[NU Sports] Penn State and Bowl hopes

[Jonathan Hodges]

Regarding your BCS bid scenarios:

- SEC: 2, I agree - they're almost guaranteed 2 at this point.
- At-Large: 1, There is no way that 2 get in.  Only the top ranked team is
guaranteed a spot out of the non-automatic qualifiers, and as we saw last
year (when TCU was eligible but didn't get in), there is no way they'll take
a school with a smaller fan base if they don't have to.
- ACC: 1-2, Georgia Tech has essentially punched a ticket to the ACC
championship game unless they slip up against Wake Forest or Duke (the only
ACC teams they have left on the schedule).  Virginia Tech is dangerous since
they're 5-2 and still highly ranked; if GT gets the automatic bid, VT could
still get an at-large spot.
- Big XII: 1, Barring a big upset (OkSt over Texas this week or a Texas loss
in the championship game), it looks like Texas or bust.  But remember that
big upsets have happened here before.
- Big East: 1, Pitt, Cincy, and WVa all still play each other and will
likely get only one spot between the three.
- Pac-10: 1-2, USC-Oregon is a huge game this week, but the loser could
still sneak in.
- Big Ten: 1-2, OSU still plays both PSU and Iowa, but all must avoid upsets
down the stretch to stay in contention.
- ND: possible, like others have mentioned they're #23 now and all they need
to do is get to #14 or higher to be eligible (#8 or higher makes it
automatic).  They're toughest remaining opponent is Pitt.

So, with just 10 bids there are likely to be up to 12 legitimate contenders;
be wary of those upsets down the stretch.

Jonathan

On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 9:19 PM, SjT (Stephen J. Truog)
<sjtruog at yahoo.com>wrote:

> First off, if we get to six wins, we ABSOLUTELY deserve a bowl. There are
> PLENTY of less qualified six-win, seven-win or even eight-win teams (have
> you SEEN the Big East?!?!). Plus, we've been left home a few times with six
> wins.
>
> That's the way this idiotic B(C)S system is set up - there is no incentive
> to play tough teams outside of league play. We played by the same rules as
> everyone else, we got six wins ... therefore we deserve to get the extra
> practice and mid-level exposure of a mid-level bowl. Besides, NU is not a
> program that can turn its nose up at a bowl yet. Maybe someday, but for now,
> we'll take the bowl. Will Notre Dame turn down a B(C)S bid if they get in at
> 10-2 against an awful schedule? Hecks no!
>
> Secondly ... Jeff's absolutely right about Detroit. Great stadium, nice
> downtown - it's just a no-win game for any Big Ten team. A loss is an
> embarrassment, a win is no big deal (even though the MAC is underrated).
> Central Michigan is a DARN good team. Their loss was to Arizona (a top 20
> team) - they won at MSU. They certainly deserve just as much consideration
> for the top 25 right now as Houston (who gave up 50+ to UTEP ... UTEP!!!) or
> Pitt (who lost at woeful NC State) or BYU (blown out at home vs. FSU/TCU ...
> beat overrated OU).
>
> Finally, as for Chuck's bowl picks, aside from the Alamo/Champs order, I'd
> agree right now (OSU could top Wisky if they beat Iowa). The Big Ten is
> looking more and more like a lock for the B(C)S if PSU and Iowa win out (or
> even if Iowa loses at OSU, since they'd still go to Pasadena).
>
> - SEC = 2 bids ... only question is Bama/LSU for Sugar vs. Cincy
> - Big East = 1 bid ... despite the ABC hype, this is a woeful league as the
> Mountaineers were crushed by Auburn at home and Pitt lost at NC State
> - ACC = 1 bid ... Miami looked like a possible second, but they blew it and
> Georgia Tech doesn't have following to get an at-large bid ... plus,
> everyone in that league will be 6-6 by December anyway.
> - Big XII = 1 bid ... Okie State blew their chance vs. Houston unless they
> take Texas to the brink on Saturday, and Nebraska has utterly collapsed
> after looking like a strong contender, so unless someone upsets the Horns,
> it's one and done.
> - Pac 10 = 1 bid ... the only two teams capable of meriting an at-large bid
> play each other this week and will give the loser a second loss. If it's a
> close game and TCU or ND trips up, they could sneak another in.
> - At-large = 1 bid, possible 2 ... Boise State seems to be in, TCU is
> surging but still has Utah and Notre Dame is lurking thanks to Charlie's
> whining. Hmmm ...
>
> Mack whines and jumps Cal to get the at-large bid.
> St. Urban whines and magically leapfrogs Michigan for a title shot.
> Charlie whines and get ranked ahead of a Michigan team with the same record
> WHO THE IRISH LOST TO ... and keeps their BCS hope alive.
>
> Lloyd Carr, who whined about nearly everything during his tenure, stays
> silent and "dignified" and watches a title shot slip away.
>
> The lesson? Crying works in the B(C)S. Just reason #24601 that the B(C)S
> absolutely and utterly sucks ... though still not as much as major league
> baseball. :)
>
> GO CATS!!!
> -SjT
>
>
>
>
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