Alright, there’s not much to say about the game against ASU. Most of us will admit that we were out-everythinged in that game and probably weren’t going to win even with Willie Tuitama in the lineup. That said, a lot of people are saying there is no chance for a bowl game. However, I’ve done some research and if my findings are correct, Arizona still has an outside shot at a bowl game. Here’s how it breaks down:

There are 64 bowl slots available. There are 73 teams who have six wins or more and thereby meet the necessary criteria for a bowl berth. Teams with only six wins cannot be placed in a bowl game until all teams with seven or more wins have been placed. The ONLY exception to this rule is if a conference has a guaranteed tie-in. In the case of the Pac-10, this means a 6-6 UCLA team (assuming they lose to USC) will probably get the conference’s guaranteed spot in the Hawaii bowl.

Troy and Louisiana-Lafayette are both 6-5 heading into their final games next week. If both win, that would mean there are 64 teams that meet the criteria of seven wins OR a conference tie-in. Troy is playing winless Florida International so don’t count on much there. Louisiana-Lafayette faces rival Louisiana-Monroe (3-8) so that seems like the better shot of the two. For the sake of argument, let’s say that one of them loses. That would create a situation where 10 teams with a 6-6 record would be fighting for ONE FINAL SPOT. Those teams are…

  • Arizona
  • Washington St.
  • Pittsburgh
  • Kansas/Oklahoma St. (one will get a tie-in and the other becomes part of the ten)
  • Alabama
  • New Mexico/Wyoming (one will get a tie-in and the other becomes part of the ten)
  • SMU
  • Kent St.
  • Arkansas St.
  • Troy/Louisiana-Lafayette (if one of them loses)

    The rest of the story

    Brandon Johnson
    azstarnet.com


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