Current ESPN Bowl projections

[appst89]

Just for fun

AutoNation Cure Bowl

Orlando Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
Sat., Dec. 19, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)

Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Appalachian State
McMurphy: Tulsa vs. Arkansas State

GoDaddy Bowl

Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
Wed., Dec. 23, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Schlabach: Toledo vs. Georgia Southern
McMurphy: Bowling Green vs. Appalachian State

[hotrod2001]

At this rate, I think Toledo is going to be the team getting the Golden Ticket this year.

And how is Schlabach picking Syracuse? The Cure Bowl is played between the Sun Belt and American Conferences.

[85gradinATL]

CBS Sportsline has us playing N. Illinois in the Mobile Bowl. If a conference doesn't have enough bowl eligible members, overflow from another conference that has more eligible teams than its number of bowls gets shifted into one of the other conference's slots.

[AppSt94]

I would prefer to play a P5 than another G5. Gives a shot to get a credible win on national TV that will help our reputation grow.

[EastHallApp]

At this rate, I think Toledo is going to be the team getting the Golden Ticket this year.

And how is Schlabach picking Syracuse? The Cure Bowl is played between the Sun Belt and American Conferences.

He has Memphis getting the access bowl bid, presumably leaving the AAC without enough teams to fill all its spots.

[APPdiesel]

Predictions are fun now let's beat those Georgia State Cobb Gobblers.

twitter.com/diesel933

[appchicago]

I would prefer to play a P5 than another G5. Gives a shot to get a credible win on national TV that will help our reputation grow.

Plenty would agree with you, but how would that work? Bowl tie-ins are pretty well locked up (http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/college ... hedule.php) and none of them pairs an SBC school against a P5 school. In fact, almost no G5 teams will get to play P5 teams in bowls.

But I'd disagree with your notion that the only credible win is a P5 win. I can think of lots of G5 teams i'd love to play and beat on a national stage. Starting off with just the ones that are currently ranked in the AP top 25, there's Boise State and Toledo. Add in the Coaches and you've got Memphis in there too. The ESPN Power Rankings also give a nod to Temple and Houston. I'd add in Cincy, Navy, and NIU based on a combo of current performance and perennial reputation. Then I'd add Marshall, WKU, and some other teams that might just make for good games for both football-related and non-football-related reasons.

Those could be some great games. I have a lot of respect for the other G5 conferences, and I think teams all over the map are putting a really quality product on the field.

[WVAppsfan]

I tend to agree with the the idea that playing a Power 5 would provide the program a boost but wait a second....... Playing a name Group of 5 team like Northern Illinois and beating them would do just as much or more for the program. These type of teams have been in the national spotlight and understand how to win, if we get to a bowl and WIN, then it will be on us. No matter who we play, in what bowl we are in, JUST WIN.

[ashugh]

Just as important is how we travel as a program. If we travel like we did for the national championships in chatty, it will certainly catch the eyes of people who issue bids. I know, many are predetermined. But, if we had a monster year like the year N Illinois had or Boise has had, how we travel cannot be overrated.

[MtnDevil95]

Traveling fanbase is very important when it comes to bowl bids in these non-NY6 bowls. The bowls will indicate that the Sun Belt's second place team will get this bowl and #3 gets that bowl, but I'm telling you, bowl organizers will slot a #3 team into the #2 bowl if they think it'll drive higher attendance. I've seen middle-tier ACC teams get passed over/bumped up just because one fanbase travels better, or geographic proximity will increase attendance.

Having said that, I'm obligated to be on the west coast for Christmas this year, so I cannot make the Mobile option, but if App makes a Dec 19th bowl, I'll be there.

[EastHallApp]

Traveling fanbase is very important when it comes to bowl bids in these non-NY6 bowls. The bowls will indicate that the Sun Belt's second place team will get this bowl and #3 gets that bowl, but I'm telling you, bowl organizers will slot a #3 team into the #2 bowl if they think it'll drive higher attendance. I've seen middle-tier ACC teams get passed over/bumped up just because one fanbase travels better, or geographic proximity will increase attendance.

Having said that, I'm obligated to be on the west coast for Christmas this year, so I cannot make the Mobile option, but if App makes a Dec 19th bowl, I'll be there.

You're more right than you know - because the Sun Belt actually has no such guidelines whatsoever as far as the standings slotting a team to a particular game.

For instance, the New Orleans Bowl has first choice, but they aren't obligated to take the league champion. Which is why they pick ULL every year, regardless of where they finish.

[moonshine]

With the access bowl out of reach at this point in the season (need several teams to lose multiple games) hopefully App can reach either the Cure (#1) or GoDaddy (#2).

The Cure probably has the most intriguing opponent from the AAC plus it's the highest payout at $1,350,000 and with a desirable location (Orlando), not to mention it doesn't interfere with the holidays. The Cure kicks off at 12:00 pm on 12/19/15 with CBSSN broadcasting the game.

GoDaddy has a decent location (Mobile) with the 2nd best payout at $750,000 but the time slot (12/23/15 at 8pm on ESPN) is not the greatest for traveling fans.

[JTApps1]

I'm not too worried about who we may play in bowl. I just want to 1) get in a bowl and 2) win that bowl.

[MtnDevil95]

What about the Camelia Bowl in Montgomery? There's a Sun Belt tie-in there as well. I'd strongly prefer the Cure Bowl, but any bowl is better than no bowl.

[EastHallApp]

Cure is the clear #1 for me. You could make a case after that for either the GoDaddy or Camellia.

Of course, a possible wild card would be if ULL doesn't turn it around this year and isn't bowl eligible. Then New Orleans would open up, and while I'm not sure we'd be the first choice (and it's a small payout), the destination and MWC opponent would put it right behind Orlando on my list.

[AppSt94]

I would prefer to play a P5 than another G5. Gives a shot to get a credible win on national TV that will help our reputation grow.

Plenty would agree with you, but how would that work? Bowl tie-ins are pretty well locked up (http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa/college ... hedule.php) and none of them pairs an SBC school against a P5 school. In fact, almost no G5 teams will get to play P5 teams in bowls.

But I'd disagree with your notion that the only credible win is a P5 win. I can think of lots of G5 teams i'd love to play and beat on a national stage. Starting off with just the ones that are currently ranked in the AP top 25, there's Boise State and Toledo. Add in the Coaches and you've got Memphis in there too. The ESPN Power Rankings also give a nod to Temple and Houston. I'd add in Cincy, Navy, and NIU based on a combo of current performance and perennial reputation. Then I'd add Marshall, WKU, and some other teams that might just make for good games for both football-related and non-football-related reasons.

Those could be some great games. I have a lot of respect for the other G5 conferences, and I think teams all over the map are putting a really quality product on the field.

While it is true that bowls have tie ins with conferences, if there aren't enough bowl elegible teams from said conference then they can pick someone else.

You make a very good point regarding beating a good G5 school. That kind of statement win for the program would assist with momentum moving forward. But from a national reputation standpoint; beating an OK P5 is better than beating a good G5. I don't agree with it but that's what it's about. Beating a middle of the road ACC team in a bowl, (thinking of Pittsburgh) would get more attention than beating a quality opponent from the G5.IMO