Why Rick Chryst is on the hot seat...

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:15 pm

and why it's not too early to talk about bowls...

http://www.ay-ziggy-zoomba.com/articles/1987alum

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 3:59 pm

Excellent article as always. These types of articles always get me so excited. I hope your calculations are even somewhat correct, because 12 spots is a lot of slots to fill and BG very well could fill one of them.

CharlotteFalcon · Post by **CharlotteFalcon** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:14 pm

Nice Article. However, I would consider it a victory for the MAC if we can get even 4 Bowl Bids. Yes I know that means someone stays home, but 4 is much better than 2 and despite how much we all love BG and the MAC in general there is a lot of negative perception about the MAC and fans traveling etc that Chryst has to overcome first.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:18 pm

Are they in fact adding the 5th BCS Bowl game THIS year? If not, you have 10 teams going to BCS bowls in your projection. I cannot remember if that is starting this year or not.

Otherwise I don't see anything terribly wrong with your calculations.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:05 pm

hammb:

I was going from ESPN's bowl schedule, which lists four BCS bowls - Rose, Fiesta, Sugar & Orange.

Thanks for double-checking my calculations ... taken in that context, BG has a legitimate shot if it wins out. That, of course, is a lot easier said than done.

BGGrad01 · Post by **BGGrad01** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 7:58 pm

I just did a fairly in depth review of the current standings and remaining schedules and here is what I found:

1. The Big 10 has 6 bowl games plus their BCS bid. They will likely have enough to fill all of those and NW may get 6 wins also. However, NW will do so in 12 games. I thought the NCAA made a rule that teams could only play 11 this year. The same could come into play with potential 6-6 teams like Hawaii and La. Tech.

2. The SEC should have one open spot and the Big East may have one extra team if Syracuse or Rutgers can finish with a couple wins.

3. The Pac 10 should have three open spots at least. I figure at least 2 out of UCLA, Oregon, and Oregon State will get to 6 wins.

4. The WAC may have one extra team if Fresno State can get going again. Remember when everyone said they were the best mid-major? They're 3-3 in the WAC.

5. With the 2 Independents (ND and Navy) getting bids, I believe that at worst, all the bowl bids will be filled on the dot. In the best case scenario, there will be so many open spots that any team with 6 wins will get a bid.

We need teams like Northwestern, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, Syracuse, Rutgers, Oregon State, Oregon, and UCLA to struggle coming home and no other teams to get hot at the end.

I think we're in good shape if we beat UT, but alot can change in a couple weeks. It would be great if all of this became a mute point because we win the MAC Championship.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Tue Oct 26, 2004 8:57 pm

BGGrad01 wrote:IHowever, NW will do so in 12 games. I thought the NCAA made a rule that teams could only play 11 this year. The same could come into play with potential 6-6 teams like Hawaii and La. Tech.

The NCAA has long allowed a few exceptions to the 11-game rule. Teams that agree to play at Hawaii may schedule an extra game to cover the expense, for example.

bdsbgsu · Post by **bdsbgsu** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 1:34 pm

the fact that C-USA gets five automatic bids to me is a complete joke. I feel that for the past couple years the MAC has been better than c-usa and for them to get five to our two ust isn't right. I feel that those seven bowl spots should be split 3-3 between the mac and c-usa with the best remaining team from the two confences getting the last bid. Think about c-usa next year minus lousiville, cincy. Them still getting five bids. I feel that is why Marshall is bolting to c-usa. they know the level of play in the mac is improving and teams are catching up with the talent wise and the are not guarenteed a bowl game every year like the are use to. them not going bowling last year they felt hey why stay in mac and have to 7-1 in conference to make a bowl when we can go to a weaker c-usa go 6-6 overall and make a bowl.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 1:53 pm

BGGrad01:
Thanks for responding in detail!

To spar a bit ...

Big 10 ... 11 ... arrrrgh ... whatever ... NW has a shot, I'll give you that. They'll likely beat Penn State and Illinois; Michigan will paste them. That means they must win on the road against Hawaii. They haven't won on the road yet and Hawaii may also be playing for a bowl bid, so we'll see. Don't be surprised, though, if they trip against Penn State. The Nittany Lions are embarrased about last week and have lots to prove. And Michigan State has no free ride. Remember, this is a team that lost to Rutgers.

SEC: How do you have only one open slot if Georgia and Auburn are in the BCS? Even if one falls, I still see them with two open slots.

Big East: Rutgers has a rough road. Remember that this team barely beat Temple. They have West Virginia at home [a beating] and roadies at Boston College and Navy, both of whom are playing a lot better than the Scarlet (Letter) Knights. They end at home against UConn, who is bowl-bound. Syracuse needs three wins. Temple is one, of course. Pittsburgh is at home; that's a possibility. But can they beat either UConn or Boston College. Tall order from what I've seen and read about this team.

PAC-10: You're probably right. Oregon should get 6 wins. UCLA, well, I'd give them 50-50, maybe. Oregon Stat will NOT get 6 wins. But at least three unfilled bowl slots.

It'll get interesting as the season progresses!

CharlotteFalcon · Post by **CharlotteFalcon** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 3:20 pm

I think that the whole bowl picture will be much clearer by this time next week in figuring out which leagues will and will not fulfill their bowl obligations. Though it is fun to talk about now and will only become more fun/frustrating as the season progresses. I personally see 3 open spots remaining and I think if we win out we can grab one of those open positions.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 4:32 pm

CharlotteFalcon:

OF COURSE it will be clearer next week! That's the fun of speculating NOW!

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 3:30 pm

BTW, last night's game puts Georgia Tech a big step closer to NOT being bowl-eligible. They have four wins. That sounds great with four games left, but their schedule looks like this:
AT N.C. State ... tough game
home against UConn ... winnable, but certainly no gimme
home against No. 14 Virginia ... tough game
AT #7 Georgia ... yup, tough game

Two more wins will be tough to come by ...