ND vs UCONN on NBC (Big for USF and the Big EAst)

[macphisto]

gator is hoping both cincy and pitt get bcs games, so they can pick wvu

Either WVU or us.  A 9-3 USF would be attractive as would an 8-4 WVU.

Both are better options than Pitt or Cincy for attendance.  Betcha the Gator also avoids Miami because that Canes' "fans" won't show up for a consolation prize.

Betcha the Gator is praying for FSU to pull off a miracle win next week against the Gators to validate picking the Seminoles.  Seeing as that is unlikely, I wouldn't be surprised to see UNC get picked or the Gator go with Clemson again.  Either team against WVU or USF would sell well.  Probably UNC to Jacksonville, Clemson to Atlanta, and VaTech to Charlotte (assuming Clemson loses to GT).

Right now it looks like two Big Ten teams will get in with Iowa or Penn State filling out a BCS slot (probably Penn State due to their drawing power).

Two SEC teams. 

One non-BCS.

That leaves one extra spot.  Pitt or Cincy go over Boise State.  Either also likely go over Stanford for an at-large, who still could win the PAC-10.  Virginia Tech is creeping up there too, but they were also a part of crummy attendance last year.

Cincy winning out is a guarantee for them. 

Maybe Oklahoma State gets a shot.

If that doesn't happen then we end up at the Muffler Bowl or the Pizza Bowl.

[Guest]

Gator gets the ACC #3 pick... so they'll take Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, or Clemson - whichever is not in the BCS or Chik-Fil-A.  Probably Va Tech.

All three teams have great traveling fan bases.

But... a Cincy-VT rematch won't be attractive... Pitt-VT would be... so would WVU-VT.

[Jamie]

Assuming Notre Dame gets beat by Stanford next week, the only attractive options to the Gator Bowl people are WVU and USF. If either one of them finish within a game of the Big East runner-up (which they would if either are 9-3 and Pitt loses to Cincinnati to finish 10-2) it's hard to imagine them not picking either school over the Panthers. Which isn't fair, but we've already established that the people who run the Gator Bowl are anything but fair... what with their drooling and pawing over Notre Dame.

[Guest]

Assuming Notre Dame gets beat by Stanford next week, the only attractive options to the Gator Bowl people are WVU and USF. If either one of them finish within a game of the Big East runner-up (which they would if either are 9-3 and Pitt loses to Cincinnati to finish 10-2) it's hard to imagine them not picking either school over the Panthers. Which isn't fair, but we've already established that the people who run the Gator Bowl are anything but fair... what with their drooling and pawing over Notre Dame.

You have to look at the conference record not overall record.  If Pitt is 6-1 and WVU & USF are 4-3, then Pitt has to get the nod...

If Pitt beats WVU, both WVU and USF would be mathematically elimiated from the Gator Bowl - which would have to take the Pitt & Cincy loser.

So, for USF to play in Jacksonville:

1) USF has to win out. 

2) Pittsburgh has to lose out.

3) Rutgers has to beat WVU.

With the first two events, the folks at the Gator Bowl would next have to choose USF over West Virginia and Pittsburgh.  Both WVU and USF would sell the same number of tickets, and WVU has the better national image... so a WVU loss to Rutgers in the last game of the year could help make USF the #2 ranked Big East team... and Gator would want two Top 25 teams...

[Bull Matrix]

I believe that Cincy did sell more of their Orange Bowl ticket allotment than Va Tech did last season.

[Guest]

I believe that Cincy did sell more of their Orange Bowl ticket allotment than Va Tech did last season.

You believe incorrectly.   VT sold their entire allotment. Cincy sold less than 2/3rds.

[Guest nybullsfan]

another equally unlikely, but infinitely more enjoyable, scenario for usf to get to the gator involves pitt and cincy both getting bcs bids

[SRQ]

just sorry Weiss won't still be at ND when Bulls play them.  It is difficult to win in South Bend with hosing the refs give to opponents.