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Monday, October 30, 2006
Some non-BCS bowl options
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech fans are thinking Orange Bowl, and that’s understandable. But they might want to give a thought about what happens if Tech gets to but doesn’t win the ACC championship game.
Here are a few factors that could complicate what happens next in that situation. Remember, this year the Chick-fil-A Bowl gets the first pick of ACC teams after the Bowl Championship Series selections.
If Clemson wins out but doesn’t make it to the ACC championship game, the Chick-fil-A Bowl probably would want the 10-2 Tigers over a Yellow Jackets team coming off a loss. So Tech fans probably ought to be pulling against Clemson.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl might have to choose between inviting Tech or Georgia (barring any game that justifies a rematch). The bowl formerly known as the Peach essentially gets the fifth choice among SEC teams, the sixth choice if two SEC teams make it into the BCS. As things stand, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU could be unavailable. Tech fans might want to pull for South Carolina to finish strong and the Bulldogs to falter.
The good news for the Jackets about the Gator Bowl, which picks after the Chick-fil-A: Notre Dame is almost certainly BCS-bound, unless it loses to North Carolina, Air Force or Army. If the Irish don’t go to Jacksonville, there’s nothing to stop the Gator from matching Tech against a team from the Big East or the Big 12. (Virginia Tech went to the Gator last season after losing in the ACC title game.)
