[NU Sports] More about bowl-selection rules

[John Labbe]

I came across the following today regarding Big Ten bowl-selection rules:

"If the Big Ten gets two BCS teams, then the two-win differential rule is waived for the Outback and Alamo bowls, allowing them to pick purely on preference, according to Big Ten assistant commissioner Scott Chipman.
Such a rule is not waived for the Capital One and Champs Sports Bowls, he said, so those bowls must pick based on the winningest team available or one with one fewer loss. The Insight and Motor City bowls don't have any rules regarding their selection. They can just pick from the conference teams still remaining."
See http://www.starcourier.com/sports/x1772953308/Illinois-football-notebook-Good-shot-at-bowl-game-for-Illini

If we lose to Illinois, this doesn't really change anything.  The Champs Bowl won't be able to select 6-6 Illinois over NU, so it will have to choose between NU and Minnesota, and I think it will choose NU, especially if Minnesota also loses this weekend.

But if we beat Illinois, this could hurt us.  Let's say Iowa loses to Minnesota.  I think it's crazy that the Outback Bowl could pick Iowa over us even though we beat them and Iowa finishes with two more losses.  On the bright side, this rule means that if we beat Illinois, and Iowa is selected for the Outback Bowl, we won't necessarily be a lock for the Alamo.  The Alamo could pick Wisconsin over us.  Personally, I really don't want to see us in the Alamo Bowl.  So the Alamo could pass us over and we could end up in the Champs bowl, which I think would be better for us than the Alamo.

In light of these rules, it's looking increasingly likely that we'll end up in the Champs bowl, regardless of whether we win or lose this weekend.

This also makes it very confusing regarding whether to cheer for Iowa or Minnesota on Saturday night.  Assuming we beat Illinois, I thought we should cheer for Minnesota, which would mean the Outback couldn't select Iowa.  But given that the Outback might be able to select Iowa even if they lose, then maybe we want Minnesota to lose, which would mean that we couldn't fall below the Champs.

Of course, all this assumes that the Big Ten gets 2 teams into the BCS.  If not, the analysis is different.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.