Where will we go bowling?

[EastHallApp]

Keep seeing ULL in this discussion. They are 2-4. If my math is correct they need to flip that script and go 4-2 to be eligible. Someone please lay out the 4 wins they will have no problem getting from here on out. If they go 5-7 or worse and can't go bowling how would things shake out? Assume App is the conference champ, GSU second and Ark St is third with no other SB teams getting to 6 wins.

Won't get into predictions, but I would think ULL would be a solid favorite vs. ULM, Ga. State, NM State and probably Troy. @ USA is a crapshoot, but let's call it a toss-up for now.

They're not a given to become bowl-eligible, but I'd say it's still more likely than not.

[MAD Doctor]

Latest projections have us either going against N. Illinois in Moblie or La. Tech in New Orleans. I also saw USA and ECU in Orlando (C'mon man).
Who knows? Lot of football left. One word- Troy

[Saint3333]

While I would prefer the Cure (Orlando) Bowl for my family situation, we as a fansbase should understand that if we do go on to win the SBC it is very unlikely we'll go to the Cure Bowl. That bowl gets the 4th pick.

The NO bowl loves to pick ULL, but would pick the champ if they aren't available.

Then the Go Daddy bowl has always picked the SBC champ in the NO bowl didn't take them.

Unless we lose two conference games I can't foresee a scenario in which we play in Orlando.

[appst89]

IF we were to win out and go 11-1, I would hope that we get the opportunity to play another conference champ. I would not be very happy about playing the 7th pick from the AAC; a team that will very likely have 4 or 5 losses.

If Toledo were to go 13-0 and not get the Access Bowl slot (which they won't if Houston or Memphis also run the table), I think that would be, by far our most attractive matchup in the GoDaddy Bowl.

[EastHallApp]

IF we were to win out and go 11-1, I would hope that we get the opportunity to play another conference champ. I would not be very happy about playing the 7th pick from the AAC; a team that will very likely have 4 or 5 losses.

If Toledo were to go 13-0 and not get the Access Bowl slot (which they won't if Houston or Memphis also run the table), I think that would be, by far our most attractive matchup in the GoDaddy Bowl.

Agree that in terms of on-field matchup, that would be the best scenario. That would have to be the best matchup GoDaddy has ever seen (and still would be even if Toledo had a loss, really).

I would be fine playing an AAC team, though, even though you're right that they'd probably be 7-5 at best (maybe even 6-6). At this stage, beating opponents with name recognition is as important as beating opponents with good records. And someone like ECU, Cincy, or maybe even USF is a pretty big name by G5 standards.

Also, for our first bowl, it's important to show that our fans travel well, and I think the combo of location and date might make Mobile the most challenging of the Sun Belt bowls in that regard.

[bigdaddyg]

Mobile on a Wednesday night doesn't sound very attractive. How long is the drive from Central NC?

[appchicago]

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I can't see myself making the GoDaddy bowl. We've got kids that are far too young to travel, and a trip that close to Christmas is a no-go, but I could probably swing any of the 12/19 games. Of course I understand that not everyone is in that position, but I can't imagine that we'd have our best showing, as a fanbase, in a situation that requires most of the App faithful to spend Christmas Eve in an airport or on an 8-10 hour roadtrip.

[hapapp]

I like the idea of the Cure Bowl, but I would like to see us play the best possible opponent regardless of the bowl.

[Yosef84]

I've been saying I preferred the Cure Bowl but that is based primarily on the location (destination) and the fact we would be playing the AAC. I didn't realize it was the 7th team from the AAC, so that changes things a bit. IF we are the SBC champs, I like the idea of playing another conference Champ (MAC) even if it is in Mobile. The week night thing isn't as big deal during the holidays since many people have time off already. I'm not sure I could make the trip, but I would most certainly try!

[JTApps1]

The date is my only issue with the GoDaddy Bowl as I know a lot of our fans won't go. Playing a potentially ranked Toledo team would be great though.

[Mountaineer06]

While playing a bowl game in Orlando would be really nice, I foresee better national visibility for App by playing in one of the other bowl games. The Cure Bowl is the only one of the four potentials that will be aired on CBS Sports Network instead of ESPN. Note: usually only people with upgraded sports packages get the CBSSN channel. Also this game is at 7pm on Saturday night and is competing against an NFL game and the other bowl games on ESPN. Thus the ratings will be much lower and possibly the least viewed bowl game this year.

However, if we played in the GoDaddy bowl we would be the only football (college or NFL) game on Wednesday night playing in primetime on ESPN. If it happened to be an undefeated Toledo vs. an 11-1 App that game will get really high view ratings.

[bigdaddyg]

The predetermined tie in thing is completely ridiculous. Obviously we all know why it is set that way but makes no sense. Didn't it work out okay years ago when bowls came a calling with a few games to be played and tried to woo schools into coming to play? Kind of takes some of that fun out of it knowing where you are likely to land. I would hate to see us go 11-1 and our reward is some crappy 6-6 team from another G5.

[MtnDevil95]

GoDaddy is the only 1 of the 4 that I will not be able to attend. New Orleans will be a stretch, but I could make it happen. Camellia would be the least desirable from a fan experience perspective, but likely easier to get to, Montgomery is about 10 hour drive from the Raleigh area. I think most of us will agree that Orlando is the most desirable from a fan perspective based on location alone.

The biggest problem with the December 19 bowl games is timing. The time between the invitations and the game is so short that getting a flight will be a much more expensive proposition making driving time a big consideration. December 23, conversely, starts to conflict with family Christmas plans.

In summation, while this year is way too much of a long shot, App needs to win out this season, build on that with a big win in Knoxville next season and win our way into a New Year's Six!

[bcoach]

If you are looking for a crowd I would say APP vs ECU in the CURE.

[diehardapp18]

I try not to get too caught up in the bowl talk with so much of the season left to play but here is a layout from an StAte fan who seems to have good insight into the way it works in the Sun Belt. I found this on the Belt board:



1. If ULL gets to 7 wins, they are going to New Orleans, regardless what their conference record is. New Orleans Bowl has first pick, and Cajuns put 45-50K in the place yearly.

2. The Go Daddy Bowl has 2nd pick. They have said many times, that they look to take the champ first...and only consider other teams if the champ is not available. If App wins the league, you will likely go to Mobile. I guess its possible if there was a better matchup out there that the SBC could try and get Go Daddy to take someone else...but I don't see that happening.

3. Camelia Bowl picks 3rd. My thinking is they probably take stAte because Georgia Southern would prefer Orlando to Montgomery, but, its not inconcievable for the Eagles to go there.

4. Cure Bowl has last pick. They get whose left. You're not going to see the SBC jumping too far out of line to move the champ out of Go Daddy/New Orleans because our contract with Go Daddy expires in 2017, and we want them to renew. New Orleans tie to the league meanwhile, is likely directly tied to whether or not the Cajuns remain members.

I'm definitely not saying you're wrong because you sure sound like you know what you're talking about. But if Cure bowl is pitted against the best conference of them all (AAC), them getting the last pick makes 0 sense.

[diehardapp18]

In ESPN's bowl projections BOTH guys have us playing Toledo in the GoDaddy bowl. I would prefer sunny Orlando, and the timing of Dec 23rd just sucks but I think we all would love to get a shot to potentially play a top 25 team in our bowl game.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

If Toledo goes undefeated and ends up in the GoDaddy bowl, you can sure that they will have a huge chip on their shoulder and look to destroy anyone they face in a bowl game to prove a point.

[bcoach]

Great TV game but I think DEC 23 will be a very bad day for attendance. People getting ready for Christmas and families traveling home for the big day. I would hope we would not be judged by our attendance on that date.

[AppOrange]

While Orlando sounds nice, it is the one bowl game that is not on a major channel. All games are on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, or CBS. The cure bowl is the one that is not . . . CBSSN. Even the Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs. SWAC), which is the same exact Date/Time as the Cure, is on ABC.

[EastHallApp]

While Orlando sounds nice, it is the one bowl game that is not on a major channel. All games are on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, or CBS. The cure bowl is the one that is not . . . CBSSN. Even the Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs. SWAC), which is the same exact Date/Time as the Cure, is on ABC.

True and that's the one area where the Cure Bowl falls short of the others. I imagine ESPN is involved in the bowl selection process since they have their fingers in every other aspect of college athletics. If we did happen to run the table or even come close, have to think they'd prefer to have us in one of their games.