The Clemson problem

With the announcement that the ACC locked up two more bowls, everyone seems to be breathing a sigh of relief about the bowl situation. There are two weeks of games left, so I think this thing is far from over. But for the sake of this post let us assume that everything plays out as is. Here is the general consensus on how the ACC bowls will align.

BCS -- Virginia Tech
Gator -- Miami
Peach -- Florida State
Charlotte -- Clemson
Champs -- BC
Music City -- Georgia Tech
Emerald -- Virginia
Boise -- Winner of Maryland/NC State

BC fans, while not thrilled with the Champs Bowl would be okay with a Florida bowl game against a BCS opponent. I am less confident about it playing out that way. I think Clemson is too attractive a draw to slip all the way to Charlotte. And if they don’t go to Charlotte, I see a series of chain reactions that could lead BC to Boise.

Clemson Problem No. 1: The Gator Bowl

Now it is assumed that the Gator will not invite Florida State back to Jacksonville, since they will be there for the ACC Championship game and were there for last season’s Gator Bowl. So that would leave Miami. However, tickets and traveling is as important as record for the bowl committee. Clemson has a great travel rep. Miami does not. And you don’t need to tell that to the Gator Bowl. Their best attendance day -- Clemson. The Tigers were part of four of the top 15 Gator Bowls crowds. And since the stadium was reconfigured in 1995, Clemson has helped spike attendance past 65,000 twice. The one time Miami has been to the AllTel Stadium they drew 43,000. Given that, I think it will be hard for the selection committee to pass on the Tigers. Then the dominos start…I still think FSU goes Peach, but Charlotte would need a new team. If NC State wins, they would be tough to pass over. But assume they lose. I think Georgia Tech is the next logical choice given its proximity to Charlotte. Champs would gladly take Miami -- the best and closest team to go to the Champs since its rebirth. Music City would then be a possibility for BC, but we were there five years ago and didn’t sell many tickets. I think Nashville might give UVA or the winner of NC State and Maryland a shot over us. So we are down to Emerald or Boise. We were in San Francisco two years ago. We didn’t travel all that well. It might come back to haunt us and we could end up in Boise.

Clemson Problem No. 2: The Peach Bowl

Now if Miami does get the Gator invite, there is still a real possibility that Clemson could get the invite to the Peach. They have a good travel rep there too. The same dominos would fall with Florida State going to Champs instead of Miami and BC heading west. Georgia Tech could bump things around this weekend too. Heck the Peach Bowl committee has already said that if they beat Georgia, they are in.

My point? We need help to avoid a Blue Turf Christmas.