Around Conference USA: November 20, 2010

[CalallenStang]

Scores:

ECU 38
Rice 62

UTEP 28
Tulsa 31

Marshall 17
SMU 31

UCF 61
Tulane 14

Memphis 15
UAB 31

Houston 41
Southern Miss 59

Bowl implications:
-Marshall eliminated from bowl contention
-Tulane eliminated from bowl contention
-Houston must beat Texas Tech to become bowl-eligible
-SMU becomes bowl eligible
-UTEP finishes season 6-6 and can not be selected before any 7+ win teams to go to a bowl.

Bowl-eligible teams:
UCF (8-3)
ECU (6-5)
USM (8-3)
SMU (6-5)
Tulsa (8-3)
UTEP (6-6)

Still alive for bowl-eligibility:
Houston (5-6, Remaining: @ Texas Tech)

CUSA East Race:
UCF will clinch if they beat Memphis next week, or if ECU and USM lose.
If UCF loses and ECU and USM both win, there is a three-way tie.
(other scenarios are too complex for me to figure out at this late hour)

CUSA West Race:
If SMU beats ECU, they clinch the division.
If SMU and Tulsa both lose, SMU clinches the division.
If SMU loses and Tulsa wins, Tulsa clinches the division.

[ponyte]

Only one thing to do and that is to beat ECU. This is a golden opportunity for these players to play like champions and become champions.

[CalallenStang]

Only one thing to do and that is to beat ECU. This is a golden opportunity for these players to play like champions and become champions.

Yes. According to ECU fans, their defense cannot defend the draw up the middle. Considering that we have a guy that I consider to be among the best in the country on the draw up the middle (Zach Line), I think we have a great chance to have the Pirates walk the plank and go to the CUSA championship

[b_caesar]

Only one thing to do and that is to beat ECU. This is a golden opportunity for these players to play like champions and become champions.

Yes. According to ECU fans, their defense cannot defend the draw up the middle. Considering that we have a guy that I consider to be among the best in the country on the draw up the middle (Zach Line), I think we have a great chance to have the Pirates walk the plank and go to the CUSA championship

Don'tcha think they're gonna work on that little problem this coming week as they prepare for SMU? Perhaps a complete game plan would be in order here.

[CalallenStang]

Only one thing to do and that is to beat ECU. This is a golden opportunity for these players to play like champions and become champions.

Yes. According to ECU fans, their defense cannot defend the draw up the middle. Considering that we have a guy that I consider to be among the best in the country on the draw up the middle (Zach Line), I think we have a great chance to have the Pirates walk the plank and go to the CUSA championship

Don'tcha think they're gonna work on that little problem this coming week as they prepare for SMU? Perhaps a complete game plan would be in order here.

Only opens up other possibilities

[ponyscott]

Thanks CallallenStang for compiling...
Since New Orleans Bowl ( pays $350) takes the 5th place CUSA and the Saint Petersburg Bowl (pays $1Million) takes the 4th place CUSA and Liberty Bowl pays $1.7 and Armed Services and Hawaii Bowls pay $750K each....with travel costs etc....Liberty and St Petes bowl are the best choices for $$$ but Armed Services is very limited travel costs....which game would be the best NET? What does CUSA take out before distribution to SMU?
If SMU wins at ECU but loses to UCF...where would SMU be projected to go Bowling at 7-6?

[CalallenStang]

All bowl payouts are to CUSA who compiles them and splits them evenly among the schools, from what I understand.

IMO Armed Forces is probably the best for us in terms of $$$ but obviously Liberty is the best for exposure. That being said, CUSA may not even have a spot in Liberty this year if SEC decides it wants to play Big East instead (CUSA would get a spot in Birmingham instead)

[03Mustang]

Thanks CallallenStang for compiling...
Since New Orleans Bowl ( pays $350) takes the 5th place CUSA and the Saint Petersburg Bowl (pays $1Million) takes the 4th place CUSA and Liberty Bowl pays $1.7 and Armed Services and Hawaii Bowls pay $750K each....with travel costs etc....Liberty and St Petes bowl are the best choices for $$$ but Armed Services is very limited travel costs....which game would be the best NET? What does CUSA take out before distribution to SMU?
If SMU wins at ECU but loses to UCF...where would SMU be projected to go Bowling at 7-6?

I think its either Liberty or the Armed Forces bowl this year. I don't really see any others as viable options, other than maybe a VERY outside chance for the New Orleans Bowl.

[ponyscott]

All bowl payouts are to CUSA who compiles them and splits them evenly among the schools, from what I understand.

IMO Armed Forces is probably the best for us in terms of $$$ but obviously Liberty is the best for exposure. That being said, CUSA may not even have a spot in Liberty this year if SEC decides it wants to play Big East instead (CUSA would get a spot in Birmingham instead)

Really?...how is that?

[CalallenStang]

All bowl payouts are to CUSA who compiles them and splits them evenly among the schools, from what I understand.

IMO Armed Forces is probably the best for us in terms of $$$ but obviously Liberty is the best for exposure. That being said, CUSA may not even have a spot in Liberty this year if SEC decides it wants to play Big East instead (CUSA would get a spot in Birmingham instead)

Really?...how is that?

This article does a decent job explaining it: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... wide-open/

Condensed version:
Liberty and Birmingham Bowls are in the same place on the SEC order. If SEC can't get enough teams to fill both bowls, they can demand the Liberty Bowl take a Big East team, and a slot in the Birmingham Bowl will go to Conference USA.

[ponyscott]

All bowl payouts are to CUSA who compiles them and splits them evenly among the schools, from what I understand.

IMO Armed Forces is probably the best for us in terms of $$$ but obviously Liberty is the best for exposure. That being said, CUSA may not even have a spot in Liberty this year if SEC decides it wants to play Big East instead (CUSA would get a spot in Birmingham instead)

Really?...how is that?

This article does a decent job explaining it: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... wide-open/

Condensed version:
Liberty and Birmingham Bowls are in the same place on the SEC order. If SEC can't get enough teams to fill both bowls, they can demand the Liberty Bowl take a Big East team, and a slot in the Birmingham Bowl will go to Conference USA.

Wow!!! interesting and complicated to all involved...you know what?...any Bowl game date which then allows SMU coaches to teach all of these young guys with another month of practice into early January 2011 (?) will make all of these young kids so much better in the Bowl game as well as for next year..

[sbsmith]

Only one thing to do and that is to beat ECU. This is a golden opportunity for these players to play like champions and become champions.

Yep, it would make up for all the other chances they've blown the past 2 seasons. No reason for them not to come out jacked up, they'll be playing in front of 50,000 screaming fans. Time for this program to get a statement win.

[Stallion]

I think its going to be Hawaii or Armed Forces Bowl. I think the Liberty will pass on SMU even if we win out.

[Pony Soup]

Wouldn't a Georgia or Tennessee loss leave the liberty bowl without a SEC team assuming auburn and lsu go bcs?

Stallion, Not sure why you say LB would pass on smu if we won out given the choice. They were at the Houston game and seemed excited about the possibility of having smu earn a spot.

[Pony Soup]

Also, 03, why only a very outside shot at new Orleans? I think me may well have that opportunity if we want it.