The NCAA approved today the SEC's affiliation with the Papajohns.com Bowl, creating an SEC-Big East postseason football game next season in Birmingham and ending Conference USA's two-year relationship with the game. The NCAA certified two new bowls: the ESPN-owned St. Petersburg Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla., and the Congressional Bowl in Washington D.C. Conference USA goes to the St. Petersburg Bowl to play a Big East team. The Papajohns.com Bowl's addition of the SEC was contingent on the St. Petersburg Bowl being approved. The Southeastern Conference will now have nine automatic bowl slots for its 12 teams. The Big East will have seven for its eight teams, and Conference USA will have six for its 12 teams.
2 comments:
I think it was a dumb decision by the Pizza folk. Yes, Bama is a real possibility. But, let's look at this year's SEC possibilities:
Vandy: doesn't ever get bowl-eligible, especially not with Earl Bennett gone.
Kentucky: This is a 3-9 team, I think, with most of their offense gone, and the worst D in the league.
South Carolina: This team will flirt with 6-6, again. Spurrier hasn't gotten Florida-level talent. Chalk up one "maybe."
Georgia: Hasn't missed bowling since 1996. One "definite."
Tennessee: Fulmer missed a bowl game in 2005, but it was the only miss of his career. I'd put UT down as a "definite," which makes two.
Florida: Tebow. 3 "definites."
LSU: Even with a rookie QB, or worse, Ryan Perilous, LSU bowls. 4 "definites."
Arkansas: Decently stocked in the trenches, but they have Casey Dick at QB, as well as games against Texas, and Tulsa (think Gus Malzhan has an axe to grind, here?). Put 'em down as a "maybe," for two of those.
Mississippi State: Don't look for AU or UA to lose to these guys again this year. MSU is a "maybe," at least till they find a passing game. MSU is 4-8 team, if they don't get their corners healthy before the season starts. So far, 4 "definites," and 3 "maybes."
Ole Miss: Has early dates, and probable losses against Memphis and Wake Forest. Add in Florida and South Carolina out of division, and Ole Miss won't go bowling.
Alabama: Has less beef on the D-line, suspect kickers, iffy running backs, and the erratic JP Wilson back for another year, with most of his receivers gone. There's talent reporting anew this fall, but Bama's just a "maybe." 4 "definites," 4 "maybes."
Auburn: Hasn't missed a bowl game this decade. "Definite."
Tallying it up, it looks like 5 definite bowl teams, with 4 others possible. If even one of the "maybes" doesn't pan out, the Pizza Bowl is looking at sniffing through the dregs. We could definitely see a Arkansas State/San Jose State match that might only put 5000 fans in the stands...
it will be interesting to see. 9 bowl teams is tough, even for the SEC. if they can get SEC teams in it this bowl will do even better though i hope it's never auburn.
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