Trib's Joey Johnston: USF in the St. Pete Bowl

[Ricky the Bull]

vs. Houston.... 

It looks like we aren't getting much respect from the home town paper...

RTB in Cambria, CA

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/04/sp-around-the-nation/

[BULL-UT]

if usf dosnt win the big east this is likely where they will go

[Blackice12]

Isn't the Gator Bowl a likely location as well?

[Guest]

Isn't the Gator Bowl a likely location as well?

Not really.  If Notre Dame wins 7 games, they will be in Jacksonville.

Now, remember the "2 conference win" rule.  If USF goes 6-1 in the Big East, then the Bulls have to be picked before any 4-3 Big East teams.  (Notre Dame does not fall into this rule).

The order of selection:

1 - BCS

2 - Gator/Sun

3 - Meineke Car Care Bowl

4 - St Pete/Papa Johns/Independence

5 - St Pete/Papa Johns/Independence

6 - St Pete/Papa Johns/Independence

So, If USF goes 5-2 in the Big East, chances are USF didn't get the BCS bid.  Then the Gator/Sun would pick from the 5-2 and 4-3 Big East teams (or ND or a Big 12 team).  Then MCCB picks.

So you could see a 4-3 Rutgers or Cincinnati or Pitt team picked ahead of 5-2 USF for the Gator/Sun and MCCB games.

THEREFORE, if USF does not win the Big East, (as runninbull said)  The St. Pete Bowl is VERY likely.

[usfgrad84]

I think it is way too early  to start predicting these things.  I think you have to see how the year plays out and where we are in the public consciousness.  Even if we don't win the conference and we end up say only losing the WVU game and we are somewhere around a legit top 15 team with household names like Selvie (potentially the best DL in the country), Grothe (if he progrsses) and if Ford or someone else breaks out and becomes a name we become more interesting to the Gator and Meineke than a 2nd tier bowl.  If we end up being just another run of the mill 5-2 team down around the #25 position or worse we will go to the lower tier bowls. 

Last year we entered became a known commodity to the football public outside the conference.  As long as we build on that with the type of year from the team and the big name players we could be on the map to stay for a while.

[usfgrad84]

Just took a closer look at some of the bowl projections. 

January 2-Sugar Bowl.....Florida vs. West Virginia.

Could set up some an interesting possibility and added incentive if the BCS game is on the line going into the WVU game.

[smazza]

why else would there be a st pete bowl but for usf?

who else is playing here?

[smazza]

Just took a closer look at some of the bowl projections. 

January 2-Sugar Bowl.....Florida vs. West Virginia.

Could set up some an interesting possibility and added incentive if the BCS game is on the line going into the WVU game.

usc will be playing gators for NC

[feardabull]

why else would there be a st pete bowl but for usf?

who else is playing here?

I thought they made the St. Pete Bowl for UCF

[JoeB]

Good points Jim, and another thing to remember NBC owns the rights to the Gator Bowl, so if ND is available with 8 wins it will be hard for them to pass up the Irish since they cover all of their home games.  St. Pete Bowl would be a major disappointment in my estimation for this season.  Lets hope we don't end up in Pinellas County.