BCS bowl matchups

[mustangj17]

We've got two mid-majors in the top 8. What are the chances that they either end up playing each other, Cincinatti, or whatever craptastic teams come out of the Big 10 and ACC?

I don't want to see Boise State play Iowa, or Cincy.

Does anyone know how the selection process goes? Which bowls get the first picks and so on? I would really like to see one mid-major in the title game. I know that won't happen.

But a couple games between mid-majors and one loss teams could be good

Boise State vs. Florida/Alabama/Texas

Of course all these teams could lose between now and January so who knows.

 

[suburbia]

I think the bowls that lose their tie-in team(s) to the national championship game get to pick first (eg, if the Rose Bowl loses Iowa to the championship game, it gets first dibs on who to pick next).

Beyond that, I have no idea.

 

[MileHigh]

Only one mid-major is guaranteed a spot in a BCS bowl, and it's the higher ranked team, even if there are more than two in the top 12. So, yes, you could have TCU at No. 4 and Boise at No. 5 and only TCU goes and Boise gets shipped to the Poinsetta, unless the big bowls use an at-large selection on Boise (in this example).

No. 1 and No. 2 teams go to the title game.
Big 12 champ goes to Fiesta. Pac-10 and Big Ten champs to the Rose. SEC champ to the Sugar. ACC champ to the Orange.

Whichever bowls lose teams to the title game then get to pick. So if Florida is No. 1 and Texas is No. 2, then the Sugar picks first, then the Fiesta picks. Then for the other three slots, this year, the picks go in order to the Orange, Fiesta, Sugar bowls.

 

[mustangj17]

Only one mid-major is guaranteed a spot in a BCS bowl, and it's the higher ranked team, even if there are more than two in the top 12. So, yes, you could have TCU at No. 4 and Boise at No. 5 and only TCU goes and Boise gets shipped to the Poinsetta, unless the big bowls use an at-large selection on Boise (in this example).

No. 1 and No. 2 teams go to the title game.
Big 12 champ goes to Fiesta. Pac-10 and Big Ten champs to the Rose. SEC champ to the Sugar. ACC champ to the Orange.

Whichever bowls lose teams to the title game then get to pick. So if Florida is No. 1 and Texas is No. 2, then the Sugar picks first, then the Fiesta picks. Then for the other three slots, this year, the picks go in order to the Orange, Fiesta, Sugar bowls.

If my math is correct there should be four at large spots.

One will go to the other SEC team, one will go to the top mid-major.

Two spots left. You would have to think another undefeated mid-major team would get in as well as maybe a team like Penn State if they win out.

 

[hondo]

Only one mid-major is guaranteed a spot in a BCS bowl, and it's the higher ranked team, even if there are more than two in the top 12. So, yes, you could have TCU at No. 4 and Boise at No. 5 and only TCU goes and Boise gets shipped to the Poinsetta, unless the big bowls use an at-large selection on Boise (in this example).

No. 1 and No. 2 teams go to the title game.
Big 12 champ goes to Fiesta. Pac-10 and Big Ten champs to the Rose. SEC champ to the Sugar. ACC champ to the Orange.

Whichever bowls lose teams to the title game then get to pick. So if Florida is No. 1 and Texas is No. 2, then the Sugar picks first, then the Fiesta picks. Then for the other three slots, this year, the picks go in order to the Orange, Fiesta, Sugar bowls.

If my math is correct there should be four at large spots.

One will go to the other SEC team, one will go to the top mid-major.

Two spots left. You would have to think another undefeated mid-major team would get in as well as maybe a team like Penn State if they win out.

If Notre Dame wins out (unlikely, since only one remaining opponent has a losing record, Wazzou), the Irish would have to go at 10-2, wouldn't they?

 

[MileHigh]

Notre Dame goes automatically if in the top eight.

 

[GB-Hack]

Notre Dame goes automatically if in the top eight.

How high does it have to be ranked to be eligble to be selected?

 

[hondo]

Notre Dame goes automatically if in the top eight.

How high does it have to be ranked to be eligble to be selected?

I don't think there's a threshold there, as long as one eligible non-BCS team gets in.

 

[mustangj17]

Notre Dame goes automatically if in the top eight.

How high does it have to be ranked to be eligble to be selected?

Unranked with a 8-4 record and no quality wins!

 

[deskslave]

Only one mid-major is guaranteed a spot in a BCS bowl, and it's the higher ranked team, even if there are more than two in the top 12. So, yes, you could have TCU at No. 4 and Boise at No. 5 and only TCU goes and Boise gets shipped to the Poinsetta, unless the big bowls use an at-large selection on Boise (in this example).

No. 1 and No. 2 teams go to the title game.
Big 12 champ goes to Fiesta. Pac-10 and Big Ten champs to the Rose. SEC champ to the Sugar. ACC champ to the Orange.

Whichever bowls lose teams to the title game then get to pick. So if Florida is No. 1 and Texas is No. 2, then the Sugar picks first, then the Fiesta picks. Then for the other three slots, this year, the picks go in order to the Orange, Fiesta, Sugar bowls.

If my math is correct there should be four at large spots.

One will go to the other SEC team, one will go to the top mid-major.

Two spots left. You would have to think another undefeated mid-major team would get in as well as maybe a team like Penn State if they win out.

I fail to see why I have to think that.

If TCU wins out, they'll have earned a spot, and they'll get one. If that happens, Boise's not going to a BCS bowl, no matter what its record.

It will take a very special set of circumstances for two mid-major teams to get BCS bids. Boise's not that special. If Boise wants in, it better start hoping TCU loses.

Remember: It's not about matchups, or most deserving teams (not that Boise would qualify under that criterion anyway), or any of that other crap. It's about selling tickets.

And here's the other thing: You think the Fiesta Bowl's gonna take a mid-major with its replacement pick? No. It's gonna take someone from the Big 12. Having then done that, what do you think it'll do with its second pick? Take Boise, which it already had, or take TCU and create what will most likely be a rivalry game of some sort?

So if TCU goes to the Fiesta Bowl, then you're left with the Sugar and the Orange. (Because the Rose is going Pac 10-Big 10 even if it does lose a team.)

The Sugar takes the SECCG loser, probably Alabama, with its replacement pick. Then the Orange gets to pick, having already been saddled with the ACC champ (quite possibly *shudder* Georgia Tech). Having already had all kinds of problems selling tickets, you think it's gonna invite Boise from across the damn country? Yeah, Georgia Tech-Boise State. That'll be a hot seller. Not gonna take TCU either.

That then leaves the Fiesta and the Sugar. If the Fiesta takes TCU, you think the Sugar's gonna take yet another mid-major team, having had them in the last two games? Again, no. If Penn State's still out there, you think the Sugar's gonna pass up Alabama-Penn State? Or Alabama-Notre Dame? Or, if Alabama beats Florida, then Florida-Penn State, or Florida-Notre Dame?

And that whole scenario assumes Notre Dame's not an automatic qualifier. If it is, Boise has no chance.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Milehigh, the Big East winner also goes to the Orange Bowl.

Also, and this is important, the bowls will pick at-large teams in the following order this year: Orange, Fiesta, Sugar.

Rose gets Big 10-Pac 10 and would pick first if it loses a team to the title game.

If Florida & Texas finish 1 and 2 respectively and play in the title game my guess is the bowls would look something like this:

NCG: Florida vs. Texas

Rose: Iowa (Big 10 champ) vs. USC (Pac 10 champ)

Orange: Cincinnati (Big East champ) vs. Georgia Tech (ACC champ)

Fiesta: Notre Dame (second replacement pick because it lost Texas) vs. Penn State (first at-large)

Sugar: Alabama (first replacement pick because it lost Florida) vs. TCU (second at-large)

 

[zagoshe]

Notre Dame goes automatically if in the top eight.

How high does it have to be ranked to be eligble to be selected?

14th

 

[deskslave]

I had forgotten about the Big East when I put together those scenarios. All of which just makes it even less likely that a second mid-major gets picked.

 

[GB-Hack]

Milehigh, the Big East winner also goes to the Orange Bowl.

Also, and this is important, the bowls will pick at-large teams in the following order this year: Orange, Fiesta, Sugar.

Rose gets Big 10-Pac 10 and would pick first if it loses a team to the title game.

If Florida & Texas finish 1 and 2 respectively and play in the title game my guess is the bowls would look something like this:

NCG: Florida vs. Texas

Rose: Iowa (Big 10 champ) vs. USC (Pac 10 champ)

Orange: Cincinnati (Big East champ) vs. Georgia Tech (ACC champ)

Fiesta: Notre Dame (second replacement pick because it lost Texas) vs. Penn State (first at-large)

Sugar: Alabama (first replacement pick because it lost Florida) vs. TCU (second at-large)

I think while it has had a team there for the past couple of seasons, the Big East isn't automatically locked into the Orange Bowl.

I seem to remember Penn State playing Florida State there a few years ago, 2006 maybe?

 

[deskslave]

You're right, GB.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Milehigh, the Big East winner also goes to the Orange Bowl.

Also, and this is important, the bowls will pick at-large teams in the following order this year: Orange, Fiesta, Sugar.

Rose gets Big 10-Pac 10 and would pick first if it loses a team to the title game.

If Florida & Texas finish 1 and 2 respectively and play in the title game my guess is the bowls would look something like this:

NCG: Florida vs. Texas

Rose: Iowa (Big 10 champ) vs. USC (Pac 10 champ)

Orange: Cincinnati (Big East champ) vs. Georgia Tech (ACC champ)

Fiesta: Notre Dame (second replacement pick because it lost Texas) vs. Penn State (first at-large)

Sugar: Alabama (first replacement pick because it lost Florida) vs. TCU (second at-large)

I think while it has had a team there for the past couple of seasons, the Big East isn't automatically locked into the Orange Bowl.

I seem to remember Penn State playing Florida State there a few years ago, 2006 maybe?

That is true but I doubt the Sugar or Fiesta Bowls are going to select Cincinnati over any of the possible at-large teams.

 

[GB-Hack]

Right, it has recently become a Big East vs. ACC game. Is that because of the way the two conferences are currently perceived, or the location being a good one for those conference's fans to travel to?

 

[Armchair_QB]

Right, it has recently become a Big East vs. ACC game. Is that because of the way the two conferences are currently perceived, or the location being a good one for those conference's fans to travel to?

Regarding the Big East teams I think it has everything to do with how many tickets they'll sell. Outside of West By God most of them don't travel well.

 

[Mark2010]

Cincinnati will only get in if it wins the Big East. Which it might, but I'm not counting it as a lock just yet.

TCU still has Utah ahead, so it may or may not win the Mountain West. If it does and goes undefeated, it will get an at large bid. TCU would pass Boise State based on strength of schedule.

Two teams from the SEC (east winner and west winner).

Two teams from the Big Ten.

ACC champ (could be Georgia Tech).

Big XII champ (likely Texas).

Pac-10 champ (likely USC).

So, my predictions are:

Rose: Ohio State (Big Ten champ) vs. USC (Pac-10 champ)

Sugar: SEC runnerup vs. Big East champ (Cincy or Pitt or WV)

Orange: ACC champ (Georgia Tech) vs. Notre Dame

(Would a major bowl really pass on 9-3 or 10-2 Notre Dame in favor of 12-0 Boise State??)

Fiesta: TCU vs. Big Ten runnerup (Penn State or Iowa).

National champ: SEC champ vs. Texas

 

[Armchair_QB]

Cincinnati will only get in if it wins the Big East. Which it might, but I'm not counting it as a lock just yet.

TCU still has Utah ahead, so it may or may not win the Mountain West. If it does and goes undefeated, it will get an at large bid. TCU would pass Boise State based on strength of schedule.

Two teams from the SEC (east winner and west winner).

Two teams from the Big Ten.

ACC champ (could be Georgia Tech).

Big XII champ (likely Texas).

Pac-10 champ (likely USC).

So, my predictions are:

Rose: Ohio State (Big Ten champ) vs. USC (Pac-10 champ)

Sugar: SEC runnerup vs. Big East champ (Cincy or Pitt or WV)

Orange: ACC champ (Georgia Tech) vs. Notre Dame

(Would a major bowl really pass on 9-3 or 10-2 Notre Dame in favor of 12-0 Boise State??)

Fiesta: TCU vs. Big Ten runnerup (Penn State or Iowa).

National champ: SEC champ vs. Texas

Ohio State may beat Iowa but I don't think they'll beat Penn State.