[NU Sports] Detroit

[Mike Nolan]

> I don't see a return trip to the TicketCity Bowl. They won't want a repeat 
> visitor. I guess the only way we move up would be if UofM gets into a BCS 
> game, correct? I expect both MSU and Georgia to lose this Saturday and 
> therefore get Michigan into the BCS top 14, so that could happen. 

As I understand it, once they get beyond the 4th pick the bowls can
pick ANY bowl-eligible team from the list, so they could pick any
of the 6-6 teams over a 7-5 team.

Enough of the bowl predictions have suggested that TicketCity might
repeat with Northwestern to suggest that the bowl officials haven't 
disabused anyone of that possibility.  

That having been said, I think there is a lot of behind-the-scenes
negotiation between the conferences and the bowls to encourage certain 
teams be selected for certain bowls.

Many Husker fans believe that the Big XII office encouraged one or more
bowls to pass on Nebraska last year, setting up that godawful rematch
with Washington.  It will be interesting to see if Missouri or Texas
A&M get similarly shafted this year.  At least the Big Ten has a policy
limiting how far the losing team in the championship game can fall.  
--
Mike Nolan