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Post by Trojan Warrior on May 12, 2014 4:29:09 GMT -6
DENNIS DODD - CBSSports.com What has emerged is a sub-genre of postseason opportunities. In the CFP era, the 60 teams in the Group of Five conferences (American, MAC, Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt) play for one automatic spot in those six playoff bowls. A semifinal berth seems almost unattainable. The alternative -- a newly created bowl trip to South Florida or the Bahamas -- doesn't seem like much of a fall back. "Don't blame the Sun Belt if the system is oversaturated," commissioner Karl Benson said. Benson's league had five bowl-eligible teams stay home last season (Western Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Troy, Texas State). That's why he went out and helped postseason game No. 40 -- the Cure Bowl in Orlando beginning in 2015. ( Full Article)
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Post by Hemi Man on May 12, 2014 6:57:55 GMT -6
Having watched Troy left out a few years back after tying for the conference championship I'm glad to see more bowl opportunities. Even last years team at 6-6 was just as entitled to bowl as a 6-6 SEC team. I do see the Bahamas Bowl attendance being poor.
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Post by Troystet on May 12, 2014 11:25:44 GMT -6
Having watched Troy left out a few years back after tying for the conference championship I'm glad to see more bowl opportunities. Even last years team at 6-6 was just as entitled to bowl as a 6-6 SEC team. I do see the Bahamas Bowl attendance being poor. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I understand your point but there isn't a bowl anywhere who would want a 6-6 Sun Belt team that was blown out by two SEC teams over a 6-6 SEC team. There lies the problem. If we go 6-6 next season but play Georgia and Duke competitively I think we go to a bowl. If however we get blown out by both then IMO we stay home again. It's hard to say with the playoff next season how the bowl structure plays out. If there are more teams bowl eligible than slots like last year, the conferences like the Sun Belt are in a tough spot.
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Post by doug4troy on May 12, 2014 12:46:10 GMT -6
I think both Hemi and troystet have valid points. However, I don't think a bowl cares if we get blown out or play someone competitively. It's all about viewership. So the mighty SEC would get the nod in most cases. However, with Troy's fickle fan base, I can see attendance being affected by blow outs during the season. In my opinion, if we go to a bowl... It will be in Montgomery.
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Post by Hemi Man on May 12, 2014 12:46:19 GMT -6
A 6-6 Sun Belt team isn't likely to get an at large birth unless there is a shortage of bowl eligible teams. A 6-6 Sun Belt team will be able to fill a bowl that the Sun Belt has a tie in with. That's why the new tie ins are so important to us and this conference.
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Post by Troystet on May 12, 2014 14:51:09 GMT -6
Worst scenario I see ( other than going 1-11 to 3-9). We slip up and lose to UAB first game under Bill Clark, then get blown out by Duke. We beat ACU, NMSU, Idaho, Georgia St., App. St. And ULM but we get blown out by Georgia, lose to ULL,, Georgia Southern, USA. That makes us 6-6 with all our wins against a FCS and #100 and lower teams. Ideal situation is beat UAB, upset Duke, lose to Georgia and win the rest. 11-1 and maybe a major bowl.
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Post by LAZebra on May 27, 2014 13:55:14 GMT -6
I believe 8-4 is a very realistic expectation. 11-1 would be great, 10-2 is certainly possible but 8-4 with a bowl invitation would be a successful season in my opinion.
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