BCS out: USF in position for Sun Bowl

Bulls fans, kiss your computers.

Another strong showing in the six BCS computer ratings kept USF ahead of Cincinnati in the official BCS standings, which means the Bulls are likely headed to the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve in El Paso, Texas.

USF is No. 21, two spots ahead of Cincinnati, despite losing ground to the Bearcats in both polls used by the BCS. The Bulls moved up four spots to No. 15 in the aggregate computer ratings, while Cincinnati stayed put at 21st.

Sun Bowl officials said last week their selection committee was divided enough between USF, Cincinnati and Connecticut that the bowl would choose the team ranked highest in the BCS standings. The Big East payout for the Sun Bowl is $1.5-million, which is $500,000 more than the league's three lower bowls.

USF lost ground to Cincinnati in both polls used in the BCS, with the Bearcats increasing their points lead on the Bulls in both, especially in the Harris poll. USF had trailed in both polls but was one spot ahead in last week's BCS standings, largely because of a large advantage in the six computer ratings.

The new rankings suggest that USF will be chosen ahead of Cincinnati, despite the fact that the two schools had the same overall and conference record and the Bearcats beat the Bulls in Tampa. It's a credit to USF's two huge September victories at Auburn and against Big East champ West Virginia, which helped elevate the Bulls to No. 2 in the national rankings before USF went through a three-game losing streak.

The Sun Bowl will be played at noon on Dec. 31, with the Big East representative playing against a team from the Pac-10, most likely Oregon, Oregon State or Arizona State. The game has a national network broadcast on CBS, giving the Bulls their largest TV audience ever. The Sun Bowl selection committee is expected to meet Monday and should be able to extend a formal invitation on Tuesday.

Comments

[Denise ATL]

Atlanta's looking forward to cheering the BULLS on in El Paso!

[J]

The Sun Bowl will invite USF before it knows the outcome of Oregon/Oregon State. They are expected to pick tonight. Picking USF will not be in an attempt to avoid a Cincy/Oregon State rematch, but rather because USF is the higher ranked (BCS) and more attractive team.

[UC fan]

Since bowl committees don't like rematches, and since Cincinnati beat the tar out of Oregon State earlier this season, the Sun Bowl will invite USF if Oregon State beats Oregon this Saturday. IF Oregon wins, look for UC vs. Oregon in the Sun Bowl.

[Oldie Green and Goldie]

I'll have to say to TBMountaineer that your support is a class act. You are truly a BE Brother. I am pulling for WVU to win the national championship and the Bulls to be Sun Bowl Champions. In fact, I hope that all the BE teams win their bowl games like they did last year.

[J]

pch, did you look at the results on the poll you referenced? Almost 90% for USF, that should tell the bowl officials who will sell the most tickets.

TBMountaineer, I'll be cheering you on toward the National title. Hopefully they're thinking about Pitt right now, not Mizzou or OSU.

Let's go Mountaineers! But more importantly, Go Bulls!!!

[pch]

There is a poll on the home page of http://www.sunbowl.org/ where you can cast a vote for the Big East team you'd like to see in El Paso. Scroll down and look in the right column.

[UTEP]

Can't wait to see the Bulls in El Paso. Id prefer a USF vs. Oregon matchup myself but regardless of who you all play, I'll be at the game cheering on the Bulls.

Bienvenidos a El Paso!!

Go Bulls!!
Go Miners!!

[TBMountaineer]

Way to go USF...way to come back from your 3 loses and finish the season strong...you should be picked over UConn b/c your fan base will most likely travel so much better than theirs..We are glad to have you in the Big East...and cheer for us Mountaineers as we try to finish strong and head to New Orleans and bring the National Title home..

[Jtrain]

UConn getting trashed 66-21 by West Virginia, who USF beat 21-13, makes it obvious the Sun Bowl would choose USF (ranked #21 BCS) over unranked UConn. Don't worry, USF will be the choice. It would be interesting if Oregon (without Dixon) could muster the strength to beat Oregon State and set up USF vs Nike Incorporated (the Oregon Ducks) in El Paso. Regardless, once the official Sun Bowl invitation is made, I'll book my flight from Tampa to El Paso. It should be a fun trip to end 2007 and begin 2008.

[G.A.]

I don't think the league would have any direct influence on the bowl's selection. I'm sure their input is considered, but the bowls can make the choices they feel are in their best interests.

[Sanjay]

Big East may be able to "force" the Sun Bowl to take UConn, but you can be sure it will create an issue when bowls are renegotiated. I think the Big East stays out of it and lets the bowls take who they think is best for that bowl.

[JeffDaBull]

Can the Sun Bowl committee claim they have to take the #2 team in the conference .. UConn? Will the BEast (Mike T) make them play that hand? I know they've said highest BCS ranked team and all, but if the conf wants them to do something else, they might yield to some pressure. I don't want to be a conspiracy type, but I just don't see the conf supporting us for the better game. Whadda know 'bout this Greg? I want to make some reservations !

[Ken]

Cal still has to play Stanford, and that's one of those games that can go either way no matter the records of the teams. Basically, the whole conference still has a game to play, they'll all be tough games, and they could have 2 teams in the BCS (depending), so it is very hard to predict what's going to shake out. And I wouldn't count Oregon out against Oregon State.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I think it will be really cool to play Oregon, but I would want dennis dixon to be back for the game..

I don't know how there is a way we play cal... aren't they like 3-5 in the Pac 10??

UCLA at 5-3 in conference looks to be more of a possibility than cal..

[Tom]

No bowl for Alabama would be nice, except I would not want to hear $aban start talking about the holocaust. . .

SUN BOWL!!!!

64-12! Booooyaaaaahh!

[Jtrain]

Alabama will only get a bowl bid at 6-6 if there's a shortage SEC teams with 7-5 and better records to qualify for all the SEC bowl tie-ins. I hope they don't get a bowl bid. Nick Saban vicously ripped USF earlier this year for no reason.

[Dave W]

Good season; hard to believe, but this is disappointing, even though I said 9-3 earlier in the season. #2 will do that to you. Anyways, the Sun Bowl is a great option and it'll be nice to play a Pac-10 team (have we ever before?). Can't wait for the final game!

[thebigcheeze]

This is a little off the subject but will bama get a bowl game? I am a USF alumn , live in bama, and hate nick satan or nicklass or whatever you want to call him. They ended 6-6. Will they get a bowl game?

[Jtrain]

Arizona State has very little chance of making a BCS Bowl as an at-large team. So USF will face the winner of Oregon vs Oregon State, or Arizona State (if ASU loses to Arizona).

[Jtrain]

Good point, USF-Grouper. I have company over and was distracted when I wrote that list.

It looks like the 10 BCS teams will be:

-West Virginia (Big East champ)
-Missouri (Big 12 champ)
-LSU (SEC champ)
-Ohio State (Big 10 champ)
-USC (PAC 10 champ)
-Virginia Tech (ACC champ)
-Kansas (at-large)
-Georgia (at-large)
-Boston College (at-large)
-Hawaii (at-large)

However, I did not know you couldn't have 3 teams from same conference.

You also forgot the ACC.

[USF_Grouper]

Jtrain you got 3 SEC teams in there (4 with your optional Tennessee). Each conference can only have two.

[Jtrain]

It looks likes the 10 BCS teams will be:

-West Virginia (Big East champ)
-Missouri (Big 12 champ)
-LSU (SEC champ)
-Ohio State (Big 10 champ)
-USC (PAC 10 champ)
-Kansas (at-large)
-Georgia (at-large)
-Florida (at-large)
-Hawaii (at-large)
-Oklahoma, or Arizona State, or Tennessee (at-large)

[Jtrain]

My apologies, CR. Because of the expanding of the BCS from 8 to 10 teams starting this year, Arizona State could get a BCS berth as an at-large team if USC wins the PAC 10.

It looks likes the 10 BCS teams will be:

-West Virginia (Big East champ)
-Missouri (Big 12 champ)
-LSU (SEC champ)
-Ohio State (Big 10 champ)
-USC (PAC 10 champ)
-Kansas (at-large)
-Georgia (at-large)
-Florida (at-large)
-Hawaii (at-large)
-Florida (at-large)
-Oklahoma, Arizona State, or Tennessee (at-large)

I see the BCS contenders as such:
1.West Virginia
2.LSU/ Tennessee winner
3.Oklahoma/ Missouri winner
4.Ohio State
5.Boston College/ Virginia Tech winner
6.USC or Arizona State (not both)
7.Georgia
8.Kansas
9.Hawaii (unless beat by Washington)
10.Most likely Florida if Missouri wins

[Matthew Cox]

chill out a little...just having a little fun with one of the irrefutable laws of the universe, known by the equation USF > UCF.

Also smiling a little since I picked Andre up for my Fantasy team this morning and he's about 10 pts. over his projected stats for the game

[ppayne3]

Note to AP poll managers: You are crazy putting Auburn ahead of USF. Absolutely no logical reason for it.

What are you two talking about? Where did anyone compare USF to UCF. I'm only watching this game because Andre Hall is playing; however, I found it interesting that Denver has UCF's best player from a few years ago and our best player from a few years ago...and they seemed to be friends. I personally have no anymosity toward UCF and often wonder where it all comes from. I may give a few of my UCF friends a hard time when we beat them, but I don't root against them unless they are playing us...And for the record Brandon Marshall is a pretty decent receiver.

On a side note Hall's about to pass a 100 yds and could end up with 200 yds total yardage.

[Jtrain]

I seriously doubt Arizona State (no longer ranked in the top 12) will be invited as an at-large team to a BCS Bowl with 2 losses, unless USC loses to UCLA, allowing ASU to back in to the PAC 10 title and Rose Bowl berth.

[CR]

Actually unless USC loses to UCLA and ASU loses to Arizona both those teams would make BCS Bowls.
So that would leave OSU headed for Holiday should they beat Oregon and leave
Cal and Oregon as the two most likely opponents.

The fact that Auburn is ranked 23 in AP and USF is 25 blows my mind. If we can finish out with a win at the bowl I'll be happy.

[Jtrain]

UCF will always be beneath USF in football by virtue of USF belonging to a BCS conference and being able to recruit with the big boys - making USF one of the big boys. That's just the way it is.

USF is poised to become what the Miami Hurricanes were from the time they joined the Big East in the early 1990's until they stupidly moved to the ACC a few years ago. It's better to be the big fish in a small pond.

USF will be perennial top 10 team and national title contender that sits atop the Big East with occasional challenges from West Virginia. UCF will be a dominant team in Conference USA, but that's it.

[Matthew Cox]

I see Denver is smart enough to put the guys in the right spots too...UCF guy throwing blocks while the USF guy is the gamebreaker.

Great first half for Andre Hall. 45 rushing yds, 65 receiving yds and a TD. Great blocking by Brandon Marshall on Andre's long screen play. UCF and USF working together, without argueing...a novel concept.

[G.A.]

I didn't say USF wasn't going to be ranked higher than Cincinnati. I said the gap was closing between the two, and USF needed the computers to come in their favor to stay ahead of Cincy. That happened, which is great for USF, but I'm not the only person that thought that wasn't a lock.

[Jtrain]

The Bulls definately don't suck. We're three very close losses (should've won all three) away from being #1 and playing for the national championship. USF has seized the mantle the Miami Hurricanes once held (from the early 1980's through the early 2000's). Expect USF to be a consistent top 10 team starting next year.

[steve oneal]

boooooooyahhhhhhh should no all about sucking! You have NEVER said one even remotely intelligent remark, NEVER! boooooooyahhhhhhhh sucks! have fun at whatever crappy bowl ucf plays in in whatever conference ya'll play in. GO BULLS!

[Jtrain]

The PAC 10 winner plays in the BCS game (Rose Bowl), the #2 PAC 10 team plays in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, the #3 PAC 10 team plays in the Sun Bowl. If USC loses to UCLA, USC will end up in the Holiday Bowl and Arizona State in the Rose Bowl.

As of now, it would be USF vs Oregon in the Sun Bowl. But Oregon has to beat Oregon State to get the Sun Bowl bid. It could happen, but I doubt it. I doubt the Sun Bowl wants Oregon State playing there two years in a row. So it's possible they'd offer the bid to UCLA if UCLA upsets USC.

Of course, if Arizona upsets Arizona State and Oregon State beats Oregon, Arizona State would be the choice for the Sun Bowl to face USF.

"Big deal. Bulls suck!"

Yeah, they are #21 in the latest BCS standings, beat a ranked SEC team in an AWAY game and are the only team to beat the current #2 team in the country.

Maybe somewhere this is considered to "suck", but your weak link...is that this is earth.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I hope its Oregon. What if USC loses to UCLA..

Any chance to play the trojans?

[nickdelray]

With 5 weeks to get healthy,I pity the team we play..Go Bulls!!!

[Booooooooooooyahhhhhhhhhhhh]

Big deal. Bulls suck!

[Jtrain]

El Paso is a nice city and not a bad bowl destination with beautiful mountains and desert scenery, along with the 24-hour party town Ciudad Juarez across the border. The weather is the only X-factor. Depending on whether a cold or warm front is in the area, it could be anywhere from the 40's to the 70's for the game.

[steve oneal]

See you in El paso Sheriff. GO BULLS!

[Terry Lucas]

Brett's blog put the smack down on your blog on this topic Greg... see the thread on the bullspen.com... Glad that Brett was right because it should mean a short roadie for this guy! You had me worried for a bit this afternoon!!!

[Jtrain]

If Oregon can beat Oregon State this week it'll be USF vs Oregon in the Sun Bowl. However, Oregon has been awful since Dixon got injured. Oregon State is good. I think Oregon State will beat Oregon. Now, if Arizona upsets Arizona State, Arizona State will drop to 3rd in the PAC 10, and it would be USF vs Arizona State in the Sun Bowl. That would be the ideal TV match up for CBS.

[Ken]

BRAVO for the Bulls! I gather that they will extend the BE invitation Monday or Tuesday, but withhold the Pac10 invite until after next Saturday?

Even with Dixon we'd take them. Stopping Brohm and White/Slaton was/is a much bigger achievement.

[Jon]

If its the Sun Bowl, I'm hoping for Oregon. My Brother went there and I'm a USF Alum. Before the season we bet on who would finish the season ranked higher. With Dixon out, I think the Bulls can take them.