Bowl Games?

[Eric]

Where do you see your team headed this season?

I've got to say for Michigan, they're probably looking at a 2nd place finish in the Big 10. I'd have to say that they get a slot in the Capital One Bowl against, probably, South Carolina or Georgia. Don't believe any of this Rose Bowl nonsense. How could a team with three losses, one to Appalachian State no less, find their way in the BCS? By the end of this regular season, they won't even be eligible for the BCS with a loss to Ohio State.

Ahem, sorry about that, moving on. Michigan State should be right on the borderline, but I'm not so sure they're going to get in. Left on the schedule are Michigan, Purdue, and Penn State, all probable losses. Should they score on upset, they'll finish the season at 6-6. I'm not so sure this is going to get them a bid with one BCS team from the conference. Indiana, Iowa, and Northwestern should get to bowl eligibility as well so MSU probably isn't going to be looking at a bowl bid.

Central Michigan is probably the most schizo team I've ever seen. The MAC isn't this terrible. They've seriously played like Florida International in their OOC games (52-7 vs. Kansas [35-7 at the half], Purdue 48-22 [I think], and 70-14 vs. Clemson). Oh yeah, they lost to North Dakota State by 30. Anyway, they're almost a lock for winning the MAC West and they're on their way to repeating as Mid-America Conference champs. I would say however, that the winner of the East will take the crown by upsetting CMU. I'm not totally buying Central Michigan repeating, but I'll give the Chips a berth in the Motor City Bowl because the MAC champ doesn't have an automatic bid there.

Western on the other hand is flirting with bowl eligibility. They're obviously one of the most disappointing teams in the nation (and I'm not saying that as a Bronco fan, they seriously are, they were supposed to be the favs in the MAC). They would currently have to win out in order to even have a prayer for bowl eligibilty with their latest gaffe against Eastern Michigan. They're not going to be bowling with Iowa and Central Michigan left on the schedule at 3-6.

Eastern is Eastern.

That does it for me, how about you guys?

[Spence]

I predicted three to four losses for Ohio State. One (and the possible) has passed. We still have Wisky, Illinois, and Michigan on the board. I would like to be confident that we win out. I 'm just not, yet. I want to see how the Wisconsin game goes, Wisconsin is lots like Michigan in terms of stlye of football. Michigan usually has a few players that are more talented, but they are very similar. If we struggle or lose to Wisky, then we might lose to Michigan. If we roll Wisky then we look good for the BCS.

Just knowing the history of Ohio State Michigan and knowing that Ohio State has never beaten Michigan 4 straight times in over 100 games, it is hard not to worry about that game as a Buckeye. Michgan has knocked us off plenty of times when we were the most talented team. We have returned that favor with them several times as well. Michigan may have won more then four in a row early on, but since 1950 I don't think either team has won more then three in a row except maybe one time. This is probably the worst stretch Michigan has ever had against Ohio State, but the tide always turns in this rivalry and it usually turns quickly. Henne, Hart, and Long came back solely to beat Ohio State and compete for a championship. The championship dream is over, but Ohio State still looms. Michigans DLine was new and not good at the beginning of the season, they are better now and I expect a war in Ann Arbor in three weeks. Especially if Ohio State is undefeated. It won't be easy.

[Derek]

It's impossible to say in the SEC. Especially since the bowls DONT the teams how you would expect.

The champion always goes to the Sugar Bowl, unless they are playing for the NC. And the Capital One always takes SEC #2, this DOES NOT mean that they will take the loser of the CCG. This happened in the 2004 season with Tennesse and Auburn. Auburn won and went to the Sugar, but Tenn got sent to the Cotton bowl because they were not #2 in the SEC in terms of record.

IF LSU loses to Alabama, they could possibly get the Capital One bowl with only 2 losses. And the East will be sent packing, and even a Team like GA, FL, or Kentucky could end up in a crap bowl.

The horrors of playing in the East this year.... ONE team, count em, ONE team that is NOT that good this year and that's Vandy.

[Eric]

And Vanderbilt is actually somewhat decent

[billybud]

No way OSU loses to Wisconsin...the Vegas line is at like 16 points...the oddsmakers are seldom that far off....

Wisconsin is not very good this year.

[donovan]

No way OSU loses to Wisconsin...the Vegas line is at like 16 points...the oddsmakers are seldom that far off....

Wisconsin is not very good this year.

I think that is correct...I know nothing about professional gamblers....but I understand they never bet close games and always take the houses side.

[Dossenator]

Arkansas has 4 games left (South Carolina, Tennessee, Miss St, and LSU).

If ARK wins out I think they will be in the Cotton Bowl.

If ARK losses 1 then I think the Cotton Bowl is still an option and the Music City Bowl would be in the picture as well.

If ARK losses 2 games then I think they are in the Independence Bowl.

If they loss 3 of those games I don't think they deserve a bowl game even though they would be bowl eligible....in fact they would probably be left out because it looks like the SEC will have 10 or 11 bowl eligible teams (only Ole Miss is eliminated).

I for one hope for the Cotton Bowl...say maybe against Texas. Man I would love to see McFadden and F. Jones get to run all over the Texas defense. Ark adds Texas to their non-conference schedule next season but more then likely both McFadden and Jones will be in the NFL by then.

[Spence]

No way OSU loses to Wisconsin...the Vegas line is at like 16 points...the oddsmakers are seldom that far off....

Wisconsin is not very good this year.

Florida was a 7 point dog to Ohio State last year and Ohio State was a 14 point dog to Miami in the championship game.

Wisconsin has some good players on offense. Their defense is young and prone to brain cramps, but they have been playing better and they always cause Ohio State problems. I'm not a believer yet in the Dline, especially not at the DT position.

[Jason G]

Where do you see your team headed this season?

I've got to say for Michigan, they're probably looking at a 2nd place finish in the Big 10. I'd have to say that they get a slot in the Capital One Bowl against, probably, South Carolina or Georgia. Don't believe any of this Rose Bowl nonsense. How could a team with three losses, one to Appalachian State no less, find their way in the BCS? By the end of this regular season, they won't even be eligible for the BCS with a loss to Ohio State.

Ahem, sorry about that, moving on. Michigan State should be right on the borderline, but I'm not so sure they're going to get in. Left on the schedule are Michigan, Purdue, and Penn State, all probable losses. Should they score on upset, they'll finish the season at 6-6. I'm not so sure this is going to get them a bid with one BCS team from the conference. Indiana, Iowa, and Northwestern should get to bowl eligibility as well so MSU probably isn't going to be looking at a bowl bid.

Central Michigan is probably the most schizo team I've ever seen. The MAC isn't this terrible. They've seriously played like Florida International in their OOC games (52-7 vs. Kansas [35-7 at the half], Purdue 48-22 [I think], and 70-14 vs. Clemson). Oh yeah, they lost to North Dakota State by 30. Anyway, they're almost a lock for winning the MAC West and they're on their way to repeating as Mid-America Conference champs. I would say however, that the winner of the East will take the crown by upsetting CMU. I'm not totally buying Central Michigan repeating, but I'll give the Chips a berth in the Motor City Bowl because the MAC champ doesn't have an automatic bid there.

Western on the other hand is flirting with bowl eligibility. They're obviously one of the most disappointing teams in the nation (and I'm not saying that as a Bronco fan, they seriously are, they were supposed to be the favs in the MAC). They would currently have to win out in order to even have a prayer for bowl eligibilty with their latest gaffe against Eastern Michigan. They're not going to be bowling with Iowa and Central Michigan left on the schedule at 3-6.

Eastern is Eastern.

That does it for me, how about you guys?

As far as Akron goes they need a miracle to get a bowl bid (and when is the last time a team had two in the same season as the WMU win would surely qualify). They are currently 3-5 and would need to go 3-1 to be bowl eligible at 6-6 but even that record won't get a MAC school a bowl. They're only hope is to get to 7 wins and "earn" a spot by another conference not being able to fill all their slots since then a 7-win school MUST be taken before all 6-6 at large teams. That being said in order to go 7-5 my Zips would have to win at Bowling Green, at home against Ohio, at Miami, and at home against Central Michigan. Seeing as how they are coming off of back-to-back losses to Temple and Buffalo you have to think the chances aren't very realistic. The only real chance they have is that the top teams in the MAC East knock each other off and the division comes back to them so they could be in bowl tie-in position, but it isn't going to happen.

Eric, I disagree with you on Michigan State. If the Spartans go 6-6 I think they definitely will go bowling even if a team or two ahead of them in the standings gets left out. It appears the Big Ten will have at least 7 teams bowl eligible this year. The tie-in for Big Ten #7 is the Motor City Bowl in Detroit. If in fact seven teams are eligible and no other bowl with a B-10 tie-in selects the Spartans the Motor City Bowl would be frothing at the mouth at the chance to draw the type of crowd MSU would bring to Ford Field. It would be a no-brainer for the MCB committee.

[Eric]

I know they might, but I was under the impression that Indiana would win 7 games. That would leave us with this pecking order:

1. Ohio State
2. Michigan
3. Penn State
4. Wisconsin
5. Purdue
6. Illinois
7. Iowa
8. Indiana

I think Iowa is almost a lock for 7-5 with games left against Northwestern, Minnesota, and Western Michigan.

[Howdy]

My team is setting the wrong kind of records this year.
They will not be going bowling this year.
Thank you Steve Peterson.

[1992heritage]

Boise State in the Rose Bowl, if the cards fall just right.

[Derek]

Arkansas has 4 games left (South Carolina, Tennessee, Miss St, and LSU).

If they loss 3 of those games I don't think they deserve a bowl game even though they would be bowl eligible....in fact they would probably be left out because it looks like the SEC will have 10 or 11 bowl eligible teams (only Ole Miss is eliminated).

And who else can say that.

[Eric]

It can't be that they're all not as good as we suspect them to and that they've played easier non-conference schedules, could it, Derek?

[donovan]

Boise State in the Rose Bowl, if the cards fall just right.

As I understand it, the Rose Bowl host the Big Ten and Pac Ten unless there is a championship involved......