BIG EAST BOWL QUESTION FOR USF

[Bull Matrix]

Does anyone know if the BIG EAST will help USF, UC, or UL if  they dont have enough bowl eligible teams this season?? It would make sense to have one of the new teams coming it to get the invite if they cant fill out the bids, but I guess that really is up to the bowls if there are not enough bowl eligible teams from the BIG EAST. The reason I am bringing this up is because we all know that C-USA will protect their own, so dont be surprised if you see a 6-5 UAB or Memphis team get the invite by a 7-4 or 8-3 USF, UC, or UL team.

[GarySJ]

First, the Big East has only four bowl slots (BCS, Gator, Continental Tire, Insight) and Notre Dame can claim one of those. So it is unlikely they will have any openings.

Second, don't assume that C-USA can force its bowls to take teams that are staying over those that aren't. Do you really think the Fort Worth bowl, played in TCU's own stadium, will take an eligible UAB over TCU out of loyalty to C-USA? (In fact, $50 says this soon becomes a Mountain West tie in.)

Third, don't underestimate the appeal of an up-and-coming program like USF. This time next year, the New Orleans Bowl is going to be picking its CUSA representative from a pool of Tulsa, Rice, and UAB. You don't think the opportunity to grab a hot Big East program, while they still can, appeals to them?

Memphis and USM will get top bowl priority due to their strong traveling fan bases, not their loyalty to C-USA. Trust me, UofL will have no problem finding a good bowl bid even though it's leaving. TCU or Houston will get the Fort Worth game if it qualifies, but after that we're just as likely a choice as any of the C-USA "loyalists" (read: those who didn't get the chance to leave) are.

[goodknightfl]

UL will get either the liberty or mobile.. unless it goes BCS which is unlikely.  most likely CUSA bowl teams.. UL.. USM.. UAB.. Memphis..Haw bowl will go to one of the others.. my guess.. Houston or tcu

[smazza]

for USF it is all academic

usf needs to win

at 6-5 i don't think there will be any invite

[USFPDiddy]

We need 7-4 or 8-3.  8-3 guarantees an invite, 7-4 and it's probable, especially if one of our remaining losses is Pitt (meaning we did very well in conference play).  The season is not over, if we upset UL we could still win the conference, however unlikely that seems.  If UC won it in 2002, we could win it now.

[smazza]

if we upset UL it will be USF's greatest win in their short existence

[ChiTownBull]

First, the Big East has only four bowl slots (BCS, Gator, Continental Tire, Insight) and Notre Dame can claim one of those. So it is unlikely they will have any openings.

Second, don't assume that C-USA can force its bowls to take teams that are staying over those that aren't. Do you really think the Fort Worth bowl, played in TCU's own stadium, will take an eligible UAB over TCU out of loyalty to C-USA? (In fact, $50 says this soon becomes a Mountain West tie in.)

Third, don't underestimate the appeal of an up-and-coming program like USF. This time next year, the New Orleans Bowl is going to be picking its CUSA representative from a pool of Tulsa, Rice, and UAB. You don't think the opportunity to grab a hot Big East program, while they still can, appeals to them?

Memphis and USM will get top bowl priority due to their strong traveling fan bases, not their loyalty to C-USA. Trust me, UofL will have no problem finding a good bowl bid even though it's leaving. TCU or Houston will get the Fort Worth game if it qualifies, but after that we're just as likely a choice as any of the C-USA "loyalists" (read: those who didn't get the chance to leave) are.

will cusa have more bowl tie-ins thab the Big East next year?

[Jim Johnson]

C-USA

USM or UL will go to Liberty -- both could be 8-0 in C-USA this year... the other would go to Mobile.

Memphis & UAB will also probably be bowl eligible - fighting over GMAC, Ft. Worth, and Hawaii.

That leaves ONE slot for TCU, USF, or Cincinnati.

[Houston is 1-5 overall - they have to win out to make it to a bowl game, and we know that ECU and Army aren't gonna make it.  Tulane is 1-2 overall so far, and I don't see them getting 6 wins either].

Big East

BC, U Conn, and West Virginia all have four wins each (and WVU hasn't played a Big East game yet).  Chances are they'll get 2 more apiece - with Rugters, Pitt & Temple in the conference.   One of these teams will go to the BCS, a 2nd will go to the Gator Bowl.

Syracuse has 3 wins so they could be the 4th team - if they can manage to win 3 more.  That may be a challenge, they have only played Rutgers so far in the Big East, and play Florida State today.

Pitt, Rutgers, and Temple just aren't good enough to win 6.

Notre Dame is also 3-2 - but they have a tough schedule remaining: vs Stanford (3-1), at Navy (5-0), vs Boston College (4-1), at Tennessee (3-1), vs Pittsburgh (2-2), at USC(4-0).  The Irish will need to win three of these games -- I am not so sure that can happen.

It is inherently possible, if not probable, that only 3 of the Big East teams will be bowl eligible and Notre Dame could go home.

[bulls96go]

forget it

[WoolyBully]

shameless, unadulterated bump.

[move] :o :o :o...... :.[/move]