Non-AQ bowl picture gets a little cloudy
November, 22, 2009
11/22/09
12:37
PM ET
By
Graham Watson | ESPN.com
There is one week left, so the bowl predictions are getting interesting, especially in some conferences where extra teams will be available. UAB is the only team in Conference USA that can still gain bowl eligibility, though that looks unlikely since the Blazers will face a really tough Central Florida team.
Bowling Green became bowl eligible in the MAC, but I think it’s going to need to win its final game to earn a bowl berth with four MAC teams already with seven or more wins.
There’s something interesting going on in the Sun Belt Conference. There’s been talk about the MAC and Sun Belt champions meeting in the GMAC Bowl this year because the ACC probably won’t fill its spot. However, that was provided that the Sun Belt had a third seven-win team. Right now, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette both have six wins and tough games to end the regular season.
The WAC also is interesting because Nevada is playing great right now and could give Boise State a run for its money this Friday. I moved Nevada to the Humanitarian Bowl because there potentially is a better matchup there with an at-large than Idaho. However, Boise State could end up in the H-Bowl if it loses and then Nevada could be going to Hawaii to play SMU, another good matchup for the Wolf Pack.
NATIONAL
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: TCU vs. BCS
FedEx Orange Bowl: Boise State vs. BCS
CONFERENCE USA
Liberty Bowl: Houston vs. SEC
Hawaii Bowl: SMU vs. WAC
Armed Forces Bowl: Marshall vs. MWC
New Orleans Bowl: Central Florida vs. Sun Belt
St. Petersburg Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Big East (Sun Belt)
EagleBank Bowl: East Carolina vs. At-Large
INDEPENDENTS
Texas Bowl: Navy vs. Big 12
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Big Ten
GMAC Bowl: Central Michigan vs. ACC
International Bowl: Temple vs. Big East
EagleBank Bowl: Ohio vs. C-USA
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas: Utah vs. Pac-10
Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs. Pac-10
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. C-USA
New Mexico Bowl: Wyoming vs. WAC
SUN BELT CONFERENCE
New Orleans Bowl: Troy vs. C-USA
St. Petersburg Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. C-USA
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Humanitarian Bowl: Nevada vs. At-Large
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. MWC
Hawaii Bowl: Idaho vs. C-USA
Bowling Green became bowl eligible in the MAC, but I think it’s going to need to win its final game to earn a bowl berth with four MAC teams already with seven or more wins.
There’s something interesting going on in the Sun Belt Conference. There’s been talk about the MAC and Sun Belt champions meeting in the GMAC Bowl this year because the ACC probably won’t fill its spot. However, that was provided that the Sun Belt had a third seven-win team. Right now, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette both have six wins and tough games to end the regular season.
The WAC also is interesting because Nevada is playing great right now and could give Boise State a run for its money this Friday. I moved Nevada to the Humanitarian Bowl because there potentially is a better matchup there with an at-large than Idaho. However, Boise State could end up in the H-Bowl if it loses and then Nevada could be going to Hawaii to play SMU, another good matchup for the Wolf Pack.
NATIONAL
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl: TCU vs. BCS
FedEx Orange Bowl: Boise State vs. BCS
CONFERENCE USA
Liberty Bowl: Houston vs. SEC
Hawaii Bowl: SMU vs. WAC
Armed Forces Bowl: Marshall vs. MWC
New Orleans Bowl: Central Florida vs. Sun Belt
St. Petersburg Bowl: Southern Miss vs. Big East (Sun Belt)
EagleBank Bowl: East Carolina vs. At-Large
INDEPENDENTS
Texas Bowl: Navy vs. Big 12
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: Northern Illinois vs. Big Ten
GMAC Bowl: Central Michigan vs. ACC
International Bowl: Temple vs. Big East
EagleBank Bowl: Ohio vs. C-USA
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
MAACO Bowl Las Vegas: Utah vs. Pac-10
Poinsettia Bowl: BYU vs. Pac-10
Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force vs. C-USA
New Mexico Bowl: Wyoming vs. WAC
SUN BELT CONFERENCE
New Orleans Bowl: Troy vs. C-USA
St. Petersburg Bowl: Middle Tennessee vs. C-USA
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Humanitarian Bowl: Nevada vs. At-Large
New Mexico Bowl: Fresno State vs. MWC
Hawaii Bowl: Idaho vs. C-USA





You must be signed in to post a comment