[NU Sports] when will we know? (fwd)

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Unless the conferences and schools start cutting
> deals with the bowls, 
> probably not until after the BCS Championship show,

True - but some of the top tier bowls may "release" NU
and Minnesota from their lists, allowing us to sign on
with the Music City or so. The Big Ten office will
probably get something organized soon -- maybe even do
a "power play" as they did a couple years ago (was it
with Iowa or OSU - I can't remember?) where they
locked in all bowls meaning that the Bucks/Hawks
either HAD to get an at-large BCS bid or fall to the
Motor City.

> Expect the Pac 10 to start campaigning for a second
> BCS slot, with the
> Big 10 following suit.  Does Oregon have a record of

They seem to have rabid fans, but small numbers. OSU
traveled well to the Fiesta when they got the at-large
bid that year.

It's going to be an interesting struggle -- the SEC
may start making a case for Auburn, who may be playing
the best football of anyone in the nation lately and
only slipped up in OT at LSU and in the first game to
GaTech (understandable given that their whole
backfield was new this year on offense).

It doesn't go on merit, but it's real tough to argue
with OSU -- 9-2 with losses by 10 points to #2 and #3
in the BCS standings. Wins over bowl teams NU,
Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota and legions of fans that
will follow the Bucks to a BCS bowl in droves and have
done so in the past.

The rest of the candidates ...

* Notre Dame: Weak schedule, only one quality win -
but they're Notre Dame, so they'll get in (puke). By
the end of the season, their schedule may include only
two bowl-eligible teams. Also, one of their defeats
came to 5-6 MSU ... at home. Easily the worst "loss"
of the BCS at-large contenders. Easily the weakest
schedule. And haven't looked impressive lately in
sleepwalking past the likes of Syracuse and Navy. But
again, they're ND.

* PAC 10: Oregon, 10-1, but not playing UCLA hurts
because that makes Cal their biggest quality win in
league play (though they did beat Fresno State, and we
know how tough the Bulldogs are now). Deserving since
their only loss was to #1 USC, but small in ratings
and ticket sales.

* SEC: Auburn, 9-2, and surging the last few weeks -
wins over top 20 teams Bama, Georgia as well as South
Carolina. Quality losses as well and rabid SEC fans.

* ACC: Miami, 9-2, and would make a huge ratings
matchup with Notre Dame in the Fiesta. But they are
limping lately and have a tradition of little fan
support for non-Florida bowls. Still, they have the
best win of the candidates, at #5 Virginia Tech.

* BIG EAST/BIG XII: Uh, no one.:)

> Right now the Pac 10 has only 4 bowl-eligible
> schools.  Stanford isn't 

That could be a factor -- the Big Ten and SEC won't
fill their requirements either, but at least they have
6 or more bowl teams. ASU lost to Arizona last year
and could pull a Sparty and fall from a big September
again this year. If they had 2 of their 4 bowl
eligible teams get BCS bids, that might raise some
eyebrows.

Couple other interesting notes ...

* If Texas or SC loses and goes to their automatic bid
in Tempe instead of the Rose, then the Fiesta loses
their first pick and the Orange Bowl likely takes
Notre Dame - making another shift in matchup
possibilities with the Fiesta then likely taking PSU.

* However, IF Texas or SC lost, they might not even
drop out of the title game -- we've seen that before
with the BCS and it'd be tough to keep either out of
the title game if they lost a close one to a rival
after looking so impressive most of the year.

But the Big Ten likes to have things worked out and
sell tickets - I think they'll have some idea from the
BCS before championship Saturday in December and lock
up some of the smaller bowls.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT

* * * * * * * * *
STEPHEN J. TRUOG
sjtruog at yahoo.com
GO CATS!!!


	
		
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