Bowl Projections

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#51      
How about they create more inter-conference, post-season games matching teams based on performance (not exclusive to good teams)? They don't have to call it a bowl and don't need to celebrate it as an accomplishment (outside of the big bowl games for top teir teams). I would have loved to see an Illinois-Kansas football game in recent years, although I hope our programs are diverging now
That's so 2021. Eliminate a problem that doesn't actually exist merely by changing the language.

"You weren't good enough to go to a bowl game, however, we will let you play one extra game at the end of the year that will be broadcast on television. Just don't call it a bowl game."

Then we can all start calling those Bawl Games.
 
#52      
That's so 2021. Eliminate a problem that doesn't actually exist merely by changing the language.

"You weren't good enough to go to a bowl game, however, we will let you play one extra game at the end of the year that will be broadcast on television. Just don't call it a bowl game."

Then we can all start calling those Bawl Games.
Call it what you want. I'm just trying to appease all the old-timers who love to complain about participation trophies.
 
#54      
"participation" trophies are for all participants. It shouldn't be confused with lowering bars and standards. Your concern is more along the lines of the folks who want to expand the NCAA tourney field to 96.
No I think there's a disconnect here. I'm not saying the 50th ranked team should get a shot at a natty or even be proud of themselves. I just enjoy the late season non conference opponent. For my own viewing pleasure, no other reason.

Sorry I was just thinking out loud. The thought didn't really contribute to the bowl conversation.
 
#60      
Who do we need to root against for a possible bowl chance? Northwestern and who else?
 
#61      
Who do we need to root against for a possible bowl chance? Northwestern and who else?
I think Texas is the only 4-7 team that would be ahead of the Illini if they get 5 wins. So root for K State to hold on in the 2nd half.

After that, root against any 5-6 team.
 
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#63      
Here is a Comprehensive list of teams to root for that either keep teams from getting to 5-7 (that would then be taken ahead of us) or to keep teams from qualifying with their 6th win.

Courtesy of Robert from Illiniboard and some of his followers. Root for the first team. Actual winners in bold:

*Playing today, 26 Nov

Record 1-1

Kansas State beat Texas.*
UCLA beat Cal.
BYU beat USC.
Rutgers beat Maryland.
MTSU beat FAU.
Florida beat Florida State.
Buffalo beat Ball State.
Texas A&M beat LSU.
UTSA beat North Texas.
Fresno State beat San Jose State.
Coastal Carolina beat S. Alabama.*
Pitt beat Syracuse.
Iowa State beat TCU.*
Georgia State beat Troy.
SMU beat Tulsa.
Virginia beat Virginia Tech.
Kansas beat West Virginia.
 
#64      
Here is a Comprehensive list of teams to root for that either keep teams from getting to 5-7 (that would then be taken ahead of us) or to keep teams from qualifying with their 6th win.

Courtesy of Robert from Illiniboard and some of his followers. Root for the first team. Actual winners in bold:

*Playing today, 26 Nov

Record 1-1

Kansas State beat Texas.*
UCLA beat Cal.
BYU beat USC.
Rutgers beat Maryland.
MTSU beat FAU.
Florida beat Florida State.
Buffalo beat Ball State.
Texas A&M beat LSU.
UTSA beat North Texas.
Fresno State beat San Jose State.
Coastal Carolina beat S. Alabama.*
Pitt beat Syracuse.
Iowa State beat TCU.*
Georgia State beat Troy.
SMU beat Tulsa.
Virginia beat Virginia Tech.
Kansas beat West Virginia.
If I’m counting right, we need “our” teams to go 8-9 in these games. And they’re 1-1 entering today.
 
#65      
If I’m counting right, we need “our” teams to go 8-9 in these games. And they’re 1-1 entering today.
You’re probably correct (I haven’t looked at all the eligible teams and open bowl spots yet).

According to Robert’s article from earlier in this thread, though, some teams may not accept their bowl bids even if they qualify at 6-6 or 5-7.

So even if the list above doesn’t go in our favor, we might still sneak in.
 
#66      
To summarize:

Heading into this week, there were 10 open bowl spots for which Illinois could receive an invitation. Unfortunately, two of those invites will be guaranteed to be given to other teams regardless of the outcomes of this weekend’s games. So, there are 8 invites up for grabs that will be determined by the results of the games over the next two weeks. Removing all reasoning behind why we are rooting for the following outcomes, here is a table showing when games are scheduled, who we are rooting for, and how many bowl invitations are still up for grabs. Each team that we need to lose that ends up winning takes one bowl invite away. When this table is completed, if the number of bowl invites is greater than or equal to 1, then Illinois should be guaranteed an invite. Even if it's less than or equal to zero, there's still some weird things that could go Illinois' way. But for now, let's root for the following.

Of course, this assumes Illinois wins tomorrow...

Game Time (CST):Needs to Win:Needs to Lose:Invites Remaining: 8
Tue 6:00 PMBuffalo - 3Ball State - 20
7​
Thu 2:30 PMFresno State - 40San Jose State - 9
7​
Fri 11:00 AMKansas State - 17Texas - 22
6​
Fri 2:30 PM ESPN+Coastal CarolinaSouth Alabama
Fri 3:30 PM FS1Iowa StateTCU
Sat 11:00 AM ESPNFloridaFlorida State
Sat 11:00 AM BTNRutgersMaryland
Sat 1:00 PM ESPN+UTSANorth Texas
Sat 1:00 PM ESPN+Georgia StateTroy
Sat 2:45 PM ACCNVirginiaVirginia Tech
Sat 3:00 PM ESPN2SMUTulsa
Sat 6:00 PM ESPNTexas A&MLSU
Sat 6:00 PM 🤷Middle TennesseeFlorida Atlantic
Sat 6:00 PM FS1KansasWest Virginia
Sat 6:30 PM ACCNPittSyracuse

If both Cal and USC win on Saturday, then one of them is guaranteed a bowl invite. If they both lose, then neither will receive one. If only one wins, then we will be rooting against that team next week. For this week, let's just root against both.

Game Time (CST):Needs to Win:Needs to Lose:
Sat 9:30 PM ESPNUCLACal
Sat 9:30 PM FS1BYUUSC

Hopefully this provides a nice viewers guide for all of us tomorrow!
 
#67      
Updating at the conclusion of the Friday night games. If we can get six wins in the top table tomorrow, that should be enough to guarantee a bowl spot. If we only get 5 wins, it comes to down either a team declining an invite or the results of Cal and USC over the next two weeks. If we only get 4 wins... well... then we pray for one last hail Mary.

Game Time (CST):Needs to Win:Needs to Lose:Invites Remaining: 8
Tue 6:00 PMBuffalo - 3Ball State - 20
7​
Thu 2:30 PMFresno State - 40San Jose State - 9
7​
Fri 11:00 AMKansas State - 17Texas - 22
6​
Fri 2:30 PM ESPN+Coastal Carolina - 27South Alabama - 21
6​
Fri 3:30 PM FS1Iowa State - 48TCU - 14
6​
Sat 11:00 AM ESPNFloridaFlorida State
Sat 11:00 AM BTNRutgersMaryland
Sat 1:00 PM ESPN+UTSANorth Texas
Sat 1:00 PM ESPN+Georgia StateTroy
Sat 2:45 PM ACCNVirginiaVirginia Tech
Sat 3:00 PM ESPN2SMUTulsa
Sat 6:00 PM ESPNTexas A&MLSU
Sat 6:00 PM 🤷Middle TennesseeFlorida Atlantic
Sat 6:00 PM FS1KansasWest Virginia
Sat 6:30 PM ACCNPittSyracuse

If both Cal and USC win on Saturday, then one of them is guaranteed a bowl invite. If they both lose, then neither will receive one. If only one wins, then we will be rooting against that team next week. For this week, let's just root against both.

Game Time (CST):Needs to Win:Needs to Lose:
Sat 9:30 PM ESPNUCLACal
Sat 9:30 PM FS1BYUUSC
 
#69      
PAC-12 does not allow 5 win teams to make bowl games so keep that in mind.
 
#70      
PAC-12 does not allow 5 win teams to make bowl games so keep that in mind.

I don't think it matters in this instance since Cal and USC are the only two teams that can still get to 5-7, and both of them are below us in the APR. The only way Cal or USC makes it ahead of us is if one of them goes 6-6, which could still happen, but only one of them can do it.
 
#71      

DeonThomas

South Carolina
Call it what you want. I'm just trying to appease all the old-timers who love to complain about participation trophies.
Are there actually sports fans on this site that "like" participation trophies? I would argue it's a unanimous vote AGAINST.
 
#72      
Are there actually sports fans on this site that "like" participation trophies? I would argue it's a unanimous vote AGAINST.

I like them. Maybe not at this level (as far as flat out calling them participation trophies), but I have always been a proponent of participation awards at least through middle school. I can tell you that my fellow athletic directors in my league do not feel the same way. Then again, I'm the second youngest A.D. in my school's league/district, and I'm 40... so.... I think there's something to be said about it being an old person complaint.
 
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#74      

Epsilon

M tipping over
Pdx
Rutgers doing us no favors but it looks like Florida working on the assist.
 
#75      

Epsilon

M tipping over
Pdx
PAC-12 does not allow 5 win teams to make bowl games so keep that in mind.
Is that new? I seem to recall a 5-7 Cal team (or maybe it was UCLA…?) beating us in a bowl game.
 
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