Bowl Games?

[Derek]

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......

Isn't the Championship at the Orange Bowl this year? That would open the Orange for someone LIKE Boise or Hawaii, because Hawaii is definately ranked high enough right now.

[donovan]

I think that is exactly right....that game a week before the championship game...like last years Fiesta bowl...is a great opportunity for everyone....lets the mid major school have some kind of a chance....and takes the pressure off of the BCS to even considered a 12 and O mid major playing in the Sacred Hallow.....and if they can have another game like last years Boise Oklahoma...good for everyone.

[Spence]

The championship game is in New Orleans at the Sugar bowl site.

[RazorHawk]

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.

For Iowa to be a lock at 7-5 they must win out. I do think Minny and W Michigan should be wins, but Northwestern is a 1 point favorite at home today. Not sure that would qualify as a lock, when you are a 1 point underdog. Iowa definitely has trouble with teams the run the spread offense, and recently Northwestern has done very well against the Hawks. I think NW wins today and Iowa finishes 6-6 and the only thing that will get them to a bowl, is how well their fans travel. Last year's 6-6 team wound up in the Alamo Bowl and then lost to Texas to finish 6-7.

[Eric]

Too bad we don't have CFP bucks anymore, RazorHawk

Indiana will finish up against Northwestern and Purdue while Michigan State will finish up with Purdue and Penn State.

Northwestern will finish up against Indiana and Illinois.

Let's just say I like Iowa's chances. If they go 7-5 and Indiana, Michigan State, and Northwestern go 6-6, when the bowl gets its pick, it would have to take Iowa between these four teams.

If Michigan can (EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY UNLIKELY) get into the BCS, Michigan State would go, hands-down, to the Motor City Bowl. For a game played in Detroit, Central Michigan + Michigan State = sellout.

[Jason G]

Let's just say I like Iowa's chances. If they go 7-5 and Indiana, Michigan State, and Northwestern go 6-6, when the bowl gets its pick, it would have to take Iowa between these four teams.

Eric, I don't think that is necessarily true. The Big Ten may have made a rule I am not aware of but I believe nationally speaking the 7-5 rule only applies to "at large" situations, including ones where a conference cannot fill all its tie-ins. When considering bowls where the conference is "tied in" I believe the bowl gets its pick of any bowl eligible (6+ win) conference team and wouldn't be forced to take a 7 win team before one with 6 wins.

[RazorHawk]

Let's just say I like Iowa's chances. If they go 7-5 and Indiana, Michigan State, and Northwestern go 6-6, when the bowl gets its pick, it would have to take Iowa between these four teams.

Eric, I don't think that is necessarily true. The Big Ten may have made a rule I am not aware of but I believe nationally speaking the 7-5 rule only applies to "at large" situations, including ones where a conference cannot fill all its tie-ins. When considering bowls where the conference is "tied in" I believe the bowl gets its pick of any bowl eligible (6+ win) conference team and wouldn't be forced to take a 7 win team before one with 6 wins.

Jason, I think you are correct. I think Iowa with a 6-6 record last year got a better bowl game (Alamo Bowl) than 1 or 2 teams with 7-5 records.

Iowa, if they beat W Michigan this Saturday will be 7-5 and will definitely go bowling. They were fortunate to beat Minny last Saturday.

[Spence]

The B-10 only has 7 bowl tie ins. Since the B-10 isn't going to have two teams in the BCS, only seven teams are eligible if they finish with a 6-6 record. 7-5 teams get the nod over 6-6 teams, so 6-6 doesn't guarantee a bowl game in the B-10. It just means they are eligible to be picked, which would be unlikely.

[Derek]

Very intersting....


SEC Bowl Tie-Ins

The Southeastern Conference has agreements to send eight of its member institutions to postseason bowl games following the 2006 season. The winner of the SEC Championship Game will automatically participate in the Bowl Championship Series comprised of the Sugar, Rose, Orange and Fiesta Bowls.

The Capital One (2nd), will then make its pick following the BCS selections. The bowl must select the team with the next best overall record or a team that is within one win of the team with the next best overall record.

The Outback, Chick-fil-A and AT&T Cotton Bowls will work with the conference office to determine picks 3-5. The Cotton Bowl has the first preference of teams from the Western Division and the Outback Bowl has first preference of teams from the Eastern Division. The Cotton or Outback Bowl can select teams outside of its divisional preference, but must not select them before the opposite bowl selects from its divisional preference. The Chick-fil-A Bowl has the selection of preference following the Cotton and Outback Bowls.

In selections 6-7, the AutoZone Liberty and Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowls will make their selections, not in any specific order, but in consultation with the SEC Office. The Bowls will rank available qualified teams in order of preference. If there are no similarities in the order of selection, the bowls will be granted its selection. If the bowls rank the same teams in preference, the team involved in the process would get its preference of which bowl to participate.

The Independence Bowl will receive the eighth selection of available SEC teams.

2nd Selection

* CAPITAL ONE BOWL
Jan. 1 • 1 p.m. ET • ABC Sports
Orlando, Fla. • Florida Citrus Bowl (65,438)
Teams: SEC vs. Big Ten

3rd through 5th Selections (Listed in alphetical order) -

* AT&T COTTON BOWL
Jan. 1 • 11:30 a.m. ET • FOX Sports
Dallas, Texas • The Cotton Bowl (68,252)
Teams: SEC vs. Big 12

* CHICK-FIL-A BOWL
Dec. 30 • 8 p.m. ET • ESPN
Atlanta, Ga. • Georgia Dome (71,228)
Teams: SEC vs. ACC

* OUTBACK BOWL
Jan. 1 • 11 a.m. ET • ESPN
Tampa, Fla. • Raymond James Stadium (65,657)
Teams: SEC vs. Big Ten

6th and 7th Selections (Listed in alphabetical order) -

* AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL
Dec. 29 • 4:30 p.m. ET • ESPN
Memphis, Tenn. • Liberty Bowl Stadium (62,338)
Teams: SEC vs. Conference USA

* GAYLORD HOTELS MUSIC CITY BOWL
presented by Bridgestone
Dec. 29 • 1 p.m. ET • ESPN
Nashville, Tenn. • The Coliseum (67,000)
Teams: SEC vs. ACC

8th Selection

* INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Dec. 28 • 4:30 p.m. ET • ESPN
Shreveport, La. • Independence Stadium (50,459)
Teams: SEC vs. Big 12

[Spence]

That is pretty much how the B-10 bowl selection works, except I believe they only have seven bowl tie ins. That doesn't mean another bowl can't pick the teams that are left, it has happened before. I just don't think they would take a 6-6 team over a 7-5 team. When you get that far down the food chain it is likely a team that doesn't regularly go to a bowl game and that schools fans would likely travel pretty well regardless.

[Eric]

Well, that 6-6 team you speak of could possibly be Michigan State which would give Iowa the shaft.

[Eric]

I give it a 90% shot for an Illinois/Florida pairing in the Capital One Bowl (or Outback, but I doubt it). It's a lock.

[Spence]

I give it a 90% shot for an Illinois/Florida pairing in the Capital One Bowl (or Outback, but I doubt it). It's a lock.

I'm calling a Ohio State-Florida rematch in the Cap. One bowl.

[Derek]

I give it a 90% shot for an Illinois/Florida pairing in the Capital One Bowl (or Outback, but I doubt it). It's a lock.

I'm calling a Ohio State-Florida rematch in the Cap. One bowl.

VERY possible!

[Spence]

Yeah, but we have the same problems on the O and D lines. We do have a QB who can step up in the pocket this year, though. TS couldn't operate in the pocket because he couldn't see over the line. Our DT's haven't been great this year and the guards still need help inside from the tackles.