The Bowl Competition

[Z.I.P.]

Sorry about that, I guess I'm just another liberal elitist, but I've figured out exactly how Akron can play in a bowl game in 2004.

The REAL competition is just three schools: Syracuse, Southern Mississippi and Arkansas. Forget Nebraska, TCU, Iowa State or Northwestern. All of those can go bowling and still leave room for little Akron.

Here are the dominoes that must, in all likelihood fall before Cardiac Charlie and the kids are allowed more life:

1. Syracuse must lose @ Boston College.

2. Southern Mississippi must lose two home games (almost positive they're both home games) vs UAB and vs Cal.

3. Arkansas must lose at home to LSU.

I think Southern Miss is favored vs UAB, and LSU@Ark is a tossup.

There you have it, on a stick, like Zippy @ the Bowl.

Let's all cross our fingers for crying out loud.

[Big Zip]

According to MSNBC there are 56 bowl eligible teams for 56 slots as of this morning.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6366631/

If you subtract South Carolina and Clemson that leaves 2 slots.

There are (also according to MSNBC) eight teams that can be bowl eligible.

Of them:

Hawaii or Northwestern are guaranteed bowl eligibility -- they play each other and each team needs on win -- Hawaii is favored. Leaving one slot.

Hawaii still has a chance should they lose because they have another game with Michigan State to get the win.

South Florida must beat Memphis 7-3 and Pitt 6-3.

Arkansas has to beat LSU -- LSU is 8-2 and favored.

Nebraska has to beat Colorado -- Colorado is 6-3 and favored.

Syracuse has to beat Boston College -- Boston College is 8-2 and favored.

Tulane has to beat TCU 5-5 and Louisville 8-1.

TCU has to beat Tulane 4-5 to be bowl eligible.

Should the favorites win all the games TCU and Hawaii both become bowl eligible leaving one bowl eligible team on the outside looking in. Will it be Marshall or Akron?

So you have your teams to root for over the weekend -- Memphis, LSU, Colorado, Boston College, Hawaii and Tulane -- if that all happens the Zips are guaranteed a slot.

Three web site predictions have the Zips going bowling -- the bowls are:

Silicon Valley Bowl -- Dec. 29 in San Jose, Calif.

Independence Bowl -- Dec. 28 in Shreveport, La.

MPC Computers Bowl -- Dec. 27 in Boise, Idaho.

[Zipsrifle]

So, essentially what you are saying is that for Akron to get to a bowl, the MAC will need to get at least 5 bowl bids this season. I don't see how all three, 8-3 MAC West teams won't get a bowl invite over 6-5 Akron or Marshall. Honestly guys, I know we're all excited, but I really don't think this is going to happen. I think we get picked after Marshall and that means 6 bowls for the MAC.....not gonna happen, Sorry. JD will keep the troops ready just in case I'm sure.

One more thing, Isn't it great that we're arguing about if we'll go to a bowl game or not!

[mrelegazna]

Big Zip,

You have one fact wrong that, fortunately, benefits the Zips. Hawaii and Northwestern play 12 games so they need SEVEN victories to be bowl eligible. If Northwestern (6-5) wins they are in, but Hawaii is only 5-5 with games left against Northwestern and Michigan State. If Northwestern beats Hawaii and Hawaii beats Michigan State (which isn't likely but it's very plausible), none of those teams go.

[Zipsrifle]

I don't know what Michigan State team you've been watching, but depending on which team shows up, Hawaii might blow them out!

Here's another thing, has anyone thought about what actually got us into this mess? I think it's because the NCAA limited the number of games played and mandated a specific number of DI-A games a home. Since the Mid-Majors need to play 5 DI-A home games, and the BCS schools won't travel, the Mid-Majors are playing each other and the BCS Schools are having to play each other. Throw a couple good Mid-Major upsets in there and BAM, here we are. I wonder if the BCS Schools will start pressuring the NCAA to make some more changes so they can prop up their records?

[Big Zip]

What I see happening.

Syracuse will lose to BC and not be eligible.

South Florida will either lose to Memphis or Pittsburgh.

LSU will beat Arkansas.

So those three are out.

That leaves -- Hawaii, Northwestern, Tulane, TCU and Nebraska.

Hawaii can cancel out Northwestern by beating them. Currently they are favored by 6. But, Hawaii would still need to beat Michigan State to become eligible. I don't see them winning both games, but should they win to both they are bowl eligible. I hope they beat Northwestern and lose to Michigan State -- practically guaranteeing the Zips a bowl game.

TCU is favored by 13 over Tulane and if they beat them it eliminates Tulane from being eligible. The game is at TCU.

Nebraska is home to Colorado and favored by 2.5. If Nebraska wins they become eligible.

If Hawaii, TCU and Nebraska all win -- it leaves 59 bowl eliglbe teams for 58 spots. Someone gets left out.

This is kind of fun speculating -- here's to hoping Charlie gets one more shot to shine in front of the pro scouts before All-Star games and the combine.

[Guest The Count]

Big Zip - as usual, cannot get facts straight.

There are 28 bowls, not 29, so there are only 56 slots, not 58.

First grade math brother, first grade math.

[Big Zip]

Hide behind a fake name and slam me. You are correct I made a mistake. The fact is there is more than a good chance the Zips will have an opportunity -- the overall idea behind my post was to show the chance that exists.

If you read my first post I spoke of their being currently 56 eligible teams for 56 slots. My mistake was made in the second post when I upped it all by two. With S. Carolina and Clemson declining. It leaves 54 for 56 with a strong possibility of only 57 total for 56 when all is said and done.

You can slam me for my opinions all you want, but typically my facts are correct.