TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

With Bowls Near, Questions Abound

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

TAMPA - Looking for early clarity in college football's bowl picture?

Well, you picked the wrong season.

Outback Bowl CEO Jim McVay said he couldn't offer definitive answers on Tuesday when the organization's board of directors met to discuss SEC and Big Ten possibilities for the Jan. 1 game at Raymond James Stadium.

"We're going to dazzle our people with lots of information about all the teams," McVay said. "After that, we're like everybody else. It's hurry up and wait until Saturday night. A few more chips have to fall before anyone can move forward."

If No. 1-ranked Missouri (11-1) defeats Oklahoma (10-2) in the Big 12 Championship Game at San Antonio, then No. 2-ranked West Virginia (10-1) handles Pittsburgh (4-7), it's simple.

Missouri will play West Virginia in the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.

If Missouri and/or West Virginia loses?

Not so simple.

"And it trickles down to everyone," McVay said. "Our options are really good. But which direction do we follow? We don't know that yet."

The most logical direction for the Outback Bowl is Wisconsin (9-3) against Tennessee (9-3), which faces LSU (10-2) in Saturday's SEC Championship Game.

That makes sense because the bowl, with third choice in the SEC, generally favors an Eastern Division team such as Tennessee, leaving the Western Division for the Cotton Bowl.

But what if Tennessee claims the Sugar Bowl bid with an upset of LSU?

"Anything is possible," McVay said.

Including SEC West teams such as LSU, Auburn (8-4) or Arkansas (8-4) being in the Outback mix. Kentucky (7-5) could have been a prime choice, but not after its 52-50 four-overtime loss against Tennessee.

Georgia (10-2) is not available to the Outback because it is No. 4 in the BCS standings, guaranteeing the Bulldogs an at-large spot in the Orange, Fiesta or Rose Bowl.

Florida (9-3) is expected to play Illinois (9-3) in Orlando's Capital One Bowl.

On the Big Ten side, things could get equally convoluted.

Ohio State (11-1) has won the league title, meaning a guaranteed spot in the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes probably would face USC (9-2), which finishes its season against UCLA (6-5).

But with a loss by either Missouri or West Virginia, the No. 3 Buckeyes would be elevated to the BCS Championship Game, leaving the Rose Bowl with an open spot.

The Rose Bowl would then have its choice of any at-large team (qualifying with nine wins and a minimum BCS ranking of No. 14), including Georgia.

Illinois could become the Rose Bowl's Big Ten replacement team, but only if the No. 15 Fighting Illini improve by one spot in the final BCS standings. If Illinois shifts to Pasadena, it spoils the Capital One's dream storyline of Coach Ron Zook facing Florida, his former team.

That would leave the Capital One (followed by the Outback) selecting from a Big Ten pool of Wisconsin (9-3), Michigan (8-4) and Penn State (8-4).

Elsewhere, WAC champion Hawaii (11-0) has moved into position for a BCS bowl bid, reaching the minimum standard of No. 12 in the BCS standings. If Hawaii defeats Washington (4-8), the Warriors would likely meet the SEC champion at the Sugar Bowl.

If Hawaii loses to Washington in the regular-season's final game, the Warriors would be out of the major-bowl picture, leaving the BCS with an open at-large spot. By rule, only a nine-win team in the BCS top 14 would qualify, and no conference can place more than two teams in the major bowls.

But last week, perhaps sensing a potential problem, BCS officials "tweaked" their rule and will extend the at-large pool to the top 18, if necessary.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be

reached at (813) 259-7353

or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT