[NU Sports] New ESPN bowl pojections

[Jonathan Hodges]

Remember that at this point the projections are just that: projections.
Personally, I don't take much stake in what they 2 guys at ESPN project -
they've been wrong before and I don't believe they have any more insight
into the process than normal fans (actually they've made egregious errors in
their projections before by getting bowl selection order and conference
affiliations incorrect).  While I trust a couple of sites a little more
(Stewart Mandel over at SI and Rittenberg's Big Ten blog projections at
ESPN), they are basically still in the same boat - guessing on where teams
will end up.  And even when articles appear in local papers with a bowl
committee member as a source, remember that it's just the opinion of one
committee member out of dozens or even hundreds (depending on the bowl).

Given that, NU could still end up anywhere from the Outback down to the
Champs, and we still won't know for sure until a week from now.  Of course,
it depends on USC taking care of business against UCLA (Trojans are favored
by 30.5 at the open) and Ohio State getting selected over Boise State, Ball
State, and TCU, but given their rabid fan base, that seems to be a given as
well.

Northwestern fans should strive for the best and highest profile bowl and
then worry about winning that bowl once the matchups are announced.  Any of
these 3 destinations would be a nice one for the holiday season and 'Cats
fans shouldn't rationalize allowing someone to leapfrog them.

Looking back in Big Ten Bowl history (over the past 10 years or so) the ONLY
Big Ten team that has been "jumped" by a team with fewer overall wins is
Minnesota.  NU was "jumped" by OSU back in 2000, but OSU had the same number
of overall wins.  It will be interesting to see if the Outback and/or Alamo
actually pass NU for a team with fewer wins which would set an interesting
precedent.  I understand the bowls' position of having the rule in place so
that they don't get stuck with a team for multiple consecutive years or get
stuck with a regular season rematch, but it makes a "screwing" scenario
possible and just shows how the whole process isn't about fairness, but
instead money.

Obviously, NU has a number of arguments in its favor, including what should
be most important: merit (better overall record, head-to-head win in their
building).  Also are the fact that NU hasn't been to a Florida bowl since
1997, while Iowa has been to multiple ones in that span (including 2 Outback
Bowls in the last 6 seasons); NU has traveled very well to all of its bowl
games, and NU is currently a ranked team in every major poll & the BCS
(while Iowa is not).

But we'll wait until next Sunday and see.

Jonathan



On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 4:10 PM, Christopher Bailey <
christopher_bailey at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I hate this crap, I really do.
>
> OUTBACK: Iowa v. South Carolina or LSU
> ALAMO: NU v. Oklahoma State
>
> http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowlprojection?season=2008&week=14
>
> NU beats Iowa, has one more victory than Iowa, and as a reward, they get to
> play a tougher team (this is a year I wouldn't be afraid to see NU play LSU
> ... or South Carolina, or Georgia) in a less prestigious bowl and not on New
> Year's Day.
>
> GRRR.
>
> It's time to face reality: NU will continue to get the shaft on bowl day
> UNLESS it has a two game advantage on someone.
>
> Or unless they do as suggested by Jake Taylor (played by Tom Berenger) in
> MAJOR LEAGUE, one of my all-time favorite movies:
>
> Win the whole ... fu(k!ng ... thing.
>
> (Sorry for the profanity folks, but not only was it the line in the movie,
> but it accurately represents how I feel ... and how a lot of folks here feel
> too, I imagine.)
>
> Go 'CATS!
>
> Christopher Bailey
> christopher_bailey at yahoo.com
>
>
>
>
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> nwu-sports at tssi.com
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>



-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
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