was better, than 3 out of 4 years if it meant that they were winning by default, like North Texas did for a while. I think this Cajuns team and MT would give those past NT teams all they could handle.

Well, that is my 2 cents and my silver lining on the black cloud that happened at Cajun Field Saturday.

[CajunProud]

A reasonable chance to finish 8-4 or 9-3 and perhaps another tie for conference championship is a lot to play for, even if a bowl game does not work out.

I like this new sunbelt better than the one North Texas used to roll through by default, as the only program putting a competitive team on the field.

sunbelt splitting 6 games with conference usa says a lot and it is translating to the conference games. I am glad to see that MT is a good team and has potential to be consistently good in coming years. There is no doubt that FAU and FIU will be very good teams in next 5 years, due to the money pouring in to those programs. I also think there is little doubt that the Cajuns will be a very competitive team in sunbelt for years to come. Having four or five teams compete for conference title every year, with all those teams playing as well as an average or better conference usa team, is a huge improvement. Perhaps in the future the sunbelt can rise above a conference like the MAC and WAC due to better fan support and better locations. For that long shot possibility to happen, the sunbelt needs a handful of good teams each year and good competition. I personally would rather see the Cajuns win the conference untied once every four years, if it meant the sunbelt was better, than 3 out of 4 years if it meant that they were winning by default, like North Texas did for a while. I think this Cajuns team and MT would give those past NT teams all they could handle.

Well, that is my 2 cents and my silver lining on the black cloud that happened at Cajun Field Saturday.

Agreed.

[El Sidonio]

I for one, will be pleased as long as we win at least 7 games, which is also my prediction. Out of the 5 games remaining, there are basically 3 gimmes (knock on wood): UNT, FIU, and ULM. Although we have ASU at home, they are a contender for the championship, in spite of their slip up against FAU. Troy is not getting enough respect in the race for the championship, and I think they are not only a sleeper, but much better than they're getting credit for. So I think Troy and ASU could be losses.

All that being said, I again state that I will be pleased with 7 wins. Why? Because it's a 1 game improvement over last season. Conf. championships are the goal, but considering where we came from, simple 1 game improvements from season to season are good for me. If we continue to improve by 1 game a season, it means that in only 3 short years, we should be theoretically winning 10 a year. Not too bad, and more than likely good enough to be winning conf. championships.

As far as our bowl chances, as long as we have at least 7 wins, I say we have a chance. My general opinion is that there's not alot of parity, but there is enough of it throughout Div. I-A to hope for a bid to some minor bowl. And honestly, I don't even care if it's in Timbuktu, as long as we get some kind of invite, and win the game. Although at this point, invite would be good news for us, even if we don't win.

God Bless

GEAUX UL RAGIN CAJUNS!!!!!!!!!!!

[El Sidonio]

A couple of years ago Troy received an at large bid for some small bowl game, even though they went 6-5 (although beat Missouri). That year there was a lack of bowl eligible teams in the bigger conferences. On the other hand, I think La Tech missed out on a bowl last year even after posting a nice record.

It seems like whether the cajuns can go to a bowl depends on how many bowl eligible teams there will be out there. Almost no chance of MT losing 2 of their last 3 conference games.

It also seems like Cajuns chances of going to a bowl game may not change much whether they go 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5. A 9-3 sunbelt team will likely be passed over by a 6-6 conf usa team so the record does not really matter for bowl purposes, except to make sure Cajuns are the second team in the sunbelt.

Who are MT's last three opponents?

God Bless

GEAUX UL RAGIN CAJUNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does any one have any insight on this?

[kracka75LSU]

There are many more bowl games than only the 12.5 represented by the top 25. A couple of years ago 6-5 Troy was not even close to receiving votes in the top 25, much less competing with those teams for a bowl bid.

The point made that 6-6 teams cannot be considered for bowls if there are other bowl eligible teams out there will help, although most BCS mediocre teams scheduled a cake walk for the new 12th game.

Who knows? The sunbelt splitting 6 games with the conference usa might just cause a conference usa team to be ineligible for a bowl and allow a sunbelt at large team to get in. But again, it seems highly unlikely that any team from the sunbelt would get an invite over any team eligible, even with worse record, from conference usa. With wac, that is another story, as some of those teams are very far from most bowl sites and don't have large fan bases. Perhaps an 8-4 Cajuns team would be selected for a Texas bowl over a 7-5 wac team that would be hard pressed to bring any fans so far to the low level bowl game. If Cajuns were in Houston or Fort Worth for a bowl, there would be thousands of fans making the trip, the first ever D-1A bowl game.

I would imagine you would have to run the table in order to do what your talking about. After what I saw saturday afternoon. I don't think that will happen. They better get their ____ together. About the best thing I could say about saturday was it sure was nice to have bad traffic on congress due to a UL game. It was nice to see the parking lot getting full the night before the game.

[El Sidonio]

I agree with kracka about it being a good feeling to see traffic congested and the tailgating lot full b/c of the UL football game. Also...........

In remembering the parity of this league compared with the fact that we gave this game to MTSU, I would like to say this:

Their last three conf games are FAU, Arkansas State, and Troy. They will lose the game against South Carolina. When that happens, they are 8-4 at best. Seeing what FAU almost did to us, and did do to ASU, and considering Troy is a sleeper in the race and right behind MT, and since ASU is still in the hunt also, don't think it too unlikely that we have a chance to be outright champs. I think we are at least co champs.

Think further about MT's remaining schedule. They have ASU on the road, and an unpredictable FAU squad along with a tough Troy team at home. I say there's now way MTSU can get through their remaining conf schedule without 1 more loss.

To sum up my rambling: We still have a very good chance to be outright champs and NO Bowl reps, and IMO it's almost a guarantee that we are at least co-champs.

God Bless

GEAUX UL RAGIN CAJUNS!!!!!!!!!!!