ponysig96 wrote:All I know is, SMU is in a much better position now than when the SWC broke up, or when the MWC split from the WAC, or when C-USA took TCU from the WAC.
We have shown we are willing to run big time football and basketball programs (the latter not quite working out yet). We have a new stadium, a new basketball practice facility and big name coaches.
My prediction is that the Big 10 will expand by taking Pitt or as a surprise, UConn. UConn gets them the NYC market and upgrades their pathetic basketball rating. The Big East takes Memphis or ECU as a replacement. C-USA takes La. Tech. -- so not a big deal for SMU or C-USA.
Now for the MWC. They will act quickly whether or not the Big 10 expands. No way are they letting BYU and Utah out. Look for the addition of Boise State, Fresno and/or Nevada to quickly be announced -- as soon as this spring IMO.
If the Big East only took East Carolina or Memphis to replace Pittsburgh, then their BCS status may be in jeopardy. To avoid this the Big East may have to at last go to 12. This is the worst case scenario for SMU, as CUSA is forced to add several teams from the Sun-Belt, tremendously damaging the value of the conference.
The best possible option for SMU is if Missouri is selected by the Big 10. At best, if the Big 12 loses Missouri to the Big Ten and Colorado to the Pac-10 (which will take either Colorado State or Utah, or BYU), the Big 12 will then replace the two schools it will have lost with a combination of Utah, BYU, and Colorado State.
At this point the MWC will be at 6 teams and need to add six in order to not only replace the missing teams, but also to continue its quest to become a BCS conference. At this point, Fresno State, Nevada, Boise State, SMU, Tulsa, and Houston would be added.