[NU Sports] I see an 8th Bowl spot slipping away...

[Jonathan Hodges]

Yes, Illinois won - the biggest impact it will have on the 'Cats will be
next week's game.  NU must take advantage and jump on them early, hoping
that there will be a hangover.

In terms of bowls, NU MUST win next week to go to a bowl.  Iowa and Michigan
State also picked up their 6th wins today, which now leaves 10 bowl eligible
Big Ten teams.  The best NU can do is win next week and hope everything else
works out (e.g. other 6-5 teams lose) and that a spot somewhere is open.

Again, the bowl selection rules are:

1. Conference affiliated spots must pick teams from that conference with
winning records.
2. If conference slots are still available after picking conference teams
with a winning record, 6-6 teams may be selected to fill the slots.
3. At large bid spots (e.g. if another conference cannot fill its slots),
available teams with winning records may be selected.
4. If all teams with winning records have been selected and there are slots
still left, 6-6 teams may then be selected.

FYI, there are 7 bowl spots for Big Ten teams (the only feasible way to open
up an 8th spot by getting 2 BCS teams would be if Michigan beats OSU to win
the Big Ten BCS spot next week and OSU gets an at large bid, although riding
a 2 game losing streak at the end of the season wouldn't be favorable, and
they must remain in the top 14 in the BCS standings to do so).

Right now there are 6 Big Ten teams with 7 or more wins.  For NU to secure
the Big Ten's last slot they must:

- Beat Illinois.

3 of the 4 must take place:
- Purdue must beat Indiana.
- Penn State must beat Michigan State.
- Western Michigan must beat Iowa.
- Michigan must beat OSU AND OSU must remain in the top 14 of the BCS at the
end of the year AND get an at-large BCS bid.

But, of course, Northwestern must take care of business first.  The 'Cats
got a much-needed win today, and next week's game is still win-able if NU
can stop the Illinois rushing attack.

Jonathan


On Nov 10, 2007 4:59 PM, Abrahamson, Alan (NBC Universal) <
Alan.Abrahamson at nbcsports.com> wrote:

> Let's say Illinois holds on.
>  Let's also say Wildcats rise up next week to beat Illini.
>  Some bowl officials somewhere would doubtlessly want the Cats.
>  Wouldn't they?!
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com <nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com>
> To: nwu-sports at tssi.com <nwu-sports at tssi.com>
> Sent: Sat Nov 10 17:46:27 2007
> Subject: [NU Sports] I see an 8th Bowl spot slipping away...
>
> This is incredible.
>
> JS SP86
>
>
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-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
1237 Emerson St Apt 2
Evanston, IL  60201-3577
(847) 736-2449
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