So, any guesses who the 4-6 bowl eligible teams might be that could be left at home in favor of the cajuns? Trying to convince myself that there's actually a real possibillity for us.
igeaux.mobi
So, any guesses who the 4-6 bowl eligible teams might be that could be left at home in favor of the cajuns? Trying to convince myself that there's actually a real possibillity for us.
igeaux.mobi
I picked this up on the latech board
As it stands right now, we would be competing with bowling green, Northern Illinois, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic and San Jose State for essentially the last 2 bowl spots. considering where most of the open spots are (mostly in the south) I would find that to be an advantage, and also, remember, the only available northern bowl game would be the motor city bowl, which is already filled with MAC team so they couldn't fill it with another. If the at large 7-5 Mac team chooses to go to Hawaii, I think its a shoe in that there will be 2 atlarge Sunbelt teams because of where the bowl openings will be.The current Sagarin Predictor projection shows 72 teams finishing 6-6 or better. 72 is the minimum number of teams that will get to 6-6, but Louisville and Arizona State wins can increase that total to 74. Rutgers and Arkansas State are the only remaining teams that don't have 7 wins now that can finish with 7 wins.
Teams and games to watch….
Big East
Louisville (5-6) projected to lose at Rutgers on December 4 (must win to get to 6-6)
Rutgers (6-5) projected to win vs Louisville on December 4 (gets to 7-5 with a win)
Pac 10
Arizona State (5-6) projected to lose at Arizona (must win to get to 6-6)
SBC
Arkansas State (6-5) projected to lose at Troy (can get to 7-5 with a win)
Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) won 42-28 vs Middle Tennessee State
Middle Tennessee State (5-7) was eliminated by losing 42-28 at Louisiana-Lafayette
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BC$ bid allocation
USC is projected to win vs UCLA and get the Pac 10 automatic BC$ bid. Utah will be the top ranked non-BC$ team and will get an automatic BC$ bid since it will finish in the BC$ final Top 12. Boise State and Ohio State are eligible for the other BC$ at-large bid.
BCS bids would be allocated this way...Big 12—2, $EC—2, Big Ten--2 (likely) or 1, Pac 10—1, ACC—1, Big East—1 (Cincinnati), non-BC$—1 (Utah) or 2
Bowl selections
After allocating guaranteed bids and the definite Pac 10 Poinsettia opening to the WAC, here are the projected open bids and 7-5+ teams available to fill them….
Projected Remaining Open Bids (6)—Motor City (from Big Ten with 2 Big Ten teams in BC$) or Emerald (from Pac 10 with 2 teams in BC$), Independence (both sides), Texas (from Big 12), Hawai’i (from Pac 10), Papajohns.com (from $EC)
Projected 7-5+ at-large teams (2)—MAC 1, WAC 1 (Louisiana Tech)
At this point in the process, 64 teams including all 7-5+ teams would already be placed in a bowl with three bids still open.
ACC—9 Big Ten—7 Big 12—7 Big East—6 CUSA—6 Independent—1 MAC—4 MWC—5 Pac 10—5 $EC—8 SBC—1 WAC—5
Projected 6-6 at-large pool (4 of 8 teams get a bid)—Notre Dame, ACC 1 (North Carolina State), MAC 2 (Bowling Green, Northern Illinois), SBC 3 (Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Lafayette), WAC 1 (San Jose State)
It is unlikely that either 6-6 MAC team will get an at-large bid. At least one SBC team should get an at-large bid (Arkansas State qualifies with a win or Florida Atlantic likely gets a bid if Arkansas State loses). An Arizona State win would almost certainly eliminate San Jose State from consideration. A Louisville win would likely put Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl with both Rutgers and Louisville then in the 6-6 at-large pool.
BOP will correct me if I am wrong, so with that safety net in place, some thoughts on the contracts.
I think it has been cleared up that a conference and a bowl can agree to give priority to their 6-6 over any other 6-6, however the question remains what did the parties agree to and write down.
In the 12 game era, I may have missed it but I cannot find where a 6-6 at-large team has gotten a bowl. There have been 7 or betters left out but I didn't see on a quick scan where a 6-6 has made it "at-large" they've made it to fill a primary contract.
I don't know that the deals were cut with 6-6 in mind because it was probably assumed that it wouldn't get to that point so I doubt there is explicit language dealing with it, then it comes down to construing vague language.
By my count if Arizona State loses (opening Hawaii) and Louisville loses, we have 72 teams at 6-6 or better
Notre Dame
NC State
San Jose State
Bowling Green State
Northern Illinois
Louisiana
Florida Atlantic
Arkansas State (with a loss to Troy)
That means four of the eight on that list get a bowl game. Bowling Green fired their coach and probably won't be invited or looking.
That leaves four spots for seven on the list.
Notre Dame gets a game and NC State gets a game.
That leaves 2 spots for San Jose State, Northern Illinois, Louisiana Florida Atlantic and ASU. However there are rumors that if Rutgers beats Louisville that Notre Dame will sit out bowl season because that knocks Notre Dame out of the Sun Bowl. So there may be another spot.
If ASU wins that leaves one spot for San Jose State, NIU, Louisiana and FAU.
Now here is where it gets interesting. If Notre Dame takes its pick, I wager its not Shreveport. If ASU beats Troy, its not Birmingham but probably isn't any way. I think of the games left, only Hawaii (due to location) or Texas due to it having Rice, the best perceived opponent in the academic arena is where they go.
I think NC State then goes to Birmingham if open, if not they go to Motor City.
That leaves Shreveport picking between: Northern Illinois, San Jose State, Louisiana, FAU and Arkansas State with a loss to Troy.
Just guessing, but I think the Cajuns are in the hunt for Shreveport, Hawaii, Motor City and home.
I am hearing that NC State may opt out of a bowl.
Independence may select FAU and then trade with ST. Pete to get Memphis, sending FAU to St. Pete.
If Troy beats ASU, Birmingham will be open if the rumors of NC State are true.
I think if Notre Dame isn't in Texas, the Cajuns will be.
I'd love to play in Texas, Shreveport, Hawaii, Siberia, Antarctica....I just want to geaux bowling!!! (Well, maybe not Antarctca....)
We will have lots more fans in St. Pete than FAU. If this scenario holds true, I see the Cajuns getting left out. BOP, so you see Notre Dame's decision being the key? Notre Dame would probably accept the invitation to the Texas Bowl to help its recruiting and fan base in the South/Southwest and play in an area of the country where they do not often play.
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