A Bowl full of Jelly

Well since the Big 10 is once again stupidly done before Thankstaking the conference's bowl picture brightened a little bit in the last 16 hours. Since Hawaii pulled out a squeaker in Reno and since their SOS will get the much needed bump in the next two weeks with games against Boise State and Washington we still need to split off two scenarios. I still believe that if the Rainbows lose, Illinois will be in the driver's seat for a BCS game. The Illini could still move up if the Pac 10 circular firing squad continues to off its potential BCSers, but I think that either ASU or USC will survive with 2 losses and my coveted by the good folks in Tempe or New Orleans. Oh yeah, and OSU still has a good shot to play for the whole marbles.

SCENARIO 1, Hawaii gets the birth:

Title game: LSU vs West Virginia
Orange: Va Tech vs Mizzou
Fiesta: Kansas vs Hawaii
Sugar: Georgia vs USC

Big 10 Bowls:

Citrus: Illinois vs Florida
Outback: Wisconsin vs Tennessee
Alamo: Michigan vs Texas A&M
Champs Sports Penn State vs Clemson
Insight: Indiana vs Nebraska
Motor City: Mich State vs MAC Champ
Purdue will also get a birth somewhere as at at-large


SCENARIO II, Illinois to the BCS

*Change the Fiesta to Kansas vs USC and add Illinois to the Sugar Bowl


Citrus: Michigan vs Florida
Outback: Wisconsin vs Tenessee
Alamo: Penn State vs A&M
Champs: Mich State vs Clemson
Insight: Indiana vs Nebraska
Motor City: Iowa vs MAC Champ
Purdue receives at-large


I think IU and Wisconsin should feel pretty safe in their destinations. IU could jump up to the Champs Sports Bowl if Illinois makes the BCS, but I see MSU as having a slightly better draw for the Orlando people. Purdue appears to be on the outside looking in no matter what happens. They Boilers have had a poor second half and their loss yesterday will probably put them behind IU in the bowl pecking order.

Nice work by the Hawkeyes yesterday. Apparently their players had 0 interest in going to Phoenix in December. I guess Iowa City is too nice around the holidays.
At 6-6 the Hawkeyes can only go to a game with a Big 10 tie in, but they are really behind the 8 ball in scenario I as the Motor City Bowl would probably prefer inviting the Spartans to come down the road for the game. In scenario II, however, I can see Jim Delany "strongly encouraging" the bowl officials to take Iowa since Purdue has the 7 wins necessary to award them an invite somewhere. Plus, I believe Iowa is much more appealing to the bowl committee than Purdue.

In other news, the Citrus Bowl probably wants nothing to do with the Badgers and probably would salivate over the chance to be the site of Lloyd Carr's final game. With Penn State having visited Tampa last year and with Michigan being dreadful the last two weeks the Outback Bowl is probably begging for the chance to take the Badgers. Works for me.