Here is what I gather from Ken Hoffman talking Saturday about the Motor City and International Bowl. He runs both games.
Rutgers is the key here. With Pitt and West Virginia slotted for the Sun and Car Care Bowl (talk about a coup for the Car Care bowl), it comes down to Rutgers. UConn will get the last placement because USF is headed to St. Pete.
It's simple really, if a spot opens up in the Motor City Bowl, the MCB would like to fill that spot with a Big East team and bag the International Bowl. If Rutgers wants to play a ranked Ball St. team, as was rumored before Ball St. lost to Buffalo, then I think that is a strong possibility.
The fact that Ball St. lost to Buffalo in the MAC Championship doesn't change the dynamics, only the buzz of the game. MCB will still do the game. Rutgers may not want to go to Detroit now however, especially with NC State likely headed to the Papajohns.com. It looks like it will be NC State against either Rutgers or UConn in Birmingham.
Does Rutgers prefer Ball St. in Detroit or NC State in Birmingham? That is the question.
UConn fills in after. Papajohns.com against NC State, or perhaps Ball St. in the Motor City Bowl Dec. 26 or Buffalo Jan. 3 in Toronto. The fact UConn has been there however muddles the picture. Hoffman said he is leaning towards trying a switch, but would UConn rather go to Toronto on Jan. 3, or back to Detroit the day after Christmas?
This is going to be interesting. It should be much clearer by the end of the day. Rutgers is the key here.
Update: Rutgers appears headed to the Papajohns.com Bowl, likely against NC State. that leaves UConn in the International or Motor City Bowl. If Ball St. is not in Detroit and it is Central Michigan, why would the Huskies want that game over Toronto?
Looks like Huskies are going north. We'll see where they end up soon enough.
The Day is reporting it's International Bowl Jan. 3 against Buffalo. Will call and confirm.
Conference call at 4 p.m., will have some updates after. Curious about the Motor City Bowl. Perhaps Ball St. is headed somewhere else.
Will be back later.
2 comments:
Thanks for the frequent updates John.
From what I'm reading, Ball State is heading to the GMAC Bowl while Central or Western Michigan will take the Motor City slot. It'd be dumb to have Ball State come back to Detroit if it's not a marquee game.
This is great news for UConn. Toronto is better than Birmingham and they could get a nice bowl win to cap a disappointing end of the season. Let's hope Frazer starts and isn't thrown to wolves down 3 scores.
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