Greg Christopher answers BG bowl question

[BGSU33]

This was over on bgsufalcons.com from the ask the AD:

Before answering a question that was submitted through our web site, let me address the question everyone is asking...
"Which bowl game will we play in?"

As a starting point, BGSU is not guaranteed a bowl slot because we are not the East Division champions. Only the MAC's two divisional champions are "protected" with bowl slots. That said, given that we have the best overall record of any MAC team and Miami's precarious bowl status, we are well-positioned for a bowl invitation.

It appears we will be waiting until Sunday, Dec. 2, for final details on the MAC bowl slate. There are a number of moving parts, including the MAC Championship, the possibility of Hawai'i making it into the BCS and the impact that has on the Big Ten (and thus Motor City).

There are scenarios for BGSU playing in each of the three MAC bowl games, so we'll see which plays out. Any of the games would be attractive for our team and we would be thrilled to represent the conference in Mobile, Detroit or Toronto. Over the last week we have had multiple conversations with the bowl representatives and supplied them with background information on BGSU, our alumni base, travel histories and the 2007 team/season.

Look for more "bowling" news in a few days!

Related to the bowl information, a huge thank you to our fans at last Friday's Toledo game. From students who came back early to alumni and fans that braved the weather, your vocal support was appreciated and made a difference. The crowd was vocal, got the players pumped up and looked great for a national television broadcast. Thank you!

[Schadenfreude]

There are a number of moving parts, including the MAC Championship, the possibility of Hawai'i making it into the BCS and the impact that has on the Big Ten (and thus Motor City).

Okay, that is a fascinating nugget right here.

The implication appears to be that if Hawaii makes it to the Sugar Bowl, it will be squeezing a second Big Ten team (Illinois) out of the BCS.

Right now, CBS Sportsline is projecting that scenario:

Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Southern California
Capital One (Orlando): Illinois vs. Florida
Outback (Tampa): Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Alamo (San Antonio): Michigan vs. Texas A&M
Champs Sports (Orlando): Penn State vs. Boston College
Insight (Tempe, Ariz.): Indiana vs. Oklahoma State
Motor City (Detroit): Michigan State vs. Central Michigan
Armed Forces (Fort Worth): Purdue vs. New Mexico

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... redictions

In this scenario, Purdue would be backfilling for the Pac 10 in Fort Worth.

But let's say Hawaii loses this weekend to Washington. That sinks their Sugar Bowl hopes. Instead, perhaps Illinois would go to the Sugar Bowl and all the other Big Ten teams would move up a slot.

That may put Michigan State out of reach of the Motor City -- leaving the Motor City to take the last remaining 7-5 team (the game couldn't jump at Iowa or Northwestern, both 6-6).

If Purdue is the last remaining team, that causes a problem. Purdue spanked Central Michigan earlier this year, and only a really creepy person would pay to watch that again.

So Central Michigan would have to go play somewhere else, and maybe that's how Bowling Green could end up in Detroit.

Another possibility, I guess, is that Indiana would fall all the way to the Motor City Bowl. Not sure how likely that is -- but I find it a bit strange that a bowl game would pick them over Michigan State and Purdue, as CBS is projecting.

A Miami-Indiana "Hoeppner Bowl" is a mildly interesting idea, but I don't know how many tickets that sells. If I'm Ken Hoffman, I'd still pick Central Michigan in that scenario.

[BGSUFootballFan]

There are a number of moving parts, including the MAC Championship, the possibility of Hawai'i making it into the BCS and the impact that has on the Big Ten (and thus Motor City).

Okay, that is a fascinating nugget right here.

The implication appears to be that if Hawaii makes it to the Sugar Bowl, it will be squeezing a second Big Ten team (Illinois) out of the BCS.

Right now, CBS Sportsline is projecting that scenario:

Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Southern California
Capital One (Orlando): Illinois vs. Florida
Outback (Tampa): Wisconsin vs. Tennessee
Alamo (San Antonio): Michigan vs. Texas A&M
Champs Sports (Orlando): Penn State vs. Boston College
Insight (Tempe, Ariz.): Indiana vs. Oklahoma State
Motor City (Detroit): Michigan State vs. Central Michigan
Armed Forces (Fort Worth): Purdue vs. New Mexico

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... redictions

In this scenario, Purdue would be backfilling for the Pac 10 in Fort Worth.

But let's say Hawaii loses this weekend to Washington. That sinks their Sugar Bowl hopes. Instead, perhaps Illinois would go to the Sugar Bowl and all the other Big Ten teams would move up a slot.

That may put Michigan State out of reach of the Motor City -- leaving the Motor City to take the last remaining 7-5 team (the game couldn't jump at Iowa or Northwestern, both 6-6).

If Purdue is the last remaining team, that causes a problem. Purdue spanked Central Michigan earlier this year, and only a really creepy person would pay to watch that again.

So Central Michigan would have to go play somewhere else, and maybe that's how Bowling Green could end up in Detroit.

Another possibility, I guess, is that Indiana would fall all the way to the Motor City Bowl. Not sure how likely that is -- but I find it a bit strange that a bowl game would pick them over Michigan State and Purdue, as CBS is projecting.

A Miami-Indiana "Hoeppner Bowl" is a mildly interesting idea, but I don't know how many tickets that sells. If I'm Ken Hoffman, I'd still pick Central Michigan in that scenario.

Haha, I paid to watch Purdue spank CMU the first time. But I also laid money down on Purdue to cover, so that made up for it. Also I don't think I would pay to watch it again. The thing is with Tiller's dumbass CMU would probably beat Purdue this time, bc we always lose bowl games and our playes are too drunk to care. It's not entirely Tiller's fault the players are drunks, but he doesn't punish them nearly hard enough. He FINALLY kicked Lymon off the team this weekend. After his 15,000th major offense in not even 2 years.


Back to the topic, I think Hawaii will get that BCS spot, causing everything in the CBSSportsline theory to happen.

[transfer2BGSU]

That Capital One Bowl match-up of Illinois vs. Florida is one I want to see.

[doughash]

If Missouri loses to Oklahoma and puts Ohio State in the championship game you might see Illinois move into the Rose Bowl to preserve the Big 10/PAC 10 matchup(assuming Illinois moves into the top 14 in the BCS, they are currently 15th).

[MACMAN]

I think you can pretty much count on Oklahoma putting the smack down on Missouri and BCS System championship game being The Ohio State Suckeyes and West Virgina, or on a slim chance Georgia could slip ahead of WV, but any you slice it I think BG is landing in Toronto still.

[1987alum]

First off, kudos to GC for another insightful response!

There are a number of moving parts, including the MAC Championship, the possibility of Hawai'i making it into the BCS and the impact that has on the Big Ten (and thus Motor City).

Okay, that is a fascinating nugget right here.

The implication appears to be that if Hawaii makes it to the Sugar Bowl, it will be squeezing a second Big Ten team (Illinois) out of the BCS.

Hence, we are Rainbow Warrior fans!

... let's say Hawaii loses this weekend to Washington. That sinks their Sugar Bowl hopes. Instead, perhaps Illinois would go to the Sugar Bowl and all the other Big Ten teams would move up a slot.

That may put Michigan State out of reach of the Motor City -- leaving the Motor City to take the last remaining 7-5 team (the game couldn't jump at Iowa or Northwestern, both 6-6).

If Purdue is the last remaining team, that causes a problem. Purdue spanked Central Michigan earlier this year, and only a really creepy person would pay to watch that again.

So Central Michigan would have to go play somewhere else, and maybe that's how Bowling Green could end up in Detroit.

In general, bowls have shown a strong disdaid for "rematch" games. I seem to recall NIU fans gnashing their teeth about that a few years back, though the details escape me.

A Miami-Indiana "Hoeppner Bowl" is a mildly interesting idea, but I don't know how many tickets that sells. If I'm Ken Hoffman, I'd still pick Central Michigan in that scenario.

I think Hoffman wants Central Michigan, period.

[NWLB]

A CMU-MSU in Detroit for the MCB is literally the perfect game as they have always envisioned it. MSU has been the hypothetical ideal since the day the game was first announced. Indeed, its actually a pretty exciting fight card. Two in-state teams, massive fan and alumni support, and the teams, and legit bragging rights in play. If I still lived up north, I'd even drive up to watch that game.

You know, it wasn't that Paul Krebs wouldn't know what GC responded with in that article. But you get the feeling, that if you saw GC in Kroger, jumped out from behind an endcap, and yelled, "BOO! Whats BGSU's bowl chances," he could snap that exact response out, without a seconds pause.

I think BGSU has marquee value that Ball State doesn't. And they are who we really are in competition with. BG is known for offense, recent memorable records, etc. Easier to market than a Ball State team better known for the fact David Letterman went to the school, than anything else.

Plus the MAC will be under major pressure to not let an 8-4 team with its best record sit at home, while a 7-5 team goes first. No other league would do that.

I'm waiting to hear about if all the bowls can fill their slots though. Is there any talk of the MAC getting a lucky charity bid this year?

[PGY Tiercel]

I'm waiting to hear about if all the bowls can fill their slots though. Is there any talk of the MAC getting a lucky charity bid this year?

This was posted in Maureen's blog today. It gives the impression that there is the chance for four bowl games, if they are setting up a clause to allow Miami to play a bowl game, and make sure a 7 win team (BSU) gets a bowl game.

[quote="X's and Mo"s"]
From the release: "Official bowl invitations to MAC institutions will occur this weekend, coming after the completion of the Marathon MAC Football Championship game and, potentially, the final release of the BCS standings on Sunday, December 2. ... The NCAA ruled this week it would allow a bowl invitation to be extended to a 6-7 championship game runner-up provided there were no other seven-win MAC teams available. A total of three MAC teams are in the seven-win bowl pool – CMU at 7-5, Bowling Green at 8-4 and Ball State at 7-5."

About that last part, I guess they are still trying to get Ball State into a different bowl, otherwise that would be considered a rejection.[/quote]

[fulch]

I think a CMU-MSU matchup in the MCB sells out Ford Field, am I crazy?

[dannyk]

That would easily sell out, if Im not mistaken there were close to 50,000 at the MCB game last year between CMU and Middle Tenn St.