Bowl babble
You know, I can’t recall a year in which I covered either USC or Clemson where there was so little conjecture about which bowls the teams were factors for.
Maybe it has something to do with the parity within a lot of conferences this year. Perhaps folks also aren’t as stoked about traveling because of the economy. And in Clemson’s case, all eyes have certainly remained fixed on the prize – an ACC title game appearance, which could lead to a BCS trip to the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Here’s how I roughly see it otherwise breaking down:
If Clemson reaches the ACC title game and loses, don’t think they fall any lower than the Chick-fil-A Bowl, assuming the Tigers didn’t lose their last two regular-season games and back into the Atlantic Division title. The Chick-fil-A folks always seem to love Clemson, and unless they’re nose-diving, the Tigers would be the ideal fit for what they are looking for economically (more attractive than Virginia Tech) and in terms of marketing starpower (C.J. Spiller, ‘nuff said.)
But if Clemson doesn’t make the ACC title game, it could get interesting.
If Georgia Tech then wins the title, the Chick-fil-A is left to select from Clemson and Virginia Tech (or Boston College, but let’s keep it real), and how the Tigers fare these next two games would play a role in how they’re perceived.
If Georgia Tech loses the title game to Boston College – well, the ACC might as well cut to the chase and self-impose a league-wide football death penalty before the general public and media do it for them.
But because the Jackets would be 7-1 in the ACC, the Chick-fil-A couldn’t take a 5-3 Clemson team (or any 5-3 team), per league rules. So the Chick-fil-A would be forced to take Georgia Tech for the second straight year or Virginia Tech.
Still think Chick-fil-A would snag GT, but guess it’s feasible the Jackets could fall to the Gator, which I think would be obligated to take them because of record.
Either way, I don’t feel the Gator would want to bring Clemson back for a second straight year … so that leaves the Tigers to the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.
Take that for what it’s worth or not worth.
My expectation is to be in Atlanta or Miami.
5 Comments to “Bowl babble”
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Clemson Beat writer Paul Strelow blogs about Clemson University athletics.
My expectation is to play UVa in Death Valley on Saturday. One day at a time.
Hope to read an article at the end of the season about the amazing turnaround from the begining of the season to the end. Truly amazing. Johnson might be the ACC COY due to record, but surely Swinney needs some kind of recognition for the job he’s done.
Just wow.
Saw today where an ESPN analyst had already penciled in Georgia Tech for the Orange Bowl. But with the way the Tigers are playing right now, it would be hard to bet against them in the rematch with GT. So start thinking Miami, Paul.
Amazing you don’t even mention the Carolina game as being important for CU’s bowl position. Assume, Clemson beats UVA, then loses to USC and GT to finish 8-5. Meanwhile, Miami, Va. Tech and UNC also have schedules where they could easily all end up 9-3. All three programs are also, arguably, bigger or at least as big a national draw – even with Spiller. In this scenario, CU could get pushed way down the ladder. Also conceivable – but not likely – a loss to UVA but still an appearance in the title game due to a BC loss to UNC – thus, a potential 7-6 finish. Where does that put Clemson?
Obviously, if Clemson beats Ga. Tech, that takes care of everything, but if it doesn’t then the Carolina game is much bigger than you are giving it credit for.
@A: spoken like a true South Carolina fan…
A, who are you trying to kid? Clemson could very well end up at 8-5, but who except stupid chickens would ever say VT or UNC (in FB) would be a bigger national draw than Clemson? This drivel coming from a fan of a team whose every ESPN promo began, Steve Spurrier takes on…., and usually never mentioned USC.