Bowl Projections

[MCC_Cat]

So now that we're bowl eligible and the "who's our coach next year" threads have finally been put to rest, let's talk about our bowl game. After we beat the Illini, we may have more options.

My preference: Play and beat a good team. Bonus points if we've never beaten them before. Avoid the Detroit bowl. Who cares about that one, truly? Options appear to be Rate Bowl (I see you TCU and Iowa State), Pinstripe Bowl and Music City Bowl (both, been there done that).

Personally, I like the Rate Bowl against a solid opponent. Beating TCU or Iowa State would be a huge boost going into the off-season. Secondarily, a Music City Bowl matchup with LSU would be fun. Always good to beat an SEC team and that is totally doable.

 

[MCC_Cat]

Apologies for the duplicate thread maybe our moderator can delete one of them for me!

 

[Baz = Heisman]

I really don’t think Detroit would be that bad. We’d get a lot of eyeballs with everyone off on the 26th, at a good time (1pm ET) and a manageable opponent. Plus it’s an easy drive for our fans for the most part.

 

[MCC_Cat]

I'm just coming from perspective of the prestige associated with beating a P5 opponent. I want it to mean more than just beating a MAC team.

 

[UpsetAlert]

I really don’t think Detroit would be that bad. We’d get a lot of eyeballs with everyone off on the 26th, at a good time (1pm ET) and a manageable opponent. Plus it’s an easy drive for our fans for the most part.

Everything about that game is hot garbage. No thanks.

 

[Catmandoo78]

So now that we're bowl eligible and the "who's our coach next year" threads have finally been put to rest, let's talk about our bowl game. After we beat the Illini, we may have more options.

My preference: Play and beat a good team. Bonus points if we've never beaten them before. Avoid the Detroit bowl. Who cares about that one, truly? Options appear to be Rate Bowl (I see you TCU and Iowa State), Pinstripe Bowl and Music City Bowl (both, been there done that).

Personally, I like the Rate Bowl against a solid opponent. Beating TCU or Iowa State would be a huge boost going into the off-season. Secondarily, a Music City Bowl matchup with LSU would be fun. Always good to beat an SEC team and that is totally doable.

7 wins doesn’t land you a date with a good SEC team. Just an SEC team that went 4-0 against a cupcake noncon schedule and then 3-5 in conference play.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

I'm just coming from perspective of the prestige associated with beating a P5 opponent. I want it to mean more than just beating a MAC team.

Last time we played a MAC team in a Detroit bowl game, the opponent was a top 25 Bowling Green team. If the opponent is that good again, I'd be up for it, but I don't think any of the MAC teams this season are that good.

 

[kaTNap]

Everything about that game is hot garbage. No thanks.

Detroit basically can't happen. It would require us to lose to UofI, Rutgers to beat Penn State, and the Rate Bowl to prefer a Rutgers team which is a lousy draw ***and was just there last year*** to us, who have never been to ANY bowl game in Arizona, and have a significant West Coast alumni base & would probably outdraw Rutgers (not a big challenge).

Based on PSU's dismantling of Nebraska last night, a Rutgers win next week isn't going to happen.

 

[Styre]

What, nobody wants to see another matchup with Duke, this time at freezing Yankee Stadium???

 

[GECat2]

If we & PSU end up at 6-6 we could end up in Detroit. A Bowl Game will always pick PSU over NU. I hate to say it but it is true.

 

[kaTNap]

If we & PSU end up at 6-6 we could end up in Detroit. A Bowl Game will always pick PSU over NU. I hate to say it but it is true.

The projections that have us going to Phoenix already have PSU slotted in over us, usually to Pinstripe. There aren't enough teams to send us to Detroit, even including PSU.

 

[kaTNap]

The projections that have us going to Phoenix already have PSU slotted in over us, usually to Pinstripe. There aren't enough teams to send us to Detroit, even including PSU.

Wait a minute, I take that back. I count exactly 7 (non-playoff, non-Pac-12) bowls, and exactly 7 bowl-eligible teams (not counting playoff-bound teams), noting that only one of PSU or Rutgers can get to 6-6.

FWIW, the ESPN projections post yesterday split our destination. One writer has us playing Cincy in Phoenix, the other has us playing LSU in Nashville. Both have PSU in Detroit.

 

[hdhntr1]

So now that we're bowl eligible and the "who's our coach next year" threads have finally been put to rest, let's talk about our bowl game. After we beat the Illini, we may have more options.

My preference: Play and beat a good team. Bonus points if we've never beaten them before. Avoid the Detroit bowl. Who cares about that one, truly? Options appear to be Rate Bowl (I see you TCU and Iowa State), Pinstripe Bowl and Music City Bowl (both, been there done that).

Personally, I like the Rate Bowl against a solid opponent. Beating TCU or Iowa State would be a huge boost going into the off-season. Secondarily, a Music City Bowl matchup with LSU would be fun. Always good to beat an SEC team and that is totally doable.

Detroit is still a bowl and relatively easy to get to so shouldn't be so easily dismissed

 

[hdhntr1]

Last time we played a MAC team in a Detroit bowl game, the opponent was a top 25 Bowling Green team. If the opponent is that good again, I'd be up for it, but I don't think any of the MAC teams this season are that good.

I think Urban Meyer had been HC year before and that team was put together by him

 

[Baz = Heisman]

I think Urban Meyer had been HC year before and that team was put together by him

Jason Wright theeeeeee ballllllllll carrierrrrrrrrrrr

 

[docrugby1]

I hope it is Nashville. The best bowl experience I have had. Spend night and day on Broadway, walk over the Cumberland River to the stadium. Country Music Hall of Fame and possibly an event at the Bridgestone Arena

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

Detroit is still a bowl and relatively easy to get to so shouldn't be so easily dismissed

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm good with Detroit. Easy and cheap to get to, convenient time, manageable match up. Detroit is a fun town.

Detroit would save me thousands.

Caveat. Mrs Phat is a Toledo grad. I would have to be...less enthusiastic...if we played them

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I seems the playoff has indeed killed the secondary bowl market quite a bit in that I don’t really care where we go and don’t feel like it makes any difference in prestige or recognition if we go to Detroit, Phoenix, or wherever, and barely makes a difference who we play. MAYBE a couple of the top non-playoff bowls would be notable, but only barely. How prestigious of a bowl you got used to be a major major talking point at the end of a season and that’s basically entirely gone from college football discussions at this point.
FWIW I just hope we get a power conference opponent and we beat em, but as long as we don’t get blown out I’m not even that much bothered by that.

Also, let’s just go whomp the pumpkin heads and move up the order

 

[Sheffielder]

Detroit - I've actually never been to Detroit...
Phoenix - Never been to Arizona...been meaning to cross it off the list, although midday 12/26 is an issue re: travel...
Nashville - Dec. 30...could do NYE there...
NYC - I had a good time there but honestly I'd choose the aforementioned three (yes, even Detroit) over Pinstripe.

 

[BosCat]

Media consensus is PHX right now. My guess is: win hat, go to NYC; lose hat, go to PHX

99% of this from our friends at HTP:

CFN: Rate vs. KSU (last week: GameAbove vs. WMU)​

CBS: Rate vs. TCU (last week: Pinstripe vs. Clemson)​

ESPN (Bonagura): Rate vs. Cincy (last week: Rate vs. TCU)​

ESPN (Schlabach): Music City vs. LSU (last week: Rate vs. Baylor)​

Athlon (Lassan): Rate vs. Iowa State (last week: same)​

ProFootballNetwork.com: Rate vs. Baylor (last week: Rate vs. KSU)​

Sporting News (Bender): Rate vs. Arizona State​

USA Today (Smith): TBA (last week: Rate vs. Iowa State)​

 

[mickbula]

ALL NY posters...if we play in pinstripe bowl, how does a person get tickets to see something nice on broadway insofar as musical or even ny met opera?? Are most sold out by time we find out going to pinstripe bowl?? Or are there usually some seats still available last couple weeks before performance?? Can anybody make suggestions? Never gone to ny bowl before....Thanks for any inside info

 

[Catmandoo78]

Detroit - I've actually never been to Detroit...
Phoenix - Never been to Arizona...been meaning to cross it off the list, although midday 12/26 is an issue re: travel...
Nashville - Dec. 30...could do NYE there...
NYC - I had a good time there but honestly I'd choose the aforementioned three (yes, even Detroit) over Pinstripe.

I go to Detroit often for work. It’s better than advertised if you stay north of the city (North of 12 mile). You can stay closer if you head west but avoid Dearborn.

 

[Jaguar 88]

Last time we played a MAC team in a Detroit bowl game, the opponent was a top 25 Bowling Green team. If the opponent is that good again, I'd be up for it, but I don't think any of the MAC teams this season are that good.

The MAC is having a down year overall. NU will get zero style points beating the MAC champ this season. This is coming from a MAC guy(EMU '93). Knocking off a mid tier SEC or Big XII team would turn heads though for sure!

 

[Jaguar 88]

I seems the playoff has indeed killed the secondary bowl market quite a bit in that I don’t really care where we go and don’t feel like it makes any difference in prestige or recognition if we go to Detroit, Phoenix, or wherever, and barely makes a difference who we play. MAYBE a couple of the top non-playoff bowls would be notable, but only barely. How prestigious of a bowl you got used to be a major major talking point at the end of a season and that’s basically entirely gone from college football discussions at this point.
FWIW I just hope we get a power conference opponent and we beat em, but as long as we don’t get blown out I’m not even that much bothered by that.

Also, let’s just go whomp the pumpkin heads and move up the order

A win over a power conference opponent will do wonders for recruiting. Beating Toledo in a down year for the MAC isn't going to impress alot of kids.

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

ALL NY posters...if we play in pinstripe bowl, how does a person get tickets to see something nice on broadway insofar as musical or even ny met opera?? Are most sold out by time we find out going to pinstripe bowl?? Or are there usually some seats still available last couple weeks before performance?? Can anybody make suggestions? Never gone to ny bowl before....Thanks for any inside info

www.broadway.com

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

A win over a power conference opponent will do wonders for recruiting. Beating Toledo in a down year for the MAC isn't going to impress alot of kids.

Unless in the playoff; bowl wins/losses have little to no bearing on a kids decision. Making the bowl itself is the most important thing.

 

[Catreporter]

Unless in the playoff; bowl wins/losses have little to no bearing on a kids decision. Making the bowl itself is the most important thing.

Bingo, there are so many benefits to making a bowl. Extra practice time for young players and a chance to allow high school coaches and players to come watch, visibility in December right before portal season opens, not to mention TV coverage before, during and after the game. Winning one is the cherry on top and it often depends on the matchup and lately the opt-outs.

 

[Eurocat]

www.broadway.com

ALL NY posters...if we play in pinstripe bowl, how does a person get tickets to see something nice on broadway insofar as musical or even ny met opera?? Are most sold out by time we find out going to pinstripe bowl?? Or are there usually some seats still available last couple weeks before performance?? Can anybody make suggestions? Never gone to ny bowl before....Thanks for any inside info

You can go to the Met Opera website right now to see tickets available. Last year I helped people visiting get Met tickets I think it was New Years ever for face (perhaps it was one day before New Years eve, on the 30th, I don't exactly recall). Broadway, again, there will be tickets. When you arrive buy New York (NOT the Newyorker - but New York) magazine, has everything listed, reviews, restaurants, events etc. NY is a wonderful place to visit as long as you use common sense, don't wander around or take the subway very drunk at 3am etc. (same applies for Chicago methinks).

New York Magazine

New York Magazine obsessively chronicles the ideas, people, and cultural events that are forever reshaping our world.

nymag.com

 

[CoralSpringsCat]

You can go to the Met Opera website right now to see tickets available. Last year I helped people visiting get Met tickets I think it was New Years ever for face (perhaps it was one day before New Years eve, on the 30th, I don't exactly recall). Broadway, again, there will be tickets. When you arrive buy New York (NOT the Newyorker - but New York) magazine, has everything listed, reviews, restaurants, events etc. NY is a wonderful place to visit as long as you use common sense, don't wander around or take the subway very drunk at 3am etc. (same applies for Chicago methinks).

New York Magazine

New York Magazine obsessively chronicles the ideas, people, and cultural events that are forever reshaping our world.

nymag.com

I hate the Mets.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

A win over a power conference opponent will do wonders for recruiting. Beating Toledo in a down year for the MAC isn't going to impress alot of kids.

I don't know how many years into NIL and P2 football as pro football it will take for people to stop imagining piddly things like winning a bowl game in Detroit will make a single iota of recruiting difference.

 

[docrugby1]

I didn't even know that they could sing

 

[rmndcat]

I didn't even know that they could sing

It didn't stop the 85 Bears.

 

[Catmandoo78]

I don't know how many years into NIL and P2 football as pro football it will take for people to stop imagining piddly things like winning a bowl game in Detroit will make a single iota of recruiting difference.

You can tell the relative age of posters here based on how unwilling they are to recognize the sport is no longer anything like it was 10 years ago.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

You can tell the relative age of posters here based on how unwilling they are to recognize the sport is no longer anything like it was 10 years ago.

You can also tell which new posters promote themselves as insiders or the voice of common sense with no hard data to back up there statements.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

You can also tell which new posters promote themselves as insiders or the voice of common sense with no hard data to back up there statements.

*Their.

Medill F!

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

*Their.

Medill F!

That’s why I got a 12 on the ACT in English.

 

[Catmandoo78]

You can also tell which new posters promote themselves as insiders or the voice of common sense with no hard data to back up there statements.

I’m not an insider at all, but I am a very engaged CFB fan that doesn’t have my head buried in the sand. That said, I don’t care that you don’t agree with me. Sadly, I’ll be proven correct this offseason, and next offseason and prep recruiting cycle, and the next and the next until we get serious about NIL.

 

[AdamOnFirst]

I’m not an insider at all, but I am a very engaged CFB fan that doesn’t have my head buried in the sand. That said, I don’t care that you don’t agree with me. Sadly, I’ll be proven correct this offseason, and next offseason and prep recruiting cycle, and the next and the next until we get serious about NIL.

Yeah, you don't even need to be an insider to follow the NIL stuff, you literally just have to like read the major news stories from a couple sites and vaguely follow the sport. Lane Kiffin and his competing "$25 million outside NIL war chest" bidding war and all.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I’m not an insider at all, but I am a very engaged CFB fan that doesn’t have my head buried in the sand. That said, I don’t care that you don’t agree with me. Sadly, I’ll be proven correct this offseason, and next offseason and prep recruiting cycle, and the next and the next until we get serious about NIL.

Look, you and others come here “armed” with your expertise of reading tea leaves and articles. None of you have ever been around this program or any other D1 program. In fact, you don’t even understand what we have as a war chest or what the current rules are. You just casually dismiss as they are unenforceable and use ******** like “ common knowledge” to justify your opinions that you state as factual. You assume we can’t complete with our weight class in P4 because it’s your convenient excuse to justify our recruiting woes and/or winning games problem. Not a single person on here can show what Illinois spends on football NIL versus NU.

Sorry, you have zero credibility to me when in the first two weeks of joining this board you throw out ******** rumors of Fors visiting Illinois and Fleck interested in NU . Total reckless spitballing. I should have called you out initially but I thought this guy is new and just maybe he has a family or friend connection with Fors or Fleck, give him a break. Now I know you just make things up. So excuse me for not thinking you are an authority on everything related to college sports.

 

[Catmandoo78]

Look, you and others come here “armed” with your expertise of reading tea leaves and articles. None of you have ever been around this program or any other D1 program. In fact, you don’t even understand what we have as a war chest or what the current rules are. You just casually dismiss as they are unenforceable and use ******** like “ common knowledge” to justify your opinions that you state as factual. You assume we can’t complete with our weight class in P4 because it’s your convenient excuse to justify our recruiting woes and/or winning games problem. Not a single person on here can show what Illinois spends on football NIL versus NU.

Sorry, you have zero credibility to me when in the first two weeks of joining this board you throw out ******** rumors of Fors visiting Illinois and Fleck interested in NU . Total reckless spitballing. I should have called you out initially but I thought this guy is new and just maybe he has a family or friend connection with Fors or Fleck, give him a break. Now I know you just make things up. So excuse me for not thinking you are an authority on everything related to college sports.

Again, if you want to bury your head in the sand I won’t stop you. But enjoy it now because the boat isn’t going to stop taking on water until we plug the holes.