Bowl Projections

[Van]

Hate to say it, but LSU would kill Penn St.

USC-Boise St in the desert would suck balls. I'd almost consider not watching it.

Oregon-Ohio St, that would be a pretty cool game. Oregon might just destroy them, but that would be OSU's best shot at winning a BCS game. The one thing Ohio St does not want is a rematch with a one loss USC team, late in the year, on the west coast.

Georgia Tech-ND would be a highly entertaining game. It'd be like those ND-Navy games, only this time 'Navy' would have something approaching equal talent.

[Killian]

Terry, so far so good with ND this season. How do you see their chances of making a BCS bowl?

Slim and none if they lose to USC.

[Van]

I'd watch about the first quarter of USC/Boise, just to see how many points USC would drop on them. It probably would set the record for biggest blowout in a BCS game.

Uhhh...

-OU Fan, recalling the '05 Orange Bowl, and slowly slinking away from this thread

In all seriousness, nah, USC isn't going to be setting any records for offensive explosions this year. They may still crush their bowl opponent, but it'll mostly be on defense, with the offense doing enough to maintain a comfortable margin.

Like, say, 30-3.



Also keep in mind that if they play Boise it means they lost at least two games, and they lost the Pac 10, so you can be certain they wouldn't be bringing a very good offense or a very good mindset to that game. I'd give Boise a very fair chance at winning such a game. It would again be a case of the game being Boise's Super Bowl, versus it being an absolute lose-lose door prize of a downer game for USC.

Since Pete's gotten this thing rolling at USC they haven't had to play in any "consolation bowls" worse than the Rose Bowl. Yeah, following the 2002 season they played in the Orange Bowl and not the Rose Bowl, but that was also their first BCS bowl game under Pete. They didn't have the expectations then that they've had ever since.

USC seems to still get up for Rose Bowls, even when those games mean they fell short of their goal that season.

It remains to be seen how they'd react to falling so short of their goal that they found themselves playing for a pinata rather than for roses.

[Jobocky]

remember to bump this post in early December

[Van]

Dear god, not again! Bama vs Cincy in the Sugar Bowl? Please no.

Welcome to another lose-lose BCS bowl game match up.

Here's a novel fucking idea, BCS: Let Cincy play Boise, in the useless game only their own fans care about, and let USC play Bama, in a game most of the nation would care about.

First of all, Alabama will beat Florida for the SEC title,

Momma spike your oatmeal this morning, or something?

Florida isn't losing the SEC, not if they're healthy. Bank on that.

so the Tide will be playing Tejas in the NC game and the Gators can go to the Sugar, which has been relegated to a meaningless trip for the loser of the SEC title game. Used to be a great game. I hate the fuckin' BCS.

Hey, the Orange is no prize anymore, either. How'd you like to get stuck with their recent parade of epic Big East-ACC clashes? What was it last year? Cincy vs...who the fuck won the ACC last year? Boston College?

The BCS is worse than Hitler.

Now, just imagine those same four BCS bowl games, with each of them hosting the opening round of a legitimate eight team playoff...

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

I wouldn't laugh, Cincy or Boise would destroy LSU.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Nice try at what? LSU has scabdicked their way into the top 10. Get off your troll job for a second and realize there's football beyond the SEC. They're a fraud team. Cincy would win by double digits.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Yeah, I forgot, LSU is some untouchable force this year. No elite mid majors would even be able to hang past the 1st quarter.

Why don't you get back to me when you've learned more than 1 player on your team.

[Degenerate]

You should have used TCU as your example, Mgo.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

You should have used TCU as your example, Mgo.

:headexplosion:

-Jsc

[Van]

I don't think Cal will even MAKE a fucking bowl game this year...

As ridiculous as that notion may seem at face value, it's really not that far-fetched. The last time Cal had a sniff at glory, when they were one play away from taking over the #1 spot in the nation before Kevin Riley brain-farted the Oregon St game, hey, Cal then went on to lose six of their final seven games.

It could easily happen again, now. Cal could lose to Stanford. They could lose to UCLA. They could lose to Washington. They could lose to one of the Arizona teams.

It really could happen.

[TheJON]

Hate to say it, but LSU wouldn't have a prayer against Penn St.

The Truth!

[Mr T]

GMAC - Temple vs. Florida State

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

LSU hasn't given anybody a single reason to believe they would "kill" a team like Penn St. They've scabdicked their way to almost every win this year, and that includes Mississippi freaking State.

Yet they'd go out and "kill" Penn St? Based on what?

[Van]

A sinking suspicion. Nothing more.

[Degenerate]

Chip - I've seen LSU play some this season, and I'd bet my ass that if LSU plays like they did against UGA, Auburn WILL beat them. Just sayin'.

LSU hasn't turned in a single performance that would suggest they could beat Auburn. Miss. St rolled up 384 offensive yards. Malzahn will get AU above that, easy. LSU dominated time of possession against UGA because they got a lot of three and outs. That won't happen against UF, AU, or 'Bama in four weeks.

I'm very impressed w/your team so far. I still think 'Bama will put it on them, but they have the goods to take out LSU and Ole MIss.

[Dinsdale]

Sorry SEC810 -- from what I've seen, Cincy would freaking murder LSU.

[PSUFAN]

PSU will be a different team in November than they are now - but of course, they'll be a different team again when the bowl season rolls around months and months later. LSU/PSU would be a nice matchup to be sure.

[CintiBearcat92]

Dear god, not again! Bama vs Cincy in the Sugar Bowl? Please no.

Welcome to another lose-lose BCS bowl game match up.

Here's a novel fucking idea, BCS: Let Cincy play Boise, in the useless game only their own fans care about, and let USC play Bama, in a game most of the nation would care about.

so the Tide will be playing Tejas in the NC game and the Gators can go to the Sugar, which has been relegated to a meaningless trip for the loser of the SEC title game. Used to be a great game. I hate the fuckin' BCS.

Hey, the Orange is no prize anymore, either. How'd you like to get stuck with their recent parade of epic Big East-ACC clashes? What was it last year? Cincy vs...who the fuck won the ACC last year? Boston College?

Now, just imagine those same four BCS bowl games, with each of them hosting the opening round of a legitimate eight team playoff...

Wow, where do I even begin? It's nice to see the Bearcats getting a little love here but a couple of you guys need to open your fucking eyes. Van.....wow. I guess you're one of those "pedigree" guys. You know, the exclusive club of traditional powers that thinks nobody else has a right to have a good football program. If the team doesn't come from the PAC 10, SEC, Big 12, or Big 11 then they just don't belong. All of these blowouts that were supposed to occur....you know, the games where certain teams don't stand a chance and will be exposed and prove that they don't "belong".

West Virginia beats Georgia
West Virginia pounds OU
Boise State beats OU
Utah kicks Alabama's ass

Cincinnati has had our share over the years, too. So Big East, MTN West, and most ACC teams just don't belong. We don't have the pedigree like OU, USC, Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, Florida, Bama, LSU, and all the other bluebloods. Just how long does VA Tech have to keep winning to finally belong? Just how long does the Big East need to keep winning bowl games to belong? Just how long does Boise State need to keep winning to finally belong? We all know the answer........it won't happen. You'd like to keep college football as an exclusive club of a chosen few with the rest of us being outsiders who will never belong. No matter how many times your bluebloods lose to the outsiders, it doesn't matter. There will always be an excuse.

They were so let down after not making the championship game.
They had nothing to gain in the game and everything to lose.
This was "fill in the blank" Super Bowl and it meant more to them.
Our guys just couldn't get up for "fill in the blank".

Sorry ass excuses. The better team USUALLY wins. Most of these results aren't upsets. It's simply a beautiful example of how the "history" of a program doesn't mean shit. Do you really think Utah's guys gave a shit about Bear Bryant? Do you really think Cincinnati's guys care even the slightest bit about how many titles any of the bluebloods won before they were born? Do you really think West Virginia cares about Georgia's history and pedigree? Respect, yes. Fear, are you fucking kidding me?

Some of the other old excuses are falling apart, too. I've always heard about how a certain bowl game would rather have a 4 loss Michigan (for example) team than a one loss Boise State or Utah team. That shit won't fly anymore. Utah sends shitloads of fans to bowl games. Same with Boise State, WVU, and lots of others. Everyone said last year that the Orange Bowl was so unlucky for having Cincinnati/VA Tech. Imagine the surprise when thousands and thousands of Bearcat fans descended on Miami for the game.

To anyone who looks down their nose at the Big East, Mountain West, ACC and other "lesser" conferences.......fuck you. You're missing out on the beauty of college football and in the end, you're the loser.

[indyfrisco]

Welcome back BC92. Get ready for some weak schedule "smack".

[MuchoBulls]

Just how long does the Big East need to keep winning bowl games to belong?

I've been asking the same thing. The OOC and Bowl records of the Big East have been very favorable since the 2005 expansion.

Nice to see you back.

[Van]

There will always be an excuse.

They were so let down after not making the championship game.
They had nothing to gain in the game and everything to lose.
This was "fill in the blank" Super Bowl and it meant more to them.
Our guys just couldn't get up for "fill in the blank".

Those excuses are all true, too. They don't excuse a team for not showing up big for their bowl game but you're living in a dream world if you think those four things you just listed there aren't real factors.

-Those teams were let down after not achieving their goal that season. They're playing in a "consolation bowl" none of them wanted to be playing. That's a fact.

-They did have nothing to gain, and everything to lose. If OU beats WVU or Boise, who will care? If OU loses, it's a huge loss. That's a fact.

-Those games are the Super Bowl for those underdogs, while being a dreary door prize consolation game for the other team. Boise St will forever live off of that one win over OU. Had OU won it, it would've barely merited a footnote in their history. It would've still been a relatively forgettable year for them.

-Add all these things up and yeah, it's not unreasonable to think - and see with your own two eyes - that often times only one of the two teams on the field is really up for the game.

The fact that you don't like that these obvious factors are stated, well, it doesn't change the truth in them.

Oh, and no, Cincy doesn't have their fair share of big wins over the years. Neither does Va Tech. Cincy is a newcomer to the ranks of the highly ranked, and they've played in hardly any big games. Va Tech has made a career out of being highly ranked, only to fail in nearly every big test they've ever faced.

Moreover, look at last year's Orange Bowl. Look at practically any ACC CCG. Nobody cares. The stadiums arent even full. They're not even close to being full. Nobody gave a crap about last year's Orange Bowl.

That's just reality. It may not always be reality, but it has been so far.

[CintiBearcat92]

Excuses are for pussies. If the OUs, Georgias, and Alabamas of the world are SO hard to motivate to play in the Fiesta or Sugar Bowls then they are overrated pussy teams. Your whole argument is bullshit. If I'm Alabama, I'd be HIGHLY motivated to go out and lay 50 on Utah to show people how good my team is and how Utah is overrated. By your reasoning, the bluebloods will never "lose" and never have anything to prove. But if you aren't a blueblood then you can NEVER prove anything. Don't play the big boys in your OOC schedule.....you're afraid of them. Play the big boys and lose......you suck. Play the big boys and win.....the big boys weren't motivated so the best team really didn't win.

Van, every school plays big games. We play lots of big games both in and out of conference. Are you telling me that beating an 8th ranked Wisconsin team wasn't a big game? Or beating a 7th ranked Rutgers? Beating teams like West Virginia or South Florida? Beating the hell out of Oregon State and then going out there and beating them again this year? When was the last time SC won at Oregon State? We did it this year. Winning big games over Pitt and other Big East schools in route to the conference championship last year? Those aren't big games? Oh, now I get it. It's only a big game if it involves two of the bluebloods. Ummm, you might want to look at the attendance at the Orange Bowl last year....over 73,000 in attendance would indicate to me an interest in the game.

[indyfrisco]

I wish BC92 would quit saying blueblood.

[Killian]

I wish BC92 would quit saying blueblood.

The blueblood went to the Babs concert last night, and then to the T Rex exhibit.

[Van]

Van, every school plays big games.

No, they don't. They play big games for them.

We play lots of big games both in and out of conference.

You've barely been a blip on the CF radar, until the last couple years. In that time you still haven't played a single big game, not on a national level. You got your heads kicked in by OU, which was the one game you've played where you truly could've made a statement. OU was still playing for something when you played them.

Are you telling me that beating an 8th ranked Wisconsin team wasn't a big game?

Correct. Not a big game. It was big for Cincy, but not nationally. Wisconsin is nobody's 8th ranked team by season's end.

Or beating a 7th ranked Rutgers?

Correct. It's just Rutgers. Rutgers is nobody's idea of a 7th ranked team by season's end. It's just a little Big East conference game.

Beating teams like West Virginia or South Florida?

Correct, and correct. Neither team has done a damn thing on a national level. WVU has a couple of nice underdog wins over dispirited favorites in a couple bowl games, but please remind me of the last time WVU won a big game OOC against a big team who was still equally motivated when the game was played?

S. Florida? Nice little story, and maybe they will eventually rise to national prominence, but so far they haven't done anything on a national level.

For all that, I will say that Cincy has been one of the more impressive teams I've seen so far this year. They haven't played a really big game yet, and they won't this year, but they have looked really good so far. Maybe they'll luck out and someone out of the ACC will run the table the rest of the way, so the Orange Bowl will offer them a decent opponent.

Hell, maybe enough crazy things will happen that an undefeated Big East team will get into the title game this year. It's not out of the realm of possibility.

Problem is, that's when they'll get their heads kicked in again, when they have to play a Florida or a Texas who are playing for their season too.

[CintiBearcat92]

Ok, no more blueblood references :wink: As for my debate with OU fan, you have scoreboard for now. I guess for now I'll just have to look forward to your visit to Cincinnati next year.

[King Crimson]

as for the Boise-OU game....i don't think it was a matter of OU not getting up. it was a good to very good OU team that had been held together with duct tape all year with a converted WR at QB, the crazy loss at Oregon, missing Adrian Peterson in conference play, a young OL and a D that had been disguising all kinds of DB problems with the blitz and more blitz. BSU had a whole season of tape and a month to figure that out....probably took them about 10 minutes. i've posted this a half-dozen times: minus the 03 KSU team, I'd say that OU team and CU 01 were the weakest Big XII champs of the 00's. If OU had beaten BSU by 30 I'd still say the same thing. that team was mostly FR and Sophs against a Boise team of 5th year seniors and smart O coach.

while the Boise game may have been "really significant" to the media hype...that was a good to very good college football team. nothing more. not in any way a vintage or top-shelf OU team. outside the dramatics, i don't lose much sleep over that game. were it not for the effort and performance (mostly) of Paul Thompson at QB all year, most OU fans would consign that season to the "ho hum" file.

against WVU did look like a team that didn't really care much and left it all on the field after spanking an out-for-revenge Missouri team 3 weeks before.

edit: in just my lifetime, i count 15 OU teams i can say without any doubt were better than that 06 team that lost to Boise. arguably more. i'm not gonna look stuff up....just one's that are no-brainers. same goes for the team that lost to WVU. that's what a blueblood program can do. :wink:

71, 73, 74*, 75*, 78, 79, 80, 85*, 86, 87, 00*, 02 (maybe, but they won Rose Bowl), 03, 04, 08.

*MNC

[Terry in Crapchester]

Terry, so far so good with ND this season. How do you see their chances of making a BCS bowl?

Slim and none if they lose to USC.

Ordinarily a 10-2 ND team would be in pretty good shape for a BCS bid. But you're right, a loss to USC means that they have too much ground to make up in terms of rankings to get a BCS bid.

Georgia Tech-ND would be a highly entertaining game. It'd be like those ND-Navy games, only this time 'Navy' would have something approaching equal talent.

If we're headed to the Gator Bowl (and at this juncture, that would be my best guess), my preference would be that the Chik-fil-A bowl, with the second ACC pick, keeps Georgia Tech close to home and leaves Miami for the Gator instead. It'd be nice to renew acquaintances with Miami, as opposed to the third meeting in the last four years against Georgia Tech.

Some other thoughts . . .

- I could be wrong on this, but I don't see the Meatgrinder filling 10 bowl slots.
- If history is any guide, the Big XII and especially the Pac-10 are probably in danger of coming up short on their bowl slots as well.
- I haven't seen anything from Indiana that would suggest to me that they'll get to six wins, but I could be wrong on that as well.