2013 Bowl Projection Update from Syracuse/Rice perspective

Harry · December 2, 2013

Commenter Danger Zone! does a good breakdown of the bowl eligibility situation but it basically comes down to this Rutgers, SMU and South Alabama are the only teams currently not eligible who can still become eligible. If any of them win their final game, they're in the mix. South Alabama isn't as much a threat, especially considering they're playing an 8-3 Louisiana-Lafayette squad. However, it would be a huge help to the Orange if both SUNJ and SMU, or at least one of them, didn't make it. SMU plays UCF (10-1), so that's a good sign. Rutgers plays USF (2-9), so we might be asking too much. Either way, so long as one of them loses, that opens up a spot (likely in the Beef O'Brady). If both lose, all the better.

Double BCS Bids

Assuming FSU beats Duke, both they and Clemson should receive BCS bids. It's hard to imagine the Orange Bowl wouldn't take Clemson (and in the unlikely event of Duke upsetting FSU, one of them would go here). That opens up one more slot in the ACC tie-ins, so that's good. Both the Big Ten and SEC are also looking likely for double BCS bids and that's what opens up a spot in the Heart of Dallas Bowl that so many folks seem to think we're destined for. That also means the Little Caesar's needs to fill a Big Ten slot that's empty.

Read more: http://www.nunesmagician.com/2013/12/1/5163634/syracuse-bowl-projections-how-do-we-ensure-the-orange-go-bowling

Harry · December 2, 2013

I found this tidbit on the Rice board:

"Penn State's upset of Wisconsin could have some ramifications for the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Before losing, Wisky was thought to be a likely at-large BCS pick, and that would have meant the Big 10 would not be able to fill its spot in the HOD bowl. Well, Wisconsin's not going to be an at-large pick now. However, if Michigan State beats Ohio State in the B10 championship game, OSU would likely still be an at-large pick, and the HOD bowl would still be back to looking for a replacement. And if OSU beats MSU, the Spartans still will be 11-2 and possibly a desirable BCS at-large pick anyway.

Syracuse's minor upset of Boston College made the Orange bowl eligible, so there's another P5 conference team out there for the HOD bowl to try to grab if they do have to replace a B10 team - although they will have other suitors, of course."

Read more: http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=660084&page=18