2014-15 Bowl Chatter and Predictions

[THEarmada]

And it's why you used to hear SEC fans complain about their system with the permanent rivalries (at least the ones with good programs for rivals, didn't ever hear much complaining about whoever gets Vandy or Kentucky every year).

Having not paid that much attention but having a peripheral interest in the SEC, I always thought the division champions were determined by division record but apparently that's incorrect. I also always assumed the fuss about the permanent out of conference mates was that it made being undefeated/one-loss more difficult and therefore making getting into the BCS harder.

I guess I assumed that because the NFL division record is the only thing that matters in division rankings unless there's a tie.

[inudesu]

Ostensibly, all the teams in a given conference are at roughly the same level of competitiveness. That's why they elected to associate with one another.

But you don't know who the tougher teams in a given season until the season begins. The previous year's results might help one make an educated guess, but the schedules are made years in advance.

And unless you're using the traditional rivals model (which would make no sense in the current CUSA) they're random and they rotate and (starting next season) it's only 2/8 games anyway.

But yeah, it sure can affect divisional races (Rice has to go to Marshall, we don't this season).

By the time you get to 14 teams (or 12 in my humble opinion) a conference starts looking more like the way the NFL uses the word then the way the NCAA has traditionally used the word. Eventually, we may end up at a point where divisions within bigger conferences basically become what we used to refer to as "conferences."

[inudesu]

I guess I assumed that because the NFL division record is the only thing that matters in division rankings unless there's a tie.

One more wave of conference expansion and we'll be there. 7 team divisions already share conferences with teams they barely play.

[sportdawg]

Having not paid that much attention but having a peripheral interest in the SEC, I always thought the division champions were determined by division record but apparently that's incorrect. I also always assumed the fuss about the permanent out of conference mates was that it made being undefeated/one-loss more difficult and therefore making getting into the BCS harder.

I guess I assumed that because the NFL division record is the only thing that matters in division rankings unless there's a tie.

NFL division champs are decided by overall record - tie-breakers use division rankings

TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

http://www.nfl.com/standings?categor...&split=Overall

Last year, Cincy had a worse division record than Pitt and won division.
Cowboys had best NFC East division record (5-1) and did not win division
Lions had best NFC North record and did not win division

Two Clubs

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).

1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
2. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3. Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4. Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5. Strength of victory.
6. Strength of schedule.
7. Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8. Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9. Best net points in common games.
10. Best net points in all games.
11. Best net touchdowns in all games.
12. Coin toss

[THEarmada]

Thanks for the info. I'm surprised by that, I guess I need to pay more attention.

[Brian96]

I just want to play in a bowl

Me, too. And with the sting of the NSU debacle still lingering in my mind, and our offense's struggles with UTSA, I can't commit to odds any better than 50/50 that we'll close the deal this season. We could win out, or we could lose a couple more that should be gimmes.

[ETXBULLDOG]

I was at the last Bowl game by Penn State and it was at this Location and Houston
University beat them in a very good game!

[ETXBULLDOG]

The HOD Bowl has always been on Jan 1 but the article in The Dallas Morning News said
it would be on Dec 26th this yr. Much better for folks to attend!

[Saint Greg]

The HOD Bowl has always been on Jan 1 but the article in The Dallas Morning News said
it would be on Dec 26th this yr. Much better for folks to attend!

Noon the day after Christmas is pretty rough for people coming from out of town. You either have to spend Christmas in Dallas or leave super early the day after Christmas.

[ETXBULLDOG]

True but I think the Indy Bowl is Dec 27th! I sure would like for our fans to make a Bowl
a priority vs always finding an excuse for not attending! But they are used to it for Home
football games! Many think of Tech as small and by their actions make it appear that way!

[dawgs1]

True but I think the Indy Bowl is Dec 27th! I sure would like for our fans to make a Bowl
a priority vs always finding an excuse for not attending! But they are used to it for Home
football games! Many think of Tech as small and by their actions make it appear that way!

You would have to understand the dynamics of whom will attend Tech games and where. Our Indy Bowl crowds are generally our season ticket holding fanatics, local Shreveport-Bossier area alumni that don't normally care about regular season football games or will not make the committment to drive to Ruston, several thousands Tech students (that live in Shreveport/Bossier area and their friends, the casual football fan with no ties to Tech but will support a bowl game once a year and several thousand LSU fans and/or bandwaggon fans that cannot get tix to wherever LSU is playing. This usually amounts to 30K to 40k there for us at the Indy Bowl.

A regular season game in Shreveport will not garner the same support from non-Tech fans unless we are playing a top 20 team & have a legitimate opportunity to win. See games against Miami, SMU, Cal...etc. Also, games here tend to be light on support from some of our regular Ruston attendees.

[GatorDawg]

HOD isn't on ESPNU anymore. It's on the main mothership channel now that ESPN owns it.

The reason is actually more that it is no longer competing with the bigger boys on New Years Day.

[Dogsince65]

i personally think we need to give Bruce VD a part time job and let him make bowl arrangements ....

[HogDawg]

I think the new WHITE helmets are worth another TD for LA Tech. BOOM!!!

[RougeDawg]

Zaxby's sucks...