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Bowl plot thickens

Submitted by jpg on 12/01/2008 - 20:13

The NCAA says the ACC can't send N.C. State to the EagleBank Bowl in Washington.

Maryland says it won't play in the EagleBank Bowl because of an academic conflict.

Now, Navy says it won't play Wake Forest in the EagleBank Bowl because it has a no rematch clause, Patrick Stevens of the Washington Times reports.

That leaves? Miami.

The EagleBank Bowl selects ninth in the ACC order. So, for the sake of mental calisthenics let's look at the bottom of the ACC bowl order:

6) Charlotte: Clemson
7) San Francisco: Wake
8) Boise: Maryland
9) DC: Miami

What if Boise decides it wants Miami? What's the NCAA going to do? Force a bowl, it has no jurisdiction over, to take a team that doesn't want to go?

By the way, to complete N.C. State's best-case scenario from yesterday, the Motor City Bowl would the No. 1 choice at this point.

An unbeaten Ball State will likely be there (with a win over Buffalo in the MAC title game) and State wouldn't have to worry about competing against an at-large MAC team for the spot.

For a spot to come open in the Motor City, which is played in Detroit on Dec. 26, Ohio State must be taken as a BCS at-large. That would set off the dominoes in the Big Ten bowl order. There are seven bowl-eligible teams in the Big Ten for seven spots. If OSU goes, and likely to the Fiesta Bowl to face Utah, then Motor City (Big Ten No. 7) opens up for the Pack.

Comments

deswenko

Tue, 12/02/2008 - 18:22 — gvillegatr

you say, "some other 7-5 matchup" as if NCSU is 7-5. useless post by me. just a friendly reminder is all.

Silver lining

Tue, 12/02/2008 - 01:03 — dwsenko

JPG,
good stuff (esp the "Not so fast" but you forgot to append "myf riend") and thanks for staying on top of it since its so confusing, lack of info and there are many angles. I like what you are suggesting could happen. I am now (for at least 1 week) a huge OSU fan coz I think a NCSU - Ball State bowl game would be far superior to other matchups. Come on, an undefeated team as opponent! Better than some other 7-5 matchup. I'd more carefully watch what I say if NCSU wasn't on a 4 game win streak exuding confidence and the team that a lot of teams wouldn't really want to play these days though many will only see the 6-6 record and wonder if we really should even get in a bowl.

EagleBank Bowl

Mon, 12/01/2008 - 22:51 — tomgcherry

Twill be interesting to see if the EagleBank Bowl (AKA the Congressional Bowl) decides to "honor" the NCAA recommendations. The NCAA does NOT have jurisdiction over the Bowl's selection process and their rules are only "guideliens". I'll bet that NCSU will beat Obama to DC by about 30 days...but what do I know?

GO PACK!

major problem

Mon, 12/01/2008 - 21:34 — gvillegatr

if Texas doesnt get the "2nd" bid, I may stop watching football altogether. The Big Televen has no right to send two teams to the BCS.

Don't worry

Tue, 12/02/2008 - 00:14 — JPDOhio

Ohio State has zero chance of getting a BCS bid. There is just too much ground to make up.

I agree they don't deserve it, although I would have liked to see the Pack in the Motor City Bowl.

Not so fast

Tue, 12/02/2008 - 00:47 — jpg (author)

There are 5 BCS bowls, that means 10 spots with 6 tied-in to conference champions. That leaves four at-large spots:

— Utah (as the guaranteed qualifier outside the BCS conferences)

— Texas (also guaranteed since it's in the top 4 of the BCS standings)

— The Florida-Alabama loser (both currently in the top 4)

That leaves one spot. Only one BCS spot is guaranteed to non-BCS conference. Only if Boise State finished in the top 4 would it also be guaranteed an at-large bid.

The Fiesta has every right to choose Ohio State over Boise State and barring an unforseen aversion to money, probably will.

It doesn't matter that Boise State (9) is in front of Ohio State (10) in the BCS standings, just that Ohio State is in the top 16.

— JPG

Thanks for the clarification

Tue, 12/02/2008 - 09:09 — JPDOhio

If it does pan out that OSU gets in, you will hear howls from coast to coast. But if it means the Pack gets in the Motor City Bowl, I am all for it.

Miami

Mon, 12/01/2008 - 21:31 — gvillegatr

Miami will get rolled up by Navy and their option attack. see GT.

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