Was looking at the conference standings on ESPN and noticed the * beside GSU's name. Read something the other day that said something to the effect that due to the number of potentially ineligible teams (for Bowls) the NCAA was allowing GSU and App to play in a bowl if eligible?
That being said does anybody believe that we could run off at least 3 of 4 and become eligible? I realize that the competition will tighten for the two road games but based on how we are playing I honestly think we could run the table.

I think we will win two more. Benson said in an interview the other day GaSo would not get a bowl no matter if they ran the Sun Belt table. I think they should before a 6 win team (assuming they win out).

appbio91 wrote:I think we will win two more. Benson said in an interview the other day GaSo would not get a bowl no matter if they ran the Sun Belt table. I think they should before a 6 win team (assuming they win out).

The SBC only has three bowl tie-ins this year. They are going to push for the top 3 non-transitional teams. I think that makes some sense, but it also would suck for GS (though I'd be laughing).

I won't be laughing, now we will never hear the end of it. They will inevitably come up with some scenario how they were conspired against by the SBC and NCAA.

They will blame roughly in this order:
1. Karl Benson
2. SoCon Refs*

*When #1 seems flimsy they will always fall back to #2.

GS and App (if we got to 6 wins) would only be bowl eligible if there are not enough eligible teams nationwide to fill up all the bowls. Southern is certainly not going to go ahead of an eligible Sun Belt team simply because they have a better record. There's no debate to be had there; that's simply one of the conditions of their move up (and ours).

Even if there aren't enough teams from other conferences to fill all the bowls, I assume other bowl-eligible teams would get the call before GSU and App. For example, the Sun Belt is likely to have more than three bowl-eligible teams (not counting GSU/App). So if another league can't fill all their slots, presumably someone like Texas State would get that bowl before either of the new teams.

I read somewhere that GeoSo is bowl eligible and COULD get a bowl invite, but it would require a shortage of bowl eligible teams. In effect, they get in only if the conferences can't provide enough eligible teams for the bowl. They are last in line, and it isn't likely there will be a slot.

EDIT: posted almost simultaneously!

one bowl projection I saw a couple of days ago had TX State in a bowl ---

manonabuffalo wrote:I won't be laughing, now we will never hear the end of it. They will inevitably come up with some scenario how they were conspired against by the SBC and NCAA.

They will blame roughly in this order:
1. Karl Benson
2. SoCon Refs*

*When #1 seems flimsy they will always fall back to #2.

No serious SBC fan would give 'em the time of day on those two excuses. Everyone knew the rules and the realities before the season started. GaSouth has/will have no case. They know they have no case; but probably will "show themselves" anyway on down the road. They'll get deaf ears.

It's tough to project right now because there are four teams at 5-3, and there are a bunch of games remaining among that group.

However, to simplify, let's assume that ULL and A-State will get there, as it's hard to envision either losing their last 4.

That leaves USA and Texas State. They still play each other, so the winner will definitely be bowl-eligible.

Texas State's next 3 games are vs. Ga. Southern, @ USA and vs. A-State, so it's entirely possible they lose all three. However, their last one is at Ga. State. So you would think they probably will get to 6 wins eventually.

For USA, it's a little dicier. Their last four are @ A-State, vs. Texas St., @ South Carolina and vs. Navy. So if they do not beat Texas State, they could be in trouble. They scheduled a brutal OOC slate this year, and it may come back to bite them.

Despite what happens it would still be really cool to get three more wins and have the asterick beside our name. The glass half full crowd- me included looks at the standings and sees 4 SB teams with an "X" beside their name. Better to still at least be in the discussion.

More concise version of my previous post: The Sun Belt will likely have at least three bowl-eligible teams to fill its three tie-ins:

1. ULL
2. A-State
3. Winner of USA-Texas State

With the loser of the USA-Texas State game being a potential fourth bowl-eligible team if they can find one more win.

If there are not enough teams to fill the bowls I think that tells you something right there.

bcoach wrote:If there are not enough teams to fill the bowls I think that tells you something right there.

But, there will be. Don't trash the conference before you have a real reason.

manonabuffalo wrote:I won't be laughing, now we will never hear the end of it. They will inevitably come up with some scenario how they were conspired against by the SBC and NCAA.

They will blame roughly in this order:
1. Karl Benson
2. SoCon Refs*

*When #1 seems flimsy they will always fall back to #2.

Their tears will be delicious.

asu66 wrote:

bcoach wrote:If there are not enough teams to fill the bowls I think that tells you something right there.

But, there will be. Don't trash the conference before you have a real reason.

How am I trashing the conference?

The only way that GS could get a bowl invite is if there is not enough 6-6 teams to fill bowl games, then transitional teams with winning records would get invite before 5-7 teams. However App would have to win out to be eligible even in the transitional rule due to App playing two FCS schools in the same year. If a school plays two FCS school then they have to have 7 wins to be bowl eligible instead of 6 wins.

I think that is a sign that there are some really bad teams (overall, not just in the SBC) and that there are just TOO many bowls. Personally I have a hard time with the term "reward" for a team that goes 6-6. The entire system would be better if they eliminated about 5-10 bowls and limted qualifying to teams with at least 7 wins. The math pretty much has to work out though nationally. There will always be teams that win at least 9 games, teams that are below .500 and teams bunched up near .500. Like the playoff scenarios, you just have to let it play out.

appstate2007 wrote:The only way that GS could get a bowl invite is if there is not enough 6-6 teams to fill bowl games, then transitional teams with winning records would get invite before 5-7 teams. However App would have to win out to be eligible even in the transitional rule due to App playing two FCS schools in the same year. If a school plays two FCS school then they have to have 7 wins to be bowl eligible instead of 6 wins.

Not sure about this, but I think we'd be bowl-eligible at 6 wins because only one of them was over an FCS team. Thought the rule was that you could only count one win against an FCS team, but we only have one such win.

bcoach wrote:

asu66 wrote:

bcoach wrote:If there are not enough teams to fill the bowls I think that tells you something right there.

But, there will be. Don't trash the conference before you have a real reason.

How am I trashing the conference?

I interpreted your comment as your distaste for a weak SunBelt. Perhaps I misunderstood your point?

bigdaddyg wrote:I think that is a sign that there are some really bad teams (overall, not just in the SBC) and that there are just TOO many bowls. Personally I have a hard time with the term "reward" for a team that goes 6-6. The entire system would be better if they eliminated about 5-10 bowls and limted qualifying to teams with at least 7 wins. The math pretty much has to work out though nationally. There will always be teams that win at least 9 games, teams that are below .500 and teams bunched up near .500. Like the playoff scenarios, you just have to let it play out.

I would agree with you if we were talking about a championship playoff (i.e., I would hate to see the NCAA basketball tournament expanded to 96 teams). But the bowl games are basically just glorified exhibitions/tourism attractions. If somebody wants to host a bowl game for a couple 6-6 teams and there's enough interest to make it financially worthwhile for them, I say go for it. It's not like anyone's mistaking the Camellia Bowl for the national championship game.