One man's argument for ACC bowling:
BCS - Virginia Tech
Gator - Miami
Peach - FSU
Champ Sports - Boston College
Tire Bowl - not UVA
Boise Bowl - not UVA
Could there be a 2nd ACC team in the BCS?
In theory yes. However, the FSU loss to UVA put a real damper on that opportunity. Realistically, Notre Dame is going to get one of the two At-Large BCS slots. With only 1 slot left, it will be tough for the ACC to get it. Their best shot is for Miami to beat VT and win the ACC Title while VT beats everyone else. That would likely put VT and Miami in the BCS. The other chance is for FSU to run the table and win the ACC Title game vs. an undefeated Virginia Tech. However, does anyone really think that is going to happen?
Where to put UVA?
UVA has been to the Tire Bowl two of the last three years. They aren't going back there to make it 3 of 4. The ACC likely isn't sending UVA back to Boise in consecutive years. That's just inhumane. The ACC could instead send the Cavaliers to the Liberty Bowl where there's an open slot, or they could use one of the SEC's unfilled slots.
Back to Boise:
That leaves Georgia Tech, NC State, Maryland and Clemson all fighting for bowl eligibility and the right to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl (formerly known as the Tire Bowl) or the Boise Bowl. Not the most exciting of options to be sure.
Underrated Game to Watch:
GT vs. Clemson -- For Georgia Tech the Clemson game could be the difference between bowling or not. The Jackets have Miami (road), UVA (road) and Georgia remaining on the schedule. Only Clemson and Wake look managable at this point. The game is critical to their season.
Clemson doesn't have a very wide margin of error on bowl eligibility either. A loss to the Jackets would mean sure fire cold weather, and the possibility of being home for the holidays. A win gives them a shot at 7-4 (or better) and a 4 game win streak heading into a huge home game vs. the Noles.
[Photo: Georgia Tech's Rambling Wreck seen parked outside the team hotel in Boise, Idaho for the 2002 MPC Computers Boise Bowl]
4 comments:
Don't all the Thursday night games count as bowl games for the ACC. They are, after all, frequent participants (vs) Saturday nights where the SEC is common. Let's see - market our league opposite The Apprentice and Survivor (Thursday nights) or against Hogan's Heroes re-runs (Saturday nights). I'll take Saturday.
The SEC has one of the best TV packages of any conference (the Big XII has the worst), no question about it.
Those Thursday night games are the only game in town those nights though, and that's actually been an excellent partnership for the ACC with ESPN.
Our bowl partnership is an absolute mess though, no way a team as good as BC should be heading to the Champs Sports Bowl, but that's a realistic outcome.
I wish I could be more positive here, but:
Bowl games suck.
Bowl games are worthless.
I love UGA, but could care less if they win bowl games.
This just IN from Tennessee, Fulmer (Fat Phil) will be going to the Soup Bowl!
It's not expected to be televised..
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