Want to know who to cheer for today to help BG?

[BGSU33]

Heading into today, there are 54 teams already eligible for the bowls which will take 56 teams. If you want to know ways that can help keep chances open for BG, pull for these things to happen:

Boston College (8-2) over Syracuse (5-5) - A SU loss eliminates the Orange.

Memphis (6-3) over South Florida (4-5) - A USF loss eliminates the Bulls.

Hawaii (5-5) over Northwestern (6-5) - One team will be out either way. However, a NW loss eliminates the Wildcats. If Hawaii wins, it would then play Michigan State next week and a loss there would elimintate them too. A NW win would take out Hawaii, but would then put NW into a bowl themself.

Tulane (4-5) over TCU (5-5) - One team will be out either way here as well. But, a TCU loss takes them out and a Tulane win would set up a game against Louisville, one they probably wouldn't win. Either way, the loser of this game is out.

UAB (7-3) over Southern Miss (5-4) - A SM loss puts them at 5-5, then they play Cal next which they probably would lose.

[orangeandbrown]

Let me say this. There are currently 54 eligible teams for 56 slots. I think we can probably go as high as 58-59 teams, since we would probably go ahead of Akron, Marshall and a Sun Belt team. Having said that, its possible that NONE of the seven remaining teams will end up being eligible, and I think it at most only two more teams, leaving an even 56.

Here is what they have to do:

Syracuse (11/27) @ BC (likely lose)
Northwestern (@ Hawaii) (Could easily lose)
Southern Miss (11/27) Host TCU, (12/4) @ CAL (very unlikely)
TCU (11/27) @Southern Miss (Possible)
Hawaii (MSU, Northwestern). (Unlikely)
South Florida (Must beat Memphis and Pitt) (Not gonna happen)
Tulane (Must win @ TCU and Louisville at home) (Not gonna happen)

Cited from bowleligible.blogspot.com

[NY-BG-FAN]

SYRACUSE IS NOT A LIKELY LOSS TO BC!!!!!!

Syracuse is a good team, who have played a tough schedule. Losses to Purdue, Virginia, and Florida State. They have had an alright season, that went up in smoke with a collapse at Temple. They're fighting for bowl eligibility, and are certainly capable of knocking off BC. Score right now is 24-10, was 24-3, so hopefully they won't pull a BG and let it slip away.

[NY-BG-FAN]

Even if SU wins though, BG should still get a bowl. Even with Syracuse in there there will be a ton of open slots. GO BG!

[orangeandbrown]

SYRACUSE IS NOT A LIKELY LOSS TO BC!!!!!!

Syracuse is a good team, who have played a tough schedule. Losses to Purdue, Virginia, and Florida State. They have had an alright season, that went up in smoke with a collapse at Temple. They're fighting for bowl eligibility, and are certainly capable of knocking off BC. Score right now is 24-10, was 24-3, so hopefully they won't pull a BG and let it slip away.

Right you were.

[Schadenfreude]

Let me say this. There are currently 54 eligible teams for 56 slots. I think we can probably go as high as 58-59 teams, since we would probably go ahead of Akron, Marshall and a Sun Belt team.

I wouldn't want to push it past 58. I think Troy State will get a bowl bid. There are rumblings they may be invited to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. That's an easy trip by car for them.

Let me update and correct your work with the Syracuse and Southern Mississippi wins and South Florida loss in mind.

We now 56 eligible teams (including Bowling Green, Akron and Marshall) for 56 slots. The magic number is 58. As long as we keep it to 58 or under, we are in, I think.

-- At worst Northwestern or Hawaii will become eligible. They both can't become eligible. That takes us to 57.
-- Let's assume Texas Christian beats Tulane today (It's 28-21 TCU in the fourth). TCU becomes eligible and Tulane would be out. That takes us to 58.

That's it. We're in. Nothing else can hurt us that I see.

Bottom line: I think we've locked up a bowl game already. The only question is where we go.

Does anyone disagree?

[orangeandbrown]

No, its looking good. Its an odd feeling, isn't it. Other conferences are used to not winning, losing a key final game and just assuming they are going into a bowl. We're so invested in the win or out mentality, from football and basketball, that it is a strange feeling to have.

Hopefully, we'll get a good opponent that helps us take the first steps to getting over the top and winning the MAC Championship next year.

[BGSU33]

I also think it "looks" good, it just doesn't "feel" good to me. Thank goodness Memphis beat USF today. Because Syracuse is now in, it looks like Southern Miss will be too and TCU looks like they might join them too.

[Schadenfreude]

I've corrected my earlier post.

Headed into today, there were 54 teams (including Bowling Green, Akron and Marshall) eligible for 56 slots (I'm taking O&B's word for that part).

Southern Mississippi and Syracuse got eligible today. It looks like Texas Christian will, too by beating Tulane, which would be out. Let's assume either Hawaii or Northwestern become eligible and knock the other out.

That takes us to 58.

I don't see anything else that can happen.

I really think we're in.

[MIAMI HATER]

TCU is down 4 with one TO and the ball at their 41 with 34 seconds to go...

TCU will be out and Tulane needs to win at Louisville.

Now its safer to say we are going somewhere...


Update: its a final TCU is out and Tulane is looking at Louisville next week to get eligible.

[Schadenfreude]

Quoting mossmaldi from the MAC board.

Just got back from the BG Bradley game (great win by the Falcons by the way 81-66. I like our team this year!). Coach Brandon and Cole were at the game and as I was walking out I caught a bit of the conversation. Coach Brandon pretty much said that BG's bowl hopes probably hinge on the NW Hawaii game. He told they may or may not get a bowl. I think Coach Brandon knows something we don't if he believes NW Hawaii is the key to BGs bowl chances. Go Warriors!!!!

http://www.ncaabbs.com/forums/mac/invis ... ntry154386

I don't see how that could be.

For what it's worth, someone else says the 54 bowl-eligible teams does include Iowa State.

Rumor is Northern Illinois has called a team meeting for 8 a.m. on Monday. It will last an hour. I think they were sweating as much as we were.

I feel good. Wish we were hearing rumors from our folks.

[orangeandbrown]

Schad, I can't believe we have a problem at 57 or 58. I can see a scenario at 59 where its Troy-56, bg-57, Marshall-58, or Akron-59.

Here's my source for the 54 number.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /-1/SPORTS

There were seven teams alive then.

As you mention, Syracuse (55) and Southern Miss (56) in.

Hawaii OR Northwestern, and Tulane (doubtful) could be in. I can't imagine what is behind Coach Brandon's statement. But it must be something, unless is overheard wrong.

Basically, you are probably looking at 57 eligible. That means Troy, Marshall and Akron would have to be in front of us.

Follow up question--would it benefit for Hawaii OR Northwestern to win. Either could be eligible.

[rc_ziggy84]

The only thing that I can think of having to do with the Hawaii-NW game is that we may be going to the Hawaii bowl, and Hawaii being eligable or not may have an impact on it one way or another. That's by Brandon's logic. I still would love to see us stay on the mainland, off Christmas Eve and go to the Silicon Valley, or even better the GMAC. That's a trip I can afford!

[mossmaidi]

Yeah I overheard that at the game. By the time I left, I got in the car and listened to SU's upset of BC, so maybe Brandon did not know about that upset yet. But I heard him correctly about the NW Hawaii game and what he is thinking. I am with you guys, not sure why this one is so important, but maybe it's because if NW loses and Hawaii loses the following week against State, then that is 2 less teams we have to worry about. We'll see what happens though...

[BGSU33]

Yeah, I'm not sure either because with the UH/NW game, one of these two teams is out for sure. They both could be out if UH wins and then loses to MSU next week. But it's not like both can get in. It's one or neither. I wonder what he meant?